Lead Service Architect

About the Role

The Lead IT Service Architect will develop and own HS2’s IT service architecture and transition capabilities, ensuring that service design aligns with enterprise‑wide strategy, guardrails and standards. The role is accountable for service architecture, service transition, and the maintenance of the IT service catalogue, while promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) throughout. HS2 will deliver the UK’s new high‑speed rail network, improving capacity, reducing journey times and supporting economic growth. As a safety‑critical organisation, employees are required to follow the ‘Safe at Heart’ programme and uphold health and safety standards. • Align service architecture with enterprise-wide architecture and IT strategy (Enterprise and business architecture). • Identify and assess emerging technologies and their impact on HS2 (Emerging technology monitoring). • Analyse business situations to uncover problems and opportunities and recommend improvements (Business situation analysis). • Manage execution of business process improvements and create disruptive approaches (Business process improvement). • Design and implement a service catalogue, providing guidance on its management (Service catalogue management). • Develop, manage and enhance stakeholder relationships, including communication planning (Stakeholder relationship management). • Apply service architecture frameworks and best‑practice standards (Knowledge of service architecture frameworks). • Identify collaboration opportunities within the technology service provider landscape (Insight into service provider landscape). • Monitor digital technology trends and exploit emerging opportunities (Awareness of digital trends). • Develop and enforce enterprise‑wide service architecture policies, patterns, processes and guardrails. • Establish and lead the Service Architecture practice, fostering knowledge sharing and skill development. • Define and mature Service Architecture frameworks aligned with the broader enterprise architecture. • Plan, scope and prioritise service architecture activities for Infrastructure & Operations. • Lead the design of IT services in partnership with senior leadership and key stakeholders. • Oversee IT service transition, ensuring seamless handover through the service lifecycle. • Maintain and govern the IT service catalogue. • Manage interfaces and dependencies between HS2 sub‑capabilities within the service architecture.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸service architecture
• ▸catalogue management
• ▸service transition
• ▸process improvement
• ▸tech monitoring
• ▸stakeholder management

What You Bring

The post‑holder must embody HS2’s values of Safety, Leadership, Integrity and Respect, actively embed EDI in all work, and comply with organisational policies. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK, as HS2 does not sponsor visas, and successful candidates will undergo pre‑employment checks including DBS, references and education verification. • Leverage delivery methodologies such as waterfall, agile and lean in service architecture design (Understanding delivery methodologies).

Requirements

• ▸agile
• ▸lean
• ▸waterfall
• ▸service architecture
• ▸dbs
• ▸right to work

Benefits

The role offers a base salary ranging from £54,878 to £64,562 per annum, dependent on skills and experience. In addition, a fully pensionable flexible benefits fund of 20 % of base salary is provided, alongside a suite of competitive benefits outlined on the company website. HS2 Ltd is committed to creating an inclusive environment where employees feel supported, can thrive, and reach their full potential. This commitment is demonstrated through flexible working arrangements, adjustments where needed, active staff networks, and personal and professional development opportunities.

Work Environment

Office Full-Time