Head of Architecture

Reference: JHB007383-Koki-1

Datacentrix is looking for a Head of Architecture who will provide strategic, technical and commercial leadership for the client-facing architecture function, overseeing a team of Senior Architects responsible for designing, developing and implementing innovative, scalable, secure and cost-effective technology solutions. The role leads Senior Solutions Architects and multidisciplinary specialists in translating client business and technical requirements into integrated, secure, scalable, supportable and commercially viable solutions.
The successful candidate must have a strong background in Managed Services, with extensive knowledge of IT infrastructure, Internet Service Provider (ISP) environments, cloud platforms and enterprise technology solutions. The role requires a combination of technical expertise, commercial acumen and an understanding of the tender and bid management environment, including solution costing, pricing models, resource estimation and the development of competitive service proposals.
The function owns requirements analysis, evaluation of alternative approaches, end-to-end solution design, technical assurance of proposals and structured handover to implementation and service delivery.
The Head of Architecture will work closely with different BUs to ensure that proposed solutions meet client requirements, are commercially viable and can be delivered in line with contractual obligations and service-level agreements (SLAs). Duties & Responsibilities Qualifications and Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering or a related field.
• Relevant architecture, infrastructure or cloud certifications will be advantageous.
• Relevant Certifications such as TOGAF, will be beneficial.
• Relevant cloud certifications in Microsoft Azure, AWS or other recognised platforms will be advantageous.
• ITIL certification or equivalent service management knowledge will be an added advantage.
• Relevant networking, infrastructure or security certifications will be beneficial.
• At least 10 years of experience in IT infrastructure, enterprise technology, solution architecture or related technology environments.
• At least 5 years in a senior leadership, architecture management or technical solution leadership role.
• Demonstrable experience managing, mentoring or overseeing Senior Architects and multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Demonstrable end-to-end experience from requirements discovery and solution options analysis through proposal, costing, design approval and delivery handover.
• Strong experience in Managed Services, including solution design, service costing, operational models and SLA-driven delivery.
• Broad working knowledge of enterprise infrastructure, storage, networks, ISP connectivity, cloud, cybersecurity, COTS/SaaS products, custom applications, databases and integration technologies.
• Proven experience supporting or leading tender submissions, RFPs, RFQs and complex solution proposals.
• Practical experience in solution pricing, cost estimation, margin analysis and commercial proposal development.
• Extensive knowledge of enterprise infrastructure, networking, ISP services, cloud platforms and technology integration.
• Experience engaging with clients, vendors, service providers and executive stakeholders.
• Experience developing solutions for large enterprise and/or public-sector clients will be advantageous.
• Demonstrable experience translating client requirements into technically sound, commercially viable and operationally sustainable solutions.

Role Boundaries and Accountability
The Head of Solutions Architecture is accountable for integrated solution design and technical assurance across participating Business Units. Sales and Account Management own the client commercial relationship, Bid Management owns bid administration, Finance and authorised commercial executives own final price and margin approval and Project/Service Delivery owns implementation and ongoing operational performance. Architecture retains design integrity and technical change assurance throughout the lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities
Architecture Leadership and Team Management

• Lead, manage and provide strategic direction to Senior Architects and other architecture specialists.
• Oversee the development, review and approval of solution architectures across infrastructure, cloud, connectivity and managed services.
• Establish architecture standards, governance frameworks, design principles and best practices.
• Ensure consistency, quality and alignment of technical solutions with business strategy and client requirements.
• Mentor and develop Senior Architects, encouraging technical excellence, innovation and continuous professional development.
• Allocate architecture resources across tenders, projects, client engagements and solution development initiatives.
• Conduct technical reviews and provide guidance on complex architectural decisions and escalated technical matters.
• Monitor team performance, productivity, deliverables and adherence to agreed timelines.

Managed Services and Operational Architecture

• Design and oversee end-to-end managed services solutions that support enterprise and public-sector clients.
• Develop service models covering infrastructure management, cloud operations, network management, end-user computing, data centre services, security and related IT services.
• Ensure solutions incorporate service delivery models, operational processes, governance structures, escalation procedures and SLA commitments.
• Understand the commercial and operational implications of transitioning, onboarding and managing client environments.
• Develop scalable service delivery models that support operational efficiency, service quality and profitability.
• Collaborate with service delivery and operations teams to ensure that proposed solutions are practical, sustainable and aligned with delivery capabilities.
• Identify opportunities to improve existing managed services offerings and expand the organisation’s service portfolio.

Infrastructure, ISP and Cloud Architecture

• Provide technical leadership in enterprise infrastructure architecture, including servers, storage, virtualisation, data centres, backup and disaster recovery.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of networking technologies, including LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, routing, switching, network security and connectivity solutions.
• Understand ISP service offerings, including internet connectivity, fibre, bandwidth provisioning, network availability, redundancy and business continuity.
• Lead the design of cloud solutions across public, private and hybrid cloud environments.
• Demonstrate knowledge of major cloud platforms, such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and other relevant enterprise cloud technologies.
• Oversee the integration of on-premises infrastructure, cloud platforms, connectivity and security services.
• Ensure that architecture designs address scalability, availability, resilience, performance, security and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and identify opportunities to improve service delivery, reduce costs and enhance competitiveness.

Tender and Bid Management

• Provide architecture leadership and technical input into Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Quotations (RFQs), tenders and other client proposals.
• Analyse tender documentation to understand technical specifications, mandatory requirements, service expectations, evaluation criteria and contractual obligations.
• Lead the development of technical solutions and architecture responses that directly address client requirements.
• Work with bid management and sales teams to develop compliant, competitive and commercially sustainable proposals.
• Coordinate contributions from Senior Architects and relevant technical specialists to ensure complete and accurate tender submissions.
• Identify technical risks, solution gaps, assumptions, dependencies and potential deviations from client requirements.
• Participate in tender clarification meetings, client presentations, technical demonstrations and solution defence sessions.
• Ensure that proposed solutions are achievable within the specified implementation timelines and available technical resources.
• Support the development of reusable solution designs, technical response templates, service descriptions and architecture documentation.

Commercial Management and Solution Pricing

• Lead the technical costing and commercial modelling of managed services and technology solutions.
• Develop and validate pricing models for infrastructure, cloud, ISP connectivity, licensing, professional services, support and ongoing managed services.
• Work closely with finance, sales and procurement to establish cost structures, pricing assumptions, margins and profitability targets.
• Understand once-off implementation costs, recurring monthly charges, annual costs, resource costs, third-party supplier costs and lifecycle expenses.
• Evaluate vendor quotations and partner pricing to ensure that proposed solutions are cost-effective and commercially competitive.
• Ensure that pricing accurately reflects technical requirements, resource effort, service levels, support obligations and contractual commitments.
• Identify opportunities to optimise solution costs without compromising quality, security or service delivery.
• Review pricing risks associated with scope changes, service extensions, additional resources, cloud consumption and connectivity requirements.
• Support commercial negotiations and provide technical justification for proposed pricing structures.
• Ensure that all pricing assumptions, exclusions, dependencies and risks are clearly documented in proposals.

Architecture Governance and Risk Management

• Establish and maintain architecture governance processes, technical standards and design review mechanisms.
• Ensure that proposed solutions comply with relevant security, regulatory, organisational and client requirements.
• Review architecture documentation, technical specifications, bills of materials, statements of work and solution designs.
• Identify and mitigate technical, commercial, operational and delivery risks before proposals are submitted or projects commence.
• Ensure that architecture decisions consider total cost of ownership, operational supportability and technology lifecycle management.
• Maintain appropriate documentation of architecture decisions, technical standards, approved designs and solution assumptions.

Stakeholder and Client Engagement

• Engage with executive management, sales teams, clients, vendors, service providers and technical partners.
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear business and commercial value propositions.
• Support client workshops, requirements-gathering sessions, solution presentations and technical discussions.
• Build and maintain relationships with strategic technology partners, cloud providers, ISPs and infrastructure vendors.
• Work closely with operations and service delivery teams to ensure a smooth transition from solution design to implementation and ongoing support.
• Provide technical guidance during escalations, service reviews and solution optimisation initiatives.

Innovation and Business Growth

• Identify opportunities to develop new managed services and technology offerings.
• Assess emerging technologies, market trends and competitor offerings to strengthen the organisation’s market position.
• Support sales teams in identifying opportunities for cross-selling, upselling and expanding existing client engagements.
• Develop repeatable, scalable and profitable architecture solutions that support business growth.
• Contribute to the development of the organisation’s technology strategy, service catalogue and long-term architecture roadmap.