Head of Architecture

Role purpose: Lead the enterprise architecture function to define target architectures, guide technology strategy, and ensure scalable, secure, and cost-effective solutions aligned with business goals.

Core responsibilities

Own and evolve enterprise architecture standards, principles, reference architectures, and governance.
Define target-state architectures and roadmaps across applications, data, integration, infrastructure, and security.
Partner with product, engineering, security, and business leaders to translate strategy into executable technology plans.
Review and approve solution designs; ensure alignment to architecture standards, risk posture, and compliance requirements.
Drive modernization initiatives (e.g., cloud, platform engineering, microservices, data platforms) and manage technical debt.
Establish architecture metrics and decision records; communicate trade-offs, costs, and impacts to stakeholders.
Lead, mentor, and scale an architecture team; build strong cross-functional working practices.

Required skills and experience

Senior leadership experience in enterprise and solution architecture within complex organizations.
Strong knowledge of cloud architectures, integration patterns, API strategy, and security-by-design.
Proven ability to run architecture governance, portfolio planning, and roadmap delivery.
Excellent stakeholder management, executive communication, and decision facilitation.
Experience with architecture frameworks and methods (e.g., TOGAF) and modeling practices.

At a glance

Ready to shape the future of architecture on a global scale within ABN AMRO Clearing? As Head of Architecture, you drive vision, alignment, and simplification across a complex IT landscape - empowering teams, setting standards, and turning strategy into impact.

Your job

Key activities and responsibilities include:

Developing and owning the vision for Architecture (Current and Future State Architecture) and steering the implementation of the roadmap in close collaboration with the blocks
Being the driving force in harmonizing the IT landscape across the organisation, ensuring alignment with architectural principles, promoting reuse, and reducing complexity and fragmentation
Prioritizing the allocation of CoE - Architecture resources through the flow-to-work model to facilitate objectives of the Product and Platform GRIDs and other CoEs
Defining and communicating standards and principles, monitoring implementation, and actively steering towards simplification and alignment across the IT landscape
Coaching and developing CoE members, ensuring a strong and consistent level of architectural expertise across the organization

Working environment

ABN AMRO Clearing is a global leader within the clearing space, delivering integrated solutions across clearing, execution, custody, financing, and risk management. Operating at the heart of global financial markets, we provide access to a broad range of listed instruments across regions, ensuring safe, transparent, and highly efficient markets for our clients. With a strong presence in APAC, Europe, and the US, we combine deep market expertise with a robust, high-performance technology and infrastructure landscape that supports clients operating in demanding, high-speed trading environments.

The Head of Architecture leads the global architecture team, comprising Enterprise and Solution Architects. The CoE – Architecture is responsible for defining and maintaining the current and target state architecture, as well as the associated principles and standards. The role ensures that key stakeholders - including Chapter Area Leads, CoE Leads, and Product Owners across Product and Platform GRIDs - are aligned and guided in the consistent application of these standards.

Your profile

You are an experienced technology leader with a strong architectural background and the ability to translate strategy into execution. You demonstrate clear judgement, strong collaboration, and the ability to drive alignment across a complex organisation. Key areas of expertise include:

1. Strategic Architecture Leadership

Strong understanding of the AACB business model and the role of architecture in enabling it
Proven ability to define and drive architecture vision, including current and target state architectures
Ability to translate strategic objectives into actionable roadmaps
Strong organisational awareness, with the ability to prioritise initiatives based on business impact

2. Leadership and Organisation

Strong people leadership and coaching capabilities
Ability to lead and align a diverse group of Enterprise and Solution Architects
Proven ability to influence and drive decision-making at senior levels
Experience in prioritising and allocating resources in a dynamic environment

3. Architecture Governance and Standards

Strong knowledge of architecture frameworks (e.g. TOGAF) and tooling (e.g. Bizzdesign)
Ability to define, implement, and enforce architecture standards and governance
Experience operating within a risk-aware and control-focused environment
Ability to support delivery teams in adopting and applying architectural standards

4. Stakeholder Management and Communication

Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex topics clearly
Ability to engage effectively with both business and IT stakeholders
Proven capability to bridge architecture and engineering communities
Strong facilitation skills to drive alignment and decision-making

5. Execution and Ways of Working

Strong focus on delivery while maintaining architectural integrity
Experience working in Agile environments and supporting product-driven organisations
Ability to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement
Practical mindset, balancing strategic direction with execution

We are offering

We offer you a front-row role in bringing our strategy to life, where you will actively shape architecture decisions in a mission-critical, high-throughput clearing environment. You will join an internationally oriented Clearing team that operates at global scale, where speed, resilience, and control are essential to everything we do. At the same time, you’ll find plenty of room to grow — with opportunities to expand your expertise, strengthen your leadership, and continuously learn, experiment, and make a real impact.

In addition, we offer:

An attractive gross monthly salary (min. Eur. 9.604 – max Eur. 13.720) based on a 36 hour work week, including holiday allowance and a flexible benefit budget. A 40 hour work is also possible.
An excellent pension scheme, ensuring that you are well prepared for the future.
Flexibility in working: working from home is possible in consultation with your team and depending on your role. We will provide an ergonomic home office setup for you.
Plenty of room for relaxation with five weeks of vacation per year, supplemented by two mandatory days off. You can also purchase up to four additional weeks of vacation annually.
Five “Banking for better days”: extra days off that you can use for personal development or volunteer work.
Personal development is key: you receive a development budget of €1,000 per year, which can accumulate up to €3,000.
An annual public transport pass with free public transportation throughout the Netherlands for both business and private use.

Interested?

Apply for this vacancy via the button. Upload your CV and cover letter. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Your Future: Inclusive, Innovative, Sustainable

At ABN AMRO, we believe in "Banking for better, for generations to come." Equal opportunities for everyone are a crucial foundation, as we strive for an inclusive culture where all employees feel seen, heard, and valued. Our vision of being a personal bank in the digital age aligns perfectly with the demand for surprising insights and innovative solutions, born from a diverse interplay of cultures and experiences. We focus on customer experience, sustainability, and building a future-proof bank, conducting annual reviews to ensure equal pay for equal work. Join a bank that embraces ingenuity and ambition, and make an impact with us for a better future.

If you want to apply for the B-Able or Reboot program, make sure to mention it both in the title and the content of your resume.

Disclaimer external recruitment agencies

External recruitment agencies need to have a signed agreement with ABN AMRO BANK N.V., executed by a Talent Acquisition Specialist, when submitting a resume to a vacancy. In addition, a recruitment agency can only submit a resume when invited by a Talent Acquisition Specialist to join the search for a right candidate. All unsolicited resumes sent to us will be considered property of ABN AMRO BANK N.V. In this case, ABN AMRO will not be held liable to pay a placement fee.