Lead Architect - Data & AI

TE TŪRANGA I THE ROLE

We are looking for a Lead Architect to help grow Sky’s Architecture practices and capabilities. This means leading a team but also providing deep subject-matter expertise to support Data & AI at an enterprise level - designing and delivering future-ready solutions that enable Sky to be the best in the game and connecting kiwis with the content they love. 

As the people leader for the Architecture practice, you’ll create the conditions for architects to thrive, set clear expectations, and build an inclusive and high-performing team.  You’ll be empowered to coach and develop capabilities, support performance and career growth ambitions, and foster strong collaboration, accountability and consistent ways of working.

As the resident Sky’s Data & AI architecture subject-matter expert and design authority, you’ll connect business strategy with technology execution - from leading the strategy, to designing solutions and overseeing the delivery of scalable, secure and well-governed data and AI capabilities. Collaborating closely with business leaders, Product, Engineering, Delivery teams and partners, you’ll balance immediate delivery needs with a cohesive long-term direction that reduces complexity, improves AI adoption and prepares Sky for future customer, commercial and technology needs for its next evolution to be the best media company Aotearoa has to offer.

NGĀ PŪKENGA ME NGĀ WHEAKO I WHAT YOU WILL BRING

We’re looking for an experienced people leader and architecture practitioner who can grow a strong practice while providing credible, hands-on strategic leadership to realise the potential of Data & AI capabilities at Sky. What you bring with you to this role:

• Proven people leadership experience building inclusive, high-performing technical teams; setting direction and expectations; and leading performance, development, talent and succession activities.
• A strong coaching mindset and demonstrated ability to grow architects, create career pathways, build practice capability and foster collaboration, accountability and psychological safety.
• Significant enterprise, solution or technology architecture experience within complex digital and technology environments.
• Deep expertise in Data & AI architecture, including modern data platforms, integration, interoperability, governance, responsible AI and the design of scalable, secure, future-ready capabilities at an enterprise level.
• Proven experience turning business strategy into Data & AI roadmaps and guiding solutions from architecture through delivery and measurable outcomes.
• Experience shaping architecture standards, governance and practice maturity while balancing enterprise consistency with pragmatic delivery.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills, with the credibility to advise senior leaders, challenge constructively and build alignment across business and technology teams.

NGĀ HAEPAPA | ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leadership of a high performing Architecture practice, providing clear purpose, priorities and expectations and creating an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing team environment.
• Coach, mentor and develop architects through regular feedback, meaningful development plans, career conversations, succession planning and creating opportunities that build individual and collective capability.
• Shape the Architecture practice operating model, capacity and allocation of expertise so the right capability is focused on Sky’s highest-value priorities now and in future.
• Build a strong architecture community with clear and consistent standards, governance and ways of working, encouraging knowledge sharing, constructive challenge, wellbeing and continuous improvement.
• Provide deep subject-matter leadership within Data & AI, defining enterprise level architecture requirements and ensure that strategic and delivery roadmaps aligned with business and technology goals.
• Lead the design and delivery of future-ready data and AI capabilities that are scalable, secure, responsible, well governed and commercially sustainable.
• Lead data platform modernisation by simplifying legacy environments and promoting modular, API-first and event-driven architecture.
• Establish enterprise data, integration and interoperability standards across business applications, digital platforms and operational systems.
• Partner with leaders, Product, Engineering, Delivery teams and external partners to translate Data & AI opportunities into measurable improvements in customer experience, operational efficiency, decision-making and growth.

KO NGĀ HUANGA I WHATS IN IT FOR YOU?

• Free Sky, Sky Sport Now, and Neon 
• A flexible, supportive culture where your ideas matter 
• Great career development with real pathways to grow 
• Discounted Southern Cross health insurance 
• Discounted YMCA gym membership 

Salary

Additional info: <strong>EEO &amp; Inclusion Statement</strong>  <br />As an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, we’re proud champions of inclusivity and diversity. We welcome applicants of all gender identities and want everyone to feel supported throughout the process. Our application form also includes a “diverse” gender option for those who identify as non‑binary, genderqueer, genderfluid, or any identity outside the male/female binary. <br /> <br /><strong>Recruitment Agencies </strong>- Kindly note we are not seeking agency support for this role and will not be accepting unsolicited profiles or approaches