Lead – Enterprise Security Architect

Job Title: Lead – Enterprise Security ArchitectJob Type: Contract (1 year +)Location: Dubai Job Description:Role Purpose:The Lead Enterprise Security Architecture is responsible for defining and leading the Group's Enterprise Security Architecture capability, ensuring security is embedded by design across business transformation, technology delivery, digital innovation and operational change.The role owns the enterprise security architecture strategy, standards, governance and target-state roadmap, providing architectural leadership across the Group's technology landscape. Working in close partnership with Enterprise Architecture, Engineering, Infrastructure, Digital, Data, Product, SAP and business leadership teams, the role ensures that technology investments are secure, resilient, scalable and aligned with the Group Information Security Strategy.As the Group's senior security architecture authority, this role enables business growth through pragmatic risk management, modern security engineering practices and strategic technology governance.Key Responsibilities:Define, own and continuously evolve the Group Enterprise Security Architecture strategy, standards, principles and target-state roadmap.Establish security architecture patterns and reference architectures that support business transformation and technology modernisation.Drive continuous improvement of the Group's enterprise security architecture capability and maturity.Own the Security Design Authority and provide governance for enterprise architecture decisions, security design standards, architecture exceptions and technology risk across the Group.Ensure security is embedded throughout the technology lifecycle and incorporated into solution design from inception.Govern architecture decisions, design exceptions and technology risk to ensure alignment with enterprise standards and business objectives.Provide enterprise security architecture leadership across strategic programmes, digital initiatives and enterprise technology platforms.Partner with Enterprise Architecture to shape enterprise technology roadmaps, ensuring security requirements are embedded into strategic technology decisions and future-state architectures.Evaluate new technologies and major investments to ensure they meet security, resilience and architectural standards.Develop and maintain enterprise security architecture standards aligned with recognised industry frameworks and regulatory requirements.Provide independent security architecture assurance and technical due diligence for strategic programmes, enterprise platforms, cloud services, third-party solutions and technology investments.Represent Information Security at architecture, technology governance and investment forums.Assess emerging technologies and evolving cyber threats to inform the Group's security architecture strategy.Embed Security by Design across the full technology lifecycle, ensuring security requirements are considered from concept through implementation and operational transition.Drive the adoption of modern security architecture practices, automation and engineering capabilities. Continuously develop and mature the Group's Enterprise Security Architecture capability, standards, methodologies and operating model.Promote standardisation, simplification and continuous improvement across the technology landscape.Act as the trusted security architecture advisor to senior technology and business leaders ensuring technology enables business growth while effectively managing cyber risk.Build strong partnerships across Technology & Data, Digital, Product, Engineering and business functions. Provide architectural leadership across identity, cloud, infrastructure, applications, data, enterprise platforms and emerging technologies.Lead and develop the Enterprise Security Architecture capability, fostering technical excellence, collaboration and innovation.Required Skills & Experience:Minimum 10–12 years' experience in Enterprise Security Architecture.Proven experience defining and governing enterprise security architecture within a complex, global organisation.Demonstrated experience leading security architecture across large-scale business transformation, cloud adoption and enterprise technology modernisationprogrammes.Experience providing architectural governance for enterprise platforms, digital products and third-party technology solutions.Experience supporting major ERP or enterprise platform transformations (e.g. SAP or equivalent) is highly desirable.Strong experience influencing senior technology leaders, enterprise architects and executive stakeholders.Experience developing enterprise architecture standards, reference architectures and security design governance. Strong knowledge and practical experience across:Enterprise Security ArchitectureSecurity by Design and Secure Engineering principlesEnterprise Architecture and Architecture GovernanceCloud & Hybrid Security ArchitectureIdentity & Access ManagementInfrastructure, Network & Platform SecurityApplication, API & Data SecurityDevSecOps and Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC)Zero Trust ArchitectureCyber Risk Management and Security GovernanceEmerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence and AutomationStrategic thinker with strong commercial and business acumen.Executive presence with exceptional communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.Ability to balance business enablement with effective cyber risk management.Strong decision-making and problem-solving capability within complex enterprise environments.Collaborative leader who builds trusted partnerships across business and technology functions.Passion for developing people, fostering innovation and driving continuous improvement.