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Solutions and Business Architecture Area Chapter Lead at Safaricom Kenya
Safaricom Kenya
October 12, 2026
Full-time
On-site
Job Description
Reporting to the HOD - Data AI Systems & Architecture, the Solution & Business Architecture Area Chapter Lead is responsible for providing strategic leadership and governance for the Solution Architecture and Business Analysis disciplines across the enterprise. The role develops and grows architecture and business analysis capabilities, establishes standards, methodologies, and best practices, and ensures the consistent delivery of high-quality business and solution designs that align with Enterprise Architecture principles, business strategy, and technology roadmaps.
Reporting to the Head of Data, AI Systems & Architecture, the Chapter Area Lead provides leadership to the Engineering Managers responsible for Consumer Business, Enterprise & Public Sector, Financial Services, Technology, and Business Analysis. The role ensures consistent architecture practices across all business units while driving capability maturity, innovation, talent development, architecture governance, and continuous improvement.
The Area Chapter Lead acts as the custodian of the Safaricom Business Architecture, System and Application roadmaps and the organization's solution architecture and business analysis practices, enabling delivery teams to build scalable, secure, reusable, and business-aligned digital capabilities.
Responsibilities
Health and Safety
Uphold the company code of conduct, policies and procedures, ensuring integrity and accountability in every aspect of your work.
All employees have a responsibility to adhere to safety, health, and wellbeing policies, guidelines and procedures in all actions and decisions
Practice Leadership
Define and own the Solution Architecture and Business Analysis strategy, operating model, and capability roadmap.
Establish a unified Architecture and Business Analysis practice across the organization.
Drive continuous improvement and maturity of both disciplines.
Foster a culture of engineering excellence, innovation, collaboration, and customer-centric design.
Promote reuse of architecture patterns, business capabilities, APIs, and design assets.
People Leadership
Lead and develop the Engineering Managers responsible for:
Consumer Business Solution Architecture
Enterprise & Public Sector Solution Architecture
Financial Services Solution Architecture
Technology Solution Architecture
Business Analysis
Responsibilities include:
Coaching and mentoring Engineering Managers.
Performance management.
Succession planning.
Capability development.
Workforce planning.
Recruitment of senior architecture talent.
Career progression.
Learning and certification programmes.
Architecture & Business Analysis Governance
Own governance across all architecture and business analysis activities by:
Establishing architecture principles and standards.
Defining business analysis methodologies.
Governing architecture review boards.
Governing business requirements quality.
Defining documentation standards.
Ensuring compliance with Enterprise Architecture standards.
Ensuring alignment with security, data, AI, integration, and cloud strategies.
Managing architecture and business analysis exceptions.
Business & Technology Roadmaps
Provide oversight of Business Unit technology evolution by ensuring:
Application roadmaps remain current.
Technology modernization roadmaps are maintained.
Legacy technology retirement plans exist.
Capability roadmaps align to enterprise strategy.
Business capability maps remain current.
Technology investment decisions align with enterprise priorities.
Capability Development
Develop and continuously improve:
Architecture frameworks
Business capability models
Reference architectures
Solution patterns
Business analysis templates
Design standards
Reusable architecture assets
AI-assisted architecture practices
AI-assisted business analysis practices
Drive adoption across all delivery teams.
Quality Assurance
Provide quality oversight of:
Business Requirements Documents
Solution Design Documents
Integration Designs
Non-functional Requirements
Architecture Decision Records
Solution Reviews
Architecture compliance assessments
Ensure consistent quality before governance approval.
Enterprise Collaboration
Partner closely with:
Enterprise Architecture
Product Management
Digital Engineering
Data & AI Engineering
Cyber Security
Infrastructure
Operations
Delivery Management
Vendor Partners to ensure end-to-end solution alignment.
Innovation & Continuous Improvement
Champion:
AI-assisted architecture
AI-assisted requirements engineering
Architecture automation
Architecture repositories
Digital twins
Architecture knowledge management
Reusable solution accelerators
Cloud, API, AI-first design
Event-driven architecture
Cloud-native architecture
Business capability modelling
Continuous architecture
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business Information Systems, or a related discipline.
Master's degree in Technology, Business Administration (MBA), Enterprise Architecture, or a related field is highly desirable.
8+ years' experience in Solution Architecture, Business Architecture, Enterprise Architecture, or Business Analysis.
5+ years leading architecture or business analysis practices, chapters, or centres of excellence.
Proven experience leading senior technical leaders and multidisciplinary architecture teams.
Demonstrated success delivering enterprise-wide digital transformation programmes.
Strong experience in Enterprise Architecture governance, application portfolio management, business capability modelling, cloud-native architectures, API-led integration, and technology modernization.
Experience establishing architecture and business analysis standards, governance frameworks, and capability development programmes within large, complex enterprise environments.
Professional Certifications
TOGAF® Certified
TM Forum Open Digital Architecture (ODA) certification
Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) or equivalent
Cloud certifications (AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud)
SAFe Agilist, Scrum, or other Agile certification
ITIL Foundation or equivalent
Functional & Technical Skills:
Leadership
Strategic Leadership
Practice Leadership
People Development
Coaching & Mentoring
Stakeholder Management
Organizational Design
Change Leadership
Business
Business Architecture
Business Capability Modelling
Business Process Modelling
Customer Journey Mapping
Product Operating Model
Digital Transformation
Portfolio Management
Architecture
Enterprise Architecture
Solution Architecture
Application Architecture
Integration Architecture
Cloud Architecture
Security Architecture
Data Architecture
AI Architecture
API Architecture
Event-Driven Architecture
Microservices
Domain-Driven Design
Technical
Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
Kubernetes
API Management
DevSecOps
CI/CD
Architecture Modelling (ArchiMate, UML, BPMN, C4)
Integration Platforms
AI Engineering
Data Platforms
Enterprise Integration Patterns
Governance
TOGAF
TM Forum ODA
Architecture Review Boards
Technology Standards
Design Governance
Business Analysis Frameworks
Risk Management
Behaviors & Competencies:
Trusted and respected as a thought leader and change agent who can influence and persuade business and IT leaders
Organizationally savvy, and understanding of the political climate of the enterprise and how to navigate obstacles and politics
Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills, with high-levels of creativity and a practical approach that is principle-driven
Ability to balance the long-term ("big picture") and short-term implications of individual decisions and effective at driving short term actions that are consistent with long-term goals
Excellent written and verbal communications skills, able to distil complex technical concepts into simple terms, with strong persuasion skills to gain support for and establish principles, standards, and change
Excellent relationship building, teamwork, and collaboration skills that enables the provision of effective support and guidance across programs
Designs for scalability and reuse; anticipates future data needs; aligns architecture with organizational goals.
Vendor and technology neutral - driven primarily by long-term business outcomes rather than personal preferences
Regularly brings forward improvements; pilots emerging tools and evaluates fit.
Reporting to the HOD - Data AI Systems & Architecture, the Solution & Business Architecture Area Chapter Lead is responsible for providing strategic leadership and governance for the Solution Architecture and Business Analysis disciplines across the enterprise. The role develops and grows architecture and business analysis capabilities, establishes standards, methodologies, and best practices, and ensures the consistent delivery of high-quality business and solution designs that align with Enterprise Architecture principles, business strategy, and technology roadmaps.
Reporting to the Head of Data, AI Systems & Architecture, the Chapter Area Lead provides leadership to the Engineering Managers responsible for Consumer Business, Enterprise & Public Sector, Financial Services, Technology, and Business Analysis. The role ensures consistent architecture practices across all business units while driving capability maturity, innovation, talent development, architecture governance, and continuous improvement.
The Area Chapter Lead acts as the custodian of the Safaricom Business Architecture, System and Application roadmaps and the organization's solution architecture and business analysis practices, enabling delivery teams to build scalable, secure, reusable, and business-aligned digital capabilities.
Responsibilities
Health and Safety
Uphold the company code of conduct, policies and procedures, ensuring integrity and accountability in every aspect of your work.
All employees have a responsibility to adhere to safety, health, and wellbeing policies, guidelines and procedures in all actions and decisions
Practice Leadership
Define and own the Solution Architecture and Business Analysis strategy, operating model, and capability roadmap.
Establish a unified Architecture and Business Analysis practice across the organization.
Drive continuous improvement and maturity of both disciplines.
Foster a culture of engineering excellence, innovation, collaboration, and customer-centric design.
Promote reuse of architecture patterns, business capabilities, APIs, and design assets.
People Leadership
Lead and develop the Engineering Managers responsible for:
Consumer Business Solution Architecture
Enterprise & Public Sector Solution Architecture
Financial Services Solution Architecture
Technology Solution Architecture
Business Analysis
Responsibilities include:
Coaching and mentoring Engineering Managers.
Performance management.
Succession planning.
Capability development.
Workforce planning.
Recruitment of senior architecture talent.
Career progression.
Learning and certification programmes.
Architecture & Business Analysis Governance
Own governance across all architecture and business analysis activities by:
Establishing architecture principles and standards.
Defining business analysis methodologies.
Governing architecture review boards.
Governing business requirements quality.
Defining documentation standards.
Ensuring compliance with Enterprise Architecture standards.
Ensuring alignment with security, data, AI, integration, and cloud strategies.
Managing architecture and business analysis exceptions.
Business & Technology Roadmaps
Provide oversight of Business Unit technology evolution by ensuring:
Application roadmaps remain current.
Technology modernization roadmaps are maintained.
Legacy technology retirement plans exist.
Capability roadmaps align to enterprise strategy.
Business capability maps remain current.
Technology investment decisions align with enterprise priorities.
Capability Development
Develop and continuously improve:
Architecture frameworks
Business capability models
Reference architectures
Solution patterns
Business analysis templates
Design standards
Reusable architecture assets
AI-assisted architecture practices
AI-assisted business analysis practices
Drive adoption across all delivery teams.
Quality Assurance
Provide quality oversight of:
Business Requirements Documents
Solution Design Documents
Integration Designs
Non-functional Requirements
Architecture Decision Records
Solution Reviews
Architecture compliance assessments
Ensure consistent quality before governance approval.
Enterprise Collaboration
Partner closely with:
Enterprise Architecture
Product Management
Digital Engineering
Data & AI Engineering
Cyber Security
Infrastructure
Operations
Delivery Management
Vendor Partners to ensure end-to-end solution alignment.
Innovation & Continuous Improvement
Champion:
AI-assisted architecture
AI-assisted requirements engineering
Architecture automation
Architecture repositories
Digital twins
Architecture knowledge management
Reusable solution accelerators
Cloud, API, AI-first design
Event-driven architecture
Cloud-native architecture
Business capability modelling
Continuous architecture
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Business Information Systems, or a related discipline.
Master's degree in Technology, Business Administration (MBA), Enterprise Architecture, or a related field is highly desirable.
8+ years' experience in Solution Architecture, Business Architecture, Enterprise Architecture, or Business Analysis.
5+ years leading architecture or business analysis practices, chapters, or centres of excellence.
Proven experience leading senior technical leaders and multidisciplinary architecture teams.
Demonstrated success delivering enterprise-wide digital transformation programmes.
Strong experience in Enterprise Architecture governance, application portfolio management, business capability modelling, cloud-native architectures, API-led integration, and technology modernization.
Experience establishing architecture and business analysis standards, governance frameworks, and capability development programmes within large, complex enterprise environments.
Professional Certifications
TOGAF® Certified
TM Forum Open Digital Architecture (ODA) certification
Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) or equivalent
Cloud certifications (AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud)
SAFe Agilist, Scrum, or other Agile certification
ITIL Foundation or equivalent
Functional & Technical Skills:
Leadership
Strategic Leadership
Practice Leadership
People Development
Coaching & Mentoring
Stakeholder Management
Organizational Design
Change Leadership
Business
Business Architecture
Business Capability Modelling
Business Process Modelling
Customer Journey Mapping
Product Operating Model
Digital Transformation
Portfolio Management
Architecture
Enterprise Architecture
Solution Architecture
Application Architecture
Integration Architecture
Cloud Architecture
Security Architecture
Data Architecture
AI Architecture
API Architecture
Event-Driven Architecture
Microservices
Domain-Driven Design
Technical
Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
Kubernetes
API Management
DevSecOps
CI/CD
Architecture Modelling (ArchiMate, UML, BPMN, C4)
Integration Platforms
AI Engineering
Data Platforms
Enterprise Integration Patterns
Governance
TOGAF
TM Forum ODA
Architecture Review Boards
Technology Standards
Design Governance
Business Analysis Frameworks
Risk Management
Behaviors & Competencies:
Trusted and respected as a thought leader and change agent who can influence and persuade business and IT leaders
Organizationally savvy, and understanding of the political climate of the enterprise and how to navigate obstacles and politics
Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills, with high-levels of creativity and a practical approach that is principle-driven
Ability to balance the long-term ("big picture") and short-term implications of individual decisions and effective at driving short term actions that are consistent with long-term goals
Excellent written and verbal communications skills, able to distil complex technical concepts into simple terms, with strong persuasion skills to gain support for and establish principles, standards, and change
Excellent relationship building, teamwork, and collaboration skills that enables the provision of effective support and guidance across programs
Designs for scalability and reuse; anticipates future data needs; aligns architecture with organizational goals.
Vendor and technology neutral - driven primarily by long-term business outcomes rather than personal preferences
Regularly brings forward improvements; pilots emerging tools and evaluates fit.