Senior Enterprise Architect

Lead the foundational phase of a critical digital transformation, charting the course for the full automation of an essential application landscape by 2027. This pivotal role involves architecting a robust project plan, analyzing complex interdependencies, and building compelling business cases that integrate cutting-edge security and compliance standards.

CONTEXT

Our client, a major player in its sector and the crucial distribution system operator for electricity and gas in the Brussels-Capital Region, stands at the precipice of an unprecedented digital transformation. With a strategic vision to automate its entire application landscape by 2027, this initiative is not merely an upgrade; it's a fundamental reimagining of how critical infrastructure is managed, operated, and secured for the benefit of an entire metropolitan area. The journey begins with a vital preliminary preparation and study phase, spanning from October to December. This initial period is absolutely critical, as it lays the intellectual and strategic groundwork for a multi-year, multi-million-euro program. The challenge is immense: to unravel a complex web of legacy applications, map their dependencies, ensure uninterrupted business continuity during the transition, and embed cutting-edge security and compliance (DevSecOps, NIS2, GDPR) from the very first blueprint. This role is designed for a visionary leader who can not only navigate intricate technical landscapes but also articulate a compelling financial and operational narrative to executive stakeholders, securing their buy-in for this monumental undertaking. You will be instrumental in defining the future operational backbone of a vital public utility.

ACTIVITIES

• Lead the preliminary preparation and study phase (October to December) for the comprehensive application landscape automation program.
• Develop a detailed, robust, and comprehensive project plan for the multi-year transformation initiative, including scope, timelines, resource allocation, and risk management strategies.
• Conduct an in-depth inventory and analysis of existing application dependencies, identifying critical interconnections and potential areas for modernization or consolidation.
• Design strategies and processes to ensure absolute business continuity throughout the transformation, minimizing disruption to essential electricity and gas distribution services.
• Integrate stringent security checks and compliance requirements (DevSecOps principles, NIS2 directives, GDPR regulations) into the architectural design and project methodology from inception.
• Author compelling financial and operational business cases, complete with ROI analysis and strategic justifications, for presentation and approval by executive stakeholders.
• Collaborate with various internal departments (IT, operations, finance, legal) to gather requirements, validate assumptions, and build consensus around the proposed architectural and project strategies.
• Identify key architectural patterns, technical standards, and strategic vendor partnerships essential for the successful execution of the automation roadmap.

EXPECTED ACHIEVEMENTS

• A fully developed, approved, and actionable comprehensive project plan that serves as the blueprint for the 2027 automation program.
• A complete and meticulously documented inventory of application dependencies, forming a critical knowledge base for future development and migration efforts.
• A robust business continuity strategy that guarantees uninterrupted service delivery during all phases of the transformation.
• An architecture and project plan that inherently integrates DevSecOps, NIS2, and GDPR compliance, mitigating future risks and ensuring regulatory adherence.
• A persuasive financial and operational business case that secures executive buy-in and funding for the subsequent phases of the transformation.
• A clear, communicated vision and foundational strategy that aligns diverse stakeholders and sets the stage for a successful, large-scale digital overhaul.
• Identification of early wins and strategic milestones for the initial phases of the automation journey.

ENVIRONMENT

Enterprise Architecture Frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman), Project Management Methodologies (e.g., PMP, Prince2, Agile/Scrum), DevSecOps principles, NIS2 Directive compliance, GDPR, Cloud Platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP concepts), Application Portfolio Management (APM) tools, IT Service Management (ITSM) platforms, Business Case Development, Stakeholder Management, Jira, Confluence, Microsoft Project, Visio.