Enterprise Architect

The client is looking for a senior Enterprise Architect to support the implementation and operationalization of a Group-wide Enterprise Architecture operating model within a complex, federated, multi-entity environment. The consultant will transform an approved target operating model into concrete governance practices, establish architecture decision processes, define standards and review mechanisms, and drive adoption across business and IT stakeholders. The role requires a highly pragmatic architect capable of creating structure, facilitating decisions, delivering quick results, and ensuring that governance translates into tangible implementation outcomes. The mission combines strategic architecture leadership, governance design, stakeholder alignment, architecture coaching, and operational execution.

Your missions:

• Own and drive the implementation of the approved Enterprise Architecture operating model.
• Establish and continuously improve the architecture governance framework across the organization.
• Operationalize the federated Target Operating Model for all architecture roles and entities.
• Provide a unified architecture vision across business and IT domains.
• Implement and facilitate Architecture Review Boards (ARB) and governance processes.
• Embed architecture practices into portfolio management, project delivery, product development, security, data, integration, and vendor selection processes.
• Define and implement architecture decision-making mechanisms and compliance processes.
• Develop reusable architecture practices, standards, principles, and reference architectures.
• Build and animate an Architecture Community and architecture working groups.
• Define KPIs and governance metrics to measure architecture adoption and effectiveness.
• Transfer knowledge and ensure long-term autonomy of internal stakeholders.
• Drive alignment between Group and local entities while maintaining delivery efficiency.

Your activities:

• Translate the approved operating model into practical working methods.
• Create a prioritized implementation backlog.
• Define milestones, dependencies, risks, decision points and pilot initiatives.
• Establish architecture principles, standards, policies and reference architectures.
• Define and maintain governance workflows and decision processes.
• Ensure traceability of architectural decisions and escalation paths.

Architecture Review Board (ARB)

• Define ARB scope, participation model, quorum rules and governance processes.
• Organize and facilitate Architecture Review Board sessions.
• Prepare decision-ready architecture review packages.
• Record, track and communicate architectural decisions.
• Establish escalation mechanisms and governance controls.
• Establish delegated decision rights and decision-routing mechanisms.
• Implement waiver and exception management processes.
• Define architecture compliance reviews and compliance levels.
• Create accelerated governance processes for urgent business needs.
• Clarify responsibilities, mandates and decision rights of:
• Domain Architects
• Technical Architects
• Solution Architects
• Define interactions, handovers and escalation paths between architecture roles.
• Support the rollout of the federated architecture model across entities.

Stakeholder Alignment

• Align business, product, delivery, engineering, infrastructure, security and data stakeholders.
• Build consensus around priorities, trade-offs and reusable solutions.
• Promote shared ownership across teams and entities.
• Communicate and defend the architecture vision at senior management level.

Architecture Integration into Delivery

• Integrate architecture within:
• Funding processes
• Demand intake processes
• Security and risk management
• Data and integration initiatives
• Define the minimum viable architecture artefact framework.
• Establish ownership and approval processes.
• Implement review triggers.
• Define retirement and lifecycle management rules.
• Translate platform guardrails into actionable guidance for delivery teams.

Community & Capability Development

• Coach architectural communities and architecture stakeholders.
• Establish Architecture Communities of Practice.
• Lead focused architecture working groups.
• Deliver knowledge transfer activities.
• Enable internal teams to operate the governance model independently.

Measurement & Continuous Improvement

• Define and monitor KPIs related to:
• Delivery enablement
• Reuse
• Compliance
• Drive continuous improvement of governance practices.