Enterprise Architect

The Enterprise Architect will partner closely with business leaders, infrastructure teams, security teams, application development teams, and solution architects to ensure all technology initiatives align with enterprise standards, strategic roadmaps, scalability requirements, and operational objectives. This role will play a critical part in defining the technology governance framework, architecture principles, enterprise standards, and IT policies that guide technology decisions across the company.

This individual must be comfortable operating in a fast-paced, highly dynamic retail environment while balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities:

Enterprise Architecture Strategy & Governance

• Lead the establishment, operationalization, and continuous maturation of the Enterprise Architecture practice across the organization.
• Define, document, and maintain enterprise architecture principles, standards, reference architectures, policies, and governance processes.
• Establish and lead enterprise architecture governance processes, including Architecture Review Boards, technology standard reviews, and architectural decision governance.
• Define, govern, and maintain enterprise technology standards across applications, cloud, infrastructure, security, data and engineering practices.
• Establish architectural guardrails that enable agility while ensuring scalability, resiliency, maintainability, and security.

Technology Standards & Policy Development

• Define enterprise-wide standards for:
• Application architecture
• Cloud architecture
• Integration patterns and APIs
• Data architecture and governance
• Security architecture
• Infrastructure platforms
• DevOps and CI/CD practices
• Observability and operational monitoring
• Evaluate emerging technologies and provide recommendations aligned with business and IT strategy.
• Ensure standards support business scalability, operational efficiency, and cost optimization.

Solution Architecture Alignment

• Partner closely with solution architects and project delivery teams to ensure enterprise standards are embedded into all new initiatives and major enhancements.
• Chair or facilitate architecture reviews for projects and programs across corporate and retail technology domains.
• Provide guidance and architectural oversight during project planning, design, and implementation phases.
• Identify and mitigate architectural, operational, security, and integration risks.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with leaders across Finance, HR, Supply Chain, Merchandising, Store Operations, Legal, and other corporate functions.
• Build strong partnerships with cybersecurity, infrastructure, engineering, data, and PMO teams.
• Communicate architectural decisions and standards clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Drive consensus and influence decision-making across multiple teams and organizational levels.

Architecture Roadmaps & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain enterprise technology roadmaps aligned to business priorities and transformation initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for simplification, modernization, standardization, and technical debt reduction.
• Promote reusable architecture patterns and shared services across the organization.
• Continuously improve architecture governance processes and documentation standards.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive IT experience with at least 5+ years in Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture, or equivalent strategic architecture roles.
• Experience defining enterprise architecture standards, governance frameworks, and technology policies.
• Strong understanding of modern enterprise technologies including:
• Cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP)
• Enterprise integrations and APIs
• ERP and corporate systems
• Infrastructure and networking concepts
• Cybersecurity principles
• Data platforms and analytics
• DevOps and automation practices
• Experience working in large, complex enterprise environments.
• Executive-level communication, facilitation, and influencing skills, with a demonstrated ability to communicate architectural strategy, build consensus, and influence technology decisions across executive and senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to influence teams without direct authority.
• Experience working in fast-paced, highly demanding environments with competing priorities., * Experience in retail, consumer goods, or multi-site enterprise environments.
• Familiarity with enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF, Zachman, or similar methodologies.
• Experience supporting digital transformation and modernization initiatives.
• Knowledge of architecture governance tools and repositories.
• Experience with SaaS platforms such as Workday, Oracle, ServiceNow, or Microsoft ecosystem technologies.
• Relevant certifications in cloud, architecture, or security disciplines preferred.