Chief Enterprise Technology Architect

Job Description:

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and maintain a forward-thinking enterprise architecture strategy that supports GDOT's mission and objectives.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to align IT initiatives with business goals and transportation needs.
• Lead and mentor a team of Enterprise Architects specializing in Security, Data, Applications, and Infrastructure domains.
• Oversee and guide Solutions Architects across various sub-departments.
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing within the Enterprise Architecture team and across the IT division.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Build, manage, and develop a high-performing team of Enterprise Architects across various domains.
• Guide and manage the various Solution Architects throughout the organization.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations for team members.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities to grow architectural capabilities.
• Foster collaboration between the Enterprise Architecture team and other IT and business units.
• Implement a holistic approach that addresses People, Process, Technology, and Culture dimensions of change.
• Partner closely with PMO to drive and support change management for both internal and external customers.
• Recommend and oversee organizational structures such as Communities of Practice, Centers of Excellence, Guilds, Change Control Boards, and Architectural Review Boards.
• Design and implement collaborative structures that create alignment and foster innovation across IT departments.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Gather requirements and insights from diverse stakeholders, including leadership, customers, and frontline staff.
• Facilitate collaborative decision-making processes to ensure all voices are heard and considered in architectural decisions.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external partners to drive technology adoption and success.

Collaborative Standards Development and Governance:

• Facilitate the co-creation of enterprise architecture standards and best practices through inclusive, cross-functional workshops and working groups.
• Foster a culture of shared ownership in architectural standards by involving stakeholders from various departments in the development process.
• Establish and chair Architectural Review Boards as needed to govern technology decisions and ensure alignment with enterprise standards.
• Design and implement effective Change Control processes that balance governance with agility.
• Lead and oversee Communities of Practice, Centers of Excellence, and Guilds to promote knowledge sharing and standardization.
• Guide the establishment of flexible governance processes that encourage adherence to standards while allowing for innovation and agility.
• Lead regular, collaborative reviews of standards to ensure they evolve with emerging technologies and changing business needs.
• Develop and implement strategies to communicate the value and benefits of standards across the organization, encouraging voluntary adoption.

Research and Innovation Initiatives:

• Organize and facilitate proof-of-concept (POC) projects to test innovative solutions in real-world scenarios.
• Lead hackathons and innovation challenges that bring together diverse teams to solve complex transportation problems.
• Establish partnerships with academic institutions, research centers, and industry leaders to stay at the forefront of technological advancements.
• Create and maintain an innovation lab or sandbox environment where teams can experiment with new technologies and approaches.
• Develop a framework for evaluating and scaling successful POCs and hackathon outcomes into enterprise-wide solutions.

Solution Architecture Support:

• Mentor and guide Solutions Architects, ensuring they have the necessary tools and knowledge to succeed.
• Collaborate with Solutions Architects to align their work with the broader enterprise architecture vision.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer and cross-pollination of ideas between different architectural teams.

Technology Enablement:

• Lead proof-of-concept initiatives to test and validate new technologies before broader adoption.

Communication and Change Management:

• rticulate complex architectural concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Develop and execute change management strategies to support the adoption of new architectural approaches.
• Create and maintain documentation to support the understanding and implementation of enterprise architecture principles.
• Partner closely with PMO to implement effective change management practices that address both technical and human aspects of transformation.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field; Master's degree preferred (or equivalent experience as an Enterprise Architect or Chief Enterprise Architect).
• 10+ years of experience in enterprise architecture, with a focus on government or transportation sectors a plus.
• Proven experience leading teams of architects and technical professionals.
• Experience establishing and managing organizational structures such as Communities of Practice, Centers of Excellence, and Architectural Review Boards.
• Demonstrated background in addressing People, Process, Technology, and Culture dimensions of organizational change.
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman).
• Experience guiding and managing Solution Architects across different business domains.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate at all levels of the organization.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience with cloud technologies, data analytics, and emerging technologies such as AI and IoT.
• Knowledge of transportation systems and smart city concepts is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to align technology initiatives with organizational missions and goals.
• Experience in positioning IT as a strategic enabler in large organizations.
• Strong partnership capabilities, particularly in collaborating with PMO to support change initiatives.