Afarax is looking for a freelance Enterprise Architect. We need you!
The project:
Our client in the utilities sector is looking for a Enterprise Architect to join their team.
Lead the definition and continuous improvement of the governance framework, including principles, standards, policies, reference architectures, and golden scenarios, within a clear ARB decision workflow (decision packs, traceability and escalation path).
Contribute to the implementation of a federated target operating model and ensure alignment with the Digital Platform by translating guardrails into consumable guidance for local delivery.
Support the Head of IT Architecture in strategic studies, evaluations, and decision-making discussions.
Coach and provide guidance to other architecture roles across the organization.
Communicate the application strategy and related processes to business and IT stakeholders within the group.
Collect and analyze business gaps—using business and IT surveys—to assess and evaluate the IT landscape, in close collaboration with business architecture.
Conduct cross-domain trade-off analyses using industry-recognized methods (e.g., ATAM) and cost-benefit analyses (e.g., CBAM) to deliver well-founded architectural recommendations. Give directions to maintain and evolve the application portfolio in collaboration with application owners and key stakeholders.
Gather application-related information (e.g., cost data) as input for analysis leveraging standard methods such as CBAM.
Maintain the enterprise architecture repository—including the architecture decision record (ADR) repository with clear compliance levels (mandatory versus recommendation)—as a single source of truth for all architecture artefacts, models, and decisions, to prevent decision drift.
Validate architectural recommendations with senior business and IT management.
Manage the Architecture Vision Document and contribute to the development of an enterprise‑wide IT roadmap encompassing current and future initiatives, projects, and programs, including impacts and dependencies.
Ensure alignment and integration of architecture processes with other IT management processes such as Project Portfolio Management and IT Service Management.
Perform Initiative Architecture Alignment Assessments as a governance gate at initiative kick-off and key delivery milestones, producing go/no-go/conditional recommendations to ensure projects and products align to the enterprise architecture vision, principles, and standards.
Conduct periodic Architecture Compliance Reviews during initiative delivery to verify continued adherence to architecture standards; escalade deviations to the ARB for exception or waiver processing.
Help define, govern, and maintain enterprise data architecture standards—including data modelling conventions, data integration patterns, and data governance principles—and assess initiative-level data designs against these standards
Propose a realistic roadmap with the architectural points that need to increase in maturity.
Is this you?
At least 10 years of experience in an Enterprise Architecture role.
Proven experience facilitating ARB sessions and producing decision packs with traceability.
Strong autonomy and initiative, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all organizational levels.
Demonstrates results‑oriented mindset.
Solid understanding of IT processes and methodologies, with practical experience using industry standards such as ITIL, TOGAF, ArchiMate, Domain‑Driven Design, and others.
Experience with cloud‑native architecture patterns and platform governance (guardrails, onboarding criteria, reference architecture adoption).
Collaborative mindset, pragmatism, and ability to co‑construct. To be the link between the different stakeholders: Business, IT, Architecture teams, infrastructure team, ....
Ability to advocate and promote the adoption of reference architectures across teams.
Familiarity with microservices and event‑driven architecture approaches.
Knowledge of Gartner architecture frameworks (e.g., TIME for Application Portfolio Management).
Experience working with modeling tools such as Sparx Enterprise Architect, SAP LeanIX or equivalent alternatives.
Team‑oriented mindset, strong collaboration skills, and excellent presentation abilities.
Experience in merger or acquisition contexts and the associated transformation journeys is considered a plus.
Hands‑on experience designing and delivering IT solutions in an agile environment is an asset.
Knowledge and experience of/in the Energy and Utilities sector is a plus.
Fluency in English is mandatory for documentation, supplier interactions, and meetings. Knowledge of French, Dutch, or German is a plus, as you will collaborate with team members speaking these languages.
How afarax supports you?
You benefit from our extensive network
You will have access to projects that fit your expertise
We help and support you throughout your project
We offer the possibility to build a valuable and lasting partnership
Check out more projects on: https://afarax.be/jobs/type/freelance/
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