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.
Function description:
* 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; escalate 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: