Enterprise Architect – Architecture Governance & Assurance

Role: Enterprise Architect – Architecture Governance & Assurance Open Positions: 1 Department: Consulting & Program Delivery Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (on-site at client premises) Job Type: Full Time, project-based assignment (12 to 36 months) Experience: 12+ years Market: Saudi Arabia - Enterprise & Public Sector Residence Permit: Saudi national candidates or candidates with an existing transferable Saudi iqama will be preferred. Availability: Short notice period preferred (starts in month 2 of the engagement) SOL Gulf: Company Profile SOL helps businesses modernize technology, optimize processes, and accelerate success so our clients stay ahead in a hyper-changing world. We are an ambitious team of technology experts with a vision to deliver world-class implementation of digital transformation and technology solutions. Based in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and UAE, SOL combines global technology capabilities with local delivery excellence. SOL Quick Facts Established: 2017 Headquarters: SOL Gulf, Saudi Arabia Regional Offices: Genesis Systems US, UAE, SOL Pakistan Strategic Alliances: Microsoft, Google Cloud, Oracle, IBM Website: www.solgulf.com Role Overview SOL Gulf is looking for an Enterprise Architect to lead architecture governance and assurance within a Strategy Execution & Value Realization Office for a major Saudi enterprise client. The role ensures that the initiatives governed by the office are designed in line with the enterprise architecture: validating solution designs at intake, coordinating Architecture Review Board referrals, keeping architecture decisions on record and reporting compliance. The architect works alongside the client’s Enterprise Architecture department, which keeps ownership of the standards. The ideal candidate is an experienced enterprise or solution architect who has governed architecture for large transformation portfolios and can influence delivery teams, vendors and senior stakeholders. Key Responsibilities1. Architecture Validation & Compliance · Review initiative solution designs at intake and at stage gates against enterprise architecture principles, standards and the target architecture. · Maintain the validation checklist, findings log and the architecture compliance report. · Recommend corrective actions and track them to closure. 2. Architecture Review Board Coordination · Prepare and route referrals to the client Architecture Review Board and follow decisions through. · Maintain the register of architecture decisions (ADR) and the referral log, and report turnaround times. 3. Portfolio Architecture Visibility · Map initiatives to business capabilities, applications, data and technology domains to expose overlaps, dependencies and gaps. · Flag cross-theme architecture risks to the Integration Forum. 4. Standards, Methodology & Knowledge Transfer · Contribute architecture content to the governance framework, playbooks and templates. · Coach initiative teams and theme leads on architecture expectations and build client capability for handover. 5. Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement · Provide architecture compliance and risk inputs to weekly health reporting and quarterly reviews. · Engage the client Enterprise Architecture department, PMO, vendors and business owners. Qualifications & Experience · Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems or a related field; a master’s degree is an advantage. · 12+ years of experience in IT, including at least 6 years in enterprise or solution architecture roles on large programs. · Experience in architecture governance: design reviews, ARB processes, standards and compliance reporting. · TOGAF certification is strongly preferred; additional cloud, data or security architecture certifications are an advantage. · Working knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks, cloud, integration, data and security architecture. · Experience in the Saudi market, particularly with enterprise or government clients, is preferred. · Fluent English is required; Arabic proficiency is strongly preferred. Competencies & Soft Skills · Strong analytical and structured design thinking. · Influences without authority and balances governance with delivery pace. · Clear written and verbal communication for technical and executive audiences. · Collaborative approach with client architecture teams, PMO and vendors. · Professionalism, integrity and sound judgment. What We Believe We have an unwavering commitment to diversity with the aim that every one of our people has a full sense of belonging within our organization. Inclusion and diversity are fundamental to our culture and help us bring different perspectives to the clients and communities we serve. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement SOL Gulf is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on role requirements, qualifications, experience and merit, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Show more Show less