Role: Enterprise Architecture Consultant
Location: Sacramento, CA Hybrid (as required by project needs)
Duration: Contract (6+ Months)
Pay Rate: $80 to $85
Overview: We are seeking an experienced Enterprise Architecture Consultant to lead tactical architecture execution while designing and establishing a centralized EA Office within a unified Strategy & Governance function. This role will work closely with PMO and Business Relationship Management (BRM) teams to align technology initiatives with organizational strategy, enable shared services, and drive automation and AI-enabled transformation. The consultant will balance hands-on architecture delivery with building governance structures, operating models, and enterprise standards to ensure sustainable, scalable, and compliant technology adoption.
Key Responsibilities:
Tactical Enterprise Architecture (Approx. 50%)
- Develop solution intents, Architecture Decision Records (ADRs), and reference architectures aligned with enterprise standards.
- Define and enforce standards across cloud, data, integration, security, and AI/ML domains.
- Lead or coordinate Architecture Review Board (ARB) activities, managing exceptions and technical debt.
- Maintain capability maps, technology roadmaps, and alignment with business and PMO portfolios.
- Embed security, privacy, and regulatory compliance into architecture design.
- Conduct vendor and tool evaluations to ensure interoperability and cost-effectiveness.
- Oversee CMDB optimization, change reviews, and technology lifecycle governance.
- Align IT solutions to organizational strategy through stakeholder engagement.
EA Office Design, Stand-Up & Integration (Approx. 50%)
- Define EA operating model, RACI structure, service catalog, and engagement processes with PMO/BRM.
- Establish demand-to-delivery lifecycle (intake → review → delivery checkpoints → benefits tracking).
- Define EA organizational structure including domain architects, analysts, and shared services integration.
- Implement EA tooling, dashboards, and workflow automation capabilities.
- Develop compliance and performance dashboards to track architecture adoption.
- Lead change management, onboarding, and enterprise adoption of EA practices.
Shared Services & Automation Enablement
- Standardize intake and triage workflows across portfolios.
- Establish AI/data governance guardrails and model governance frameworks.
- Enable financial analytics and traceability from portfolio investments to outcomes.
- Automate PMO workflows (stage gates, reporting, and operational dashboards).
- Integrate architecture, portfolio, and financial data into unified decision-making views.
Expected Deliverables:
- EA Charter, Operating Model, Governance Framework, and ARB structure.
- Capability maps, enterprise standards, and technology roadmaps.
- Automated intake workflows, dashboards, and architecture repositories.
- AI governance frameworks, reusable data/ML pipelines, and migration playbooks.
- Financial analytics dashboards linking investment to business outcomes.
Required Qualifications:
Experience:
- 15+ years of progressive IT experience across infrastructure, data, and business systems.
- Extensive experience in enterprise data architecture, governance, and migration initiatives.
- Demonstrated background implementing AI and automation within IT governance environments.
- Experience designing enterprise governance models spanning procurement, cybersecurity, AI, and integrations.
- Strong executive-level communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Architecture & Technology Expertise:
- Enterprise and solution architecture, including capability modeling and ADR development.
- Cloud platforms, integration architectures, and identity/access management.
- Data and AI ecosystems (ETL/ELT, governance frameworks, ML lifecycle management).
Process & Governance:
- Operating model design, demand/portfolio management, and ARB governance leadership.
Automation & Tools:
- Experience with tools such as Power Platform, Microsoft 365/Copilot, Azure DevOps, Jira, and Microsoft Purview (or comparable solutions).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Certifications such as TOGAF, ITIL, COBIT, Azure, or SAFe (or equivalent).
- Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
Core Competencies:
- Executive communication and change leadership.
- Systems thinking and analytical problem-solving.
- Strong collaboration and coaching mindset across technical and business teams.
