Business Architect | Independent Contract | Cape Town (Hybrid) ??
My client, based in Cape Town (Northern Suburbs), is looking for an experienced Business Architect to join their team on an independent contract basis.
?? Location: Cape Town (North) - Hybrid
?? Contract Type: Independent Contractor
?? Industry: Financial Services / Insurance
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Enterprise Architect to define and execute enterprise architecture strategies that align business vision, operating models, information, applications, and technology capabilities.
The successful candidate will be responsible for translating strategic objectives into practical architecture roadmaps, ensuring alignment between business strategy and technology execution across complex enterprise environments.
This role requires a strategic thinker with strong experience in Enterprise Architecture, Business Architecture, Digital Transformation, Operating Model Design, Data & Information Architecture, and Technology Strategy, with the ability to engage at executive level and drive large-scale transformation initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Architecture Strategy & Frameworks
- Develop, maintain, and govern enterprise architecture frameworks, principles, standards, and methodologies.
- Establish and manage current-state (baseline) and future-state (target) enterprise architectures.
- Define architecture roadmaps aligned to organisational strategy, business priorities, and transformation objectives.
- Apply recognised enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF to guide architecture development.
- Establish architecture governance practices to ensure strategic alignment across business and technology domains.
- Provide architectural oversight and quality assurance across major programmes and initiatives.
Business Architecture & Operating Model Design
- Translate corporate strategy into business architecture models and actionable transformation plans.
- Define and optimise:
- Business capabilities
- Business services
- Operating models
- Business processes
- Organisational structures
- Roles and responsibilities
- Customer journeys
- Value streams
- Assess current business operating models and design target operating models to support strategic objectives.
- Perform business impact assessments, gap analysis, and transition planning between current and future states.
- Align business architecture with application, data, and technology architectures.
Digital Transformation & Enterprise Modernisation
- Lead architecture input into digital transformation programmes and enterprise-wide change initiatives.
- Define digital strategies and architecture models supporting customer-centric solutions.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and determine their applicability to business objectives.
- Support platform modernisation, system rationalisation, integration strategies, and technology evolution.
- Ensure transformation initiatives deliver measurable business value and benefits realisation.
Information & Data Architecture
- Define enterprise information management strategies and data architecture principles.
- Establish data governance frameworks, standards, and operating models.
- Support the development of:
- Data strategies
- Data management capabilities
- Data models
- Data governance structures
- Data quality frameworks
- Master and reference data strategies
- Provide architectural guidance for:
- Data platforms
- Business intelligence environments
- Analytics solutions
- Data migration initiatives
- Cloud data strategies
Application & Solution Architecture Alignment
- Ensure application landscapes align with enterprise architecture principles.
- Provide guidance on:
- Application rationalisation
- Platform selection
- Solution architecture decisions
- Integration strategies
- System modernisation
- Support vendor evaluations, RFP processes, and solution assessments.
- Ensure alignment between business requirements and technology implementation.
Architecture Analysis & Documentation
- Develop and maintain enterprise architecture artefacts including:
- Capability models
- Business architecture models
- Architecture roadmaps
- Target operating models
- Solution blueprints
- Migration strategies
- Impact assessments
- Architecture principles
- Facilitate architecture workshops with business, technology, and executive stakeholders.
- Maintain architecture repositories using tools such as:
- iServer
- Enterprise Architect
- Microsoft Visio
- Similar EA modelling tools
Transformation Programme & Portfolio Support
- Provide enterprise architecture leadership across strategic programmes and portfolios.
- Define transformation roadmaps, dependencies, and implementation approaches.
- Support programme delivery through architecture governance and decision-making.
- Manage alignment across multiple business domains, technology teams, and delivery partners.
- Support benefits realisation tracking and business value measurement.
Stakeholder Engagement & Leadership
- Partner with executives, business leaders, CIOs, product owners, architects, and delivery teams.
- Translate complex technical concepts into business-focused outcomes.
- Influence strategic decision-making through architecture insight.
- Provide coaching, mentoring, and guidance to architects and delivery teams.
- Promote architecture best practices and maturity improvement.
Required Experience & Skills
Essential Experience
- 10+ years' experience within Enterprise Architecture, Business Architecture, Solution Architecture, or Technology Strategy roles.
- Proven experience defining and implementing enterprise architecture strategies.
- Experience delivering architecture initiatives within large, complex organisations.
- Experience within Financial Services, Banking, Insurance, or regulated industries advantageous.
- Experience supporting large-scale digital transformation and business change programmes.
- Experience engaging with executive stakeholders and senior leadership.
Architecture Expertise
Strong experience in:
- Enterprise Architecture frameworks and governance
- TOGAF methodology
- Business Architecture
- Capability modelling
- Target Operating Model design
- Digital transformation
- IT strategy development
- Architecture roadmaps
- Architecture governance
- Solution architecture alignment
- Enterprise information management
- Data architecture and governance
Business Transformation Skills
Experience in:
- Business model redesign
- Operating model transformation
- Business process optimisation
- Customer-centric strategy development
- Change management
- Benefits realisation
- Business case development
- Strategic planning
Technical & Data Architecture Exposure
Knowledge of:
- Application architecture
- Integration architecture
- Cloud architecture
- Data architecture
- Data governance
- Data migration strategies
- Business intelligence and analytics platforms
- Enterprise platforms and digital ecosystems
Tools & Technologies
Experience with:
- Enterprise Architecture modelling tools (iServer / Sparx EA / equivalent)
- Microsoft Visio
- Jira / Confluence
- Microsoft Project
- Architecture repositories
- Data modelling tools
Qualifications & Certifications
Preferred:
- Degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Management, or related field
- MBA or postgraduate business qualification advantageous
- TOGAF Certified Enterprise Architect
- CBAP advantageous
- Architecture / Data Management certifications advantageous
- Agile / Programme Management certification advantageous
If you have a passion for aligning business strategy with enterprise architecture and technology, and you're looking for your next contract opportunity, I'd love to hear from you.
