Enterprise Architect

Wakefern Food Corp. is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States and supports its co-operative members' retail operations, trading under the ShopRite®, Price Rite®, The Fresh Grocer®, Dearborn Markets®, and Gourmet Garage® banners.

Employing an innovative approach to wholesale business services, Wakefern focuses on helping the independent retailer compete in a big business world. Providing the tools entrepreneurs need to stay a step ahead of the competition, Wakefern’s co-operative members benefit from the company’s extensive portfolio of services, including innovative technology, private label development, and best-in-class procurement practices.

Summary

The Enterprise Architect (EA) ensures the development and implementation of business capabilities and the supporting technology solutions align with the company’s technology infrastructure. The EA is responsible for designing and overseeing the implementation of enterprise-wide application architecture that supports all business processes and technological solutions, ensuring efficient operation and support across the technology suite. The role is a critical part of Wakefern’s systems transformation mapping out the current, transition, and final states of our application landscape.

Participates in the development lifecycle for new implementations as well as upgrades to review the architecture of software and hardware systems, making sure they fit with Wakefern's technology, infrastructure, and business strategy. Coordinates the review of production systems to make recommendations for realignment and/or modernization for improved stability, performance, and longevity.

Essential Functions

• Partner with tech leadership to create the enterprise architecture strategy for current, transition, and future state technology solutions.
• Develop and maintain enterprise architecture frameworks that align with business objectives.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and tech teams to understand business requirements and the proposed solutions to determine fit with current application and infrastructure architecture. Recommend updates to architecture as needed to continue to meet business requirements.
• Provide guidance and recommendations on technology trends and innovations that could enhance business performance.
• Design and implement scalable, secure, and resilient IT architectures that support business operations.
• Ensure that architectural solutions are aligned with industry best practices and compliance requirements.
• Develop and maintain documentation related to enterprise architecture, including blueprints, standards, and guidelines.
• Responsible for the Enterprise Architecture repository (e.g. Blue Dolphin) and all related diagrams, including Application Portfolio Diagrams, Data Flow Diagrams, etc.
• Lead the ongoing collection, development, review, and adoption of architecture and development standards and best practices.
• Provide leadership and technical expertise during the design and implementation of major IT projects.
• Provide technical support and training to technology teams.
• Evaluate project proposals and assess their alignment with the overall enterprise architecture.
• Monitor and review project progress, ensuring that architectural principles and standards are adhered to.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration between various departments to achieve a unified approach to technology adoption.
• Conduct regular reviews of the enterprise application architecture to identify areas for improvement and optimization.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and best practices to continuously enhance the architectural framework.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning within the organization.
• Guide the governance process associated with technology standards.
• Manage the risks associated with information and IT assets including open-source components through appropriate standards, security policies and systems.
• Develop technical design for new platforms and integration within existing infrastructure in coordination with other technical units in the company.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Information Systems or Computer Science preferred.
• 10 years of related experience.
• 5-10 years of software architecture experience combined with at least 5 years of product
• development and web development.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing enterprise application architectures in complex organizations.
• Experience with design patterns in the creation of architectural deliverables.
• Experience with SOA standards.
• Experience with all aspects of the SDLC.
• Experience with implementing and/or utilizing DevOps solutions.
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF, Zachman, or FEAF.
• Proficiency in cloud computing platforms, such as Azure or Google Cloud.
• Experience with enterprise integration patterns and technologies.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and guide stakeholders.
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong general IT knowledge (applications development, testing, deployment, operations, documentation, standards, best practices, security, hardware, networking, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to interface effectively and collaborate with customers, peers, and management to develop solutions and ensure stakeholder buy-in.
• Ability to work well within a team environment.
• Ability to work under pressure and coordinate numerous activities to achieve maximum efficiency.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

• This position requires in person office presence 4x per week.

Associate Competencies

• Communicate Effectively
• Drive for Results
• Embrace Change
• Develop You
• Building Relationships
• Stay Competitive

Leadership Competencies

• Think Strategically
• Influence Others
• Talent Planning
• Take Accountability
• Inclusive Leadership