Enterprise Architect - AI & Digital Platforms

Apparel FZCO; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Apparel Group is seeking an Enterprise Architect to define and govern the Group's technology architecture, aligning business strategy with digital transformation. You will drive modernization, scalability, and innovations across retail, e-commerce, supply chain, and corporate functions.

You will lead architecture governance, define target-state architecture and roadmaps, and partner with business leaders to translate initiatives into scalable capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• 12 years of technology leadership, enterprise or solution architecture or digital transformation experience.
• Minimum 5 years in Enterprise Architecture or senior architecture leadership.
• Experience in retail, omnichannel, e‑commerce or large multi‑brand organisations preferred.
• Strong knowledge of TOGAF and modern cloud platforms (Azure/AWS/GCP).
• Experience leading large-scale transformation programmes and modernization initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the Group’s Enterprise Architecture strategy and multi-year technology roadmap.
• Partner with business leaders to translate strategic initiatives into scalable capabilities.
• Establish principles, standards, frameworks and governance for technology decisions.
• Lead architecture reviews ensuring alignment with security, scalability and policy.
• Drive application portfolio rationalisation and platform optimisation.
• Define enterprise integration architecture and promote API-first, event-driven patterns.
• Collaborate with data teams to establish enterprise data principles and AI-ready foundations.
• Influence digital, omnichannel and customer experience architecture for engagement and loyalty.
• Evaluate emerging tech (AI, cloud, automation) and advise on adoption.
• Develop reference architectures and operating models for key domains.

Skills

Enterprise Architecture

TOGAF

Cloud strategy

API-first architecture

Stakeholder management

Data governance

AI/Generative AI awareness

Architecture governance

Digital transformation

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science / Information Systems / Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Azure

AWS

GCP

SAP S/4HANA

Oracle

Microsoft Dynamics

Job description

Role Purpose

The Enterprise Architect will be responsible for defining and governing the enterprise technology architecture across Apparel Group ensuring alignment between business strategy, digital transformation initiatives and technology investments. The role will serve as a strategic advisor to business and technology leadership driving modernization, standardization, scalability and innovation across the Group’s retail, e‑commerce, supply chain, customer and corporate functions.

The Enterprise Architect will play a pivotal role in shaping the future‑state architecture, enabling omnichannel retail capabilities, AI‑driven innovation, enterprise data platforms and cloud transformation, while ensuring architectural governance and long‑term sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the Group’s Enterprise Architecture strategy, target‑state architecture and multi‑year technology roadmap aligned with business objectives and transformation priorities.
• Partner with business leaders, transformation teams and technology stakeholders to translate strategic initiatives into scalable business and technology capabilities.
• Establish architecture principles, standards, frameworks and governance processes to guide technology decision‑making across the organization.
• Lead architecture reviews for major business initiatives ensuring alignment with enterprise standards, security requirements, scalability needs and long‑term technology strategy.
• Drive application portfolio rationalisation by identifying opportunities to consolidate systems, reduce technical debt, eliminate redundancies and optimise technology investments.
• Define enterprise integration architecture and promote API‑first, event‑driven and reusable integration patterns across business platforms.
• Collaborate with data and analytics teams to establish enterprise data architecture principles, governance frameworks, master data strategies and AI‑ready data foundations.
• Partner with digital, omnichannel and customer experience teams to architect solutions that enhance customer engagement, loyalty, personalisation and retail operations.
• Evaluate emerging technologies including AI, Generative AI, automation, cloud platforms and intelligent retail solutions and provide recommendations for adoption and business value realisation.
• Develop technology reference architectures, capability maps, architecture blueprints and future‑state operating models for key business domains.
• Provide architectural leadership and guidance across ERP, POS, e‑commerce, supply chain, merchandising, CRM, HR, finance and corporate systems landscapes.
• Work closely with solution architects, product teams, project managers and vendors to ensure successful implementation of architecture standards and transformation initiatives.
• Identify technology risks, architecture gaps and dependencies and proactively recommend mitigation plans to support business continuity and scalability.
• Drive cloud modernization and enterprise platform transformation initiatives to improve agility, performance, security and cost optimisation.
• Act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership by providing strategic insights on technology trends, architecture investments and digital transformation opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or a related field.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• 12 years of experience in technology leadership, enterprise architecture, solution architecture or digital transformation roles.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Enterprise Architecture or a senior architecture leadership capacity.
• Experience in retail, consumer, omnichannel, e‑commerce or large multi‑brand organisations is highly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF.
• Experience with cloud platforms – Azure, AWS or GCP and modern integration architectures.
• Demonstrated experience leading large‑scale transformation programmes and enterprise technology modernisation initiatives.

Preferred Expertise

• Retail ERP platforms – SAP S/4HANA, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics.
• POS and store technology ecosystems.
• E‑commerce and omnichannel platforms.
• CRM and loyalty platforms.
• Enterprise integration and API management.
• Data lakehouse and analytics platforms.
• AI, Generative AI and intelligent automation solutions.
• Enterprise data governance and master data management.
• Supply chain and merchandising systems.

Key Competencies

• Enterprise Architecture.
• Technology Strategy.
• Business Capability Modelling.
• Digital Transformation Leadership.
• Retail Omnichannel Domain Knowledge.
• Stakeholder Management / Executive Communication.
• Architecture Governance.
• Innovation / Emerging Technology Evaluation.
• Strategic Planning / Roadmap Development.
• Problem Solving / Decision Making.
• Influencing Without Authority.

Success Measures

• Alignment of technology investments with business strategy.
• Reduction in technology complexity and technical debt.
• Increased platform standardisation and reusability.
• Successful delivery of transformation initiatives.
• Improved enterprise scalability, resilience and agility.
• Adoption of architecture standards and governance practices.
• Enhanced business capabilities through digital and AI‑driven solutions.