Lead Architect

ThoughtLabs Belgium; Brussel; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

ThoughtLabs Belgium is seeking an experienced Enterprise/Solution Architect to lead transition management initiatives and align Product, Architecture, and Delivery teams. You will define governance models, clarify roles, and drive a rapid realization of the target operating model across platforms.

Fluency in Dutch and/or French and English is required to engage stakeholders across the organization. Experience with cloud-native architectures, microservices, event-driven patterns, and Sparx

Qualifications

• Experience in transition management and project management (more than 10 years).
• Experience with IT processes and methodologies (ITIL, TOGAF, ArchiMate, DDD).
• Experience with cloud-native architecture patterns and reference architectures.
• Familiar with Microservices and Event-driven architectures.
• Experience with Gartner Architecture Frameworks (TIME for APM).
• Modeling with Sparx Enterprise Architect (or similar).
• Team player with strong collaboration and presentation skills.
• Experience with mergers and transformations is a plus.
• Real-world IT product architecture in agile environments is a plus.
• Dutch and/or French and English language skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement governance models and decision-making frameworks.
• Clarify roles and interfaces between Product, Architecture, and Delivery teams.
• Drive the transition plan and maintain delivery continuity.
• Identify and remove blockers across organizational layers.
• Facilitate integration of Architecture and Product teams and foster collaboration.
• Create momentum and ensure the merged organization becomes operational and self-sustaining.
• Provide regular progress updates and leadership recommendations.
• Manage the workforce of solution architects across projects and programs.
• Participate in the IT architecture steering group.
• Implement standardized deliverables and quality controls for the architecture team.
• Operational follow-up, alerts, and problem management.

Skills

Transition management

Project management

ITIL

TOGAF

ArchiMate

Domain Driven Design

Cloud-native architecture

Microservices

Event-driven architectures

Gartner Architecture Frameworks

Sparx Enterprise Architect

Presentation skills

Team collaboration

Merger experience

Agile

Tools

Sparx Enterprise Architect

Job description

Note: Only EU Citizen/ Valid work permit

Language: Dutch and/or French and English is required.

• Define and implement with the existing team, and help the enterprise architect the, governance model, and decision-making framework.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, and interfaces between Product, Architecture, and Delivery teams.
• Drive and monitor the transition plan, ensuring delivery continuity and rapid realization of the target operating model.
• Identify and remove organizational, process, and stakeholder blockers.
• Facilitate the integration of Architecture and Product teams by building trust, fostering collaboration, and accelerating adoption of the new ways of working.
• Create momentum and team cohesion, ensuring the merged organization becomes operational, effective, and self-sustaining within the transition period.
• Provide regular progress updates and recommendations to leadership, focusing on pragmatic execution and measurable outcomes.
• Manage the workforce of solution architects across various digital initiatives (projects, products, etc.), including request management, assignments in the Project and Portfolio Management (PPM) tool (SciForma).
• Serve as a member of the steering group for IT architecture.
• Implement and ensure standardized deliverables and quality controls across the solution architecture team.
• Operational follow up of the solution architecture, manage alerts and problems.
• Act as facilitator and translate vision in operational action

Requirements:

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Experience in transition management and project management (more than 10 years)
• Dynamic, can work autonomously and take initiative for engaging with people at all levels
• Result oriented
• Experience in IT Processes and methodologies, using standards such as ITIL, TOGAF, ArchiMate, Domain Driven Design...
• Experience with cloud-native Architecture patterns
• Ability of advocating reference architectures
• Familiar with Microservices & Event driven architectures
• Familiar with Gartner Architecture Frameworks (TIME for APM for example)
• Experience with Modeling tools such as Sparx Enterprise Architect (or similar tools)
• Team player with strong collaboration focus and very good presentation skills
• Experience with merger situations and following transformations is a plus
• Notable real-world experience of architecting, designing, and delivering IT products in an agile environment is a plus
• Good level of Dutch and/or French and English is required.