Principal Enterprise Architect – AI, Strategy & Governance

Vasa Digital Architects; Canada; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Vasa Digital Architects seeks a Principal Enterprise Architect – AI, Strategy & Governance with deep EA expertise and a passion for AI. You will influence CIOs, establish governance, and drive strategic initiatives across large, complex enterprises.

You will design architecture standards, roadmaps, and target states while delivering hands-on models and executive-ready presentations to turn strategy into actionable architecture decisions.

Qualifications

• 20+ years in Enterprise Architecture and technology strategy.
• Proven success transforming EA in large enterprises.
• Strong executive advisory and governance experience.
• Hands-on delivery of architecture models and roadmaps.

Responsibilities

• Establish and mature EA practices, standards, target states, and roadmaps.
• Design and operate Architecture Review Boards and governance frameworks.
• Advise CIOs/CTOs on strategic initiatives and technology investments.
• Connect business strategy, capabilities, data, and applications to guide transformation.
• Lead application rationalization, modernization, and portfolio strategy.
• Apply AI to architecture activities and governance.
• Produce high-quality architecture models, executive presentations, and roadmaps.

Skills

EA leadership

Executive influence

Strategy development

Governance

Communication

Hands-on delivery

Change management

Tools

LeanIX

Ardoq

Job description

Principal Enterprise Architect – AI, Strategy & Governance

Employment Type: Full-Time Contract

Experience: 20+ years

About Vasa Digital

Vasa Digital is a specialist Enterprise Architecture consulting firm helping large organizations make better technology, transformation, and investment decisions.

We work with senior executives to shape technology strategy, establish architecture practices, modernize technology landscapes, and drive meaningful organizational change.

We are certified delivery partners for Ardoq and LeanIX.

The Opportunity

We are looking for an exceptional Enterprise Architect who combines deep architecture expertise, strategic thinking, a passion for AI, executive influence, and the ability to make change happen.

You are equally comfortable advising a CIO, establishing architecture governance, challenging a technology strategy, or rolling up your sleeves to develop architecture deliverables.

You understand that great Enterprise Architecture is not just about frameworks and recommendations. It is about influencing decisions, navigating organizational complexity, building alignment, and turning strategy into action. You are intellectually curious, passionate about AI, and actively exploring how emerging technologies can transform both enterprises and the practice of architecture itself.

What You Will Do

• EA Strategy: Establish and mature Enterprise Architecture practices, principles, standards, target states, and roadmaps.
• Governance: Design and operationalize Architecture Review Boards, governance frameworks, solution architecture standards, and decision processes.
• Executive Advisory: Work directly with CIOs, CTOs, and senior leaders to shape strategic initiatives and technology investments.
• Business Architecture: Connect business strategy, capabilities, applications, data, and technology to guide transformation.
• Portfolio Strategy: Lead application rationalization, modernization, technology assessments, and investment prioritization.
• AI & Innovation: Apply AI to architecture activities and advise on enterprise AI adoption, architecture patterns, and governance.
• Influence & Change: Build consensus, challenge established thinking, overcome resistance, and drive adoption of architecture recommendations.
• Hands-On Delivery: Independently produce high-quality architecture models, executive presentations, recommendations, and implementation roadmaps.

What We're Looking For

• 20+ years of experience in Enterprise Architecture, technology strategy, and large-scale transformation.
• Proven success establishing or transforming EA practices in large, complex enterprises.
• Deep expertise across business, application, data, integration, and technology architecture.
• Strong experience in architecture governance, Architecture Review Boards, frameworks, and standards.
• Exceptional ability to influence executives, navigate organizational dynamics, and drive meaningful change without formal authority.
• Passionate about AI, with practical experience using generative AI and emerging technologies.
• Strong business architecture, application portfolio strategy, and technology modernization experience.
• Hands‑on experience with LeanIX, Ardoq, or similar EA platforms.
• Outstanding communication, facilitation, storytelling, and executive presentation skills.
• Strategic thinker who remains hands‑on, pragmatic, self‑directed, and accountable for outcomes.

Desirable: Manufacturing or industrial experience, TOGAF/BIZBOK, ServiceNow, AI governance, and experience working with multinational enterprises.

What Sets You Apart

You are more than an experienced architect. You are a trusted advisor, a natural influencer, and a change leader. You know how to turn ambiguity into clarity, architecture into decisions, and recommendations into action. You are passionate about AI and believe Enterprise Architecture should evolve to become more intelligent, effective, and valuable to the business.