Overview

Enterprise Architect Jobs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at Emdad By Elm

Title: Enterprise Architect

Company: Emdad By Elm

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Higher Education Institution

JOB DESCRIPTION

Enterprise Architect

Department: Digital & Technology (D&T)

Reports: To Head of Strategy & Governance

Location: Flexible (Online / On-Premise)

Employment Type: Full-Time / Contract

Experience Required: 10 – 15+ years

Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field

Certifications: TOGAF Certified (or equivalent EA certification)

Languages: English (required); Arabic (preferred)

1. Role Purpose

The Enterprise Architect (EA) is responsible for governing, implementing, and continually enhancing RUA's approved target-state enterprise architecture and data architecture. This pivotal role ensures strategic alignment across all core systems — Student Information System (SIS), Learning Management System (LMS), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Data, and Cloud platforms — while maintaining clear separation of concerns and strict regulatory compliance.

The EA will lead the execution and enforcement of the approved architecture, supporting rapid deployment during the establishment phase and long-term scalability as the institution matures. This role serves as the single point of architectural authority, ensuring that all technical implementations adhere to the established blueprint, while also actively contributing to the ongoing development of the cybersecurity architecture.

2. Scope of Work

The Enterprise Architect will operationalize the approved enterprise and data architecture and transition roadmap. A key component of this role involves enforcing architecture governance, including standards, review boards, and exception management processes. The EA will oversee the implementation of

integration architecture across the SIS, CRM, ERP, and LMS ecosystems, ensuring the approved identity, data, and platform architecture strategies are executed correctly and continually improved.

While the core EA and Data Architecture are approved and require governance and enhancement, the Cybersecurity Architecture is currently under development. The EA will collaborate closely with security teams to shape and finalize this architecture. The EA will also be responsible for vendor technology evaluation, ensuring that all platform selections align with the architectural vision and Saudi regulatory requirements.

3. Key Responsibilities / Area Responsibility

  • Architecture Implementation Execute, govern, and continually enhance the approved Enterprise Architecture framework aligned with TOGAF.
  • System Governance Oversee the implementation of core systems: SIS (academic system of record), ERP (financial system of record), CRM, and LMS.
  • Logical Isolation Enforce the approved logical isolation strategy to manage multi-system and multi-risk domains effectively.
  • Integration Patterns Ensure implemented integration patterns adhere to approved API-first and event-driven architectures.
  • Data Architecture & Governance Govern and improve the approved Data Architecture, ensuring strict alignment with the National Data Management Office (NDMO).
  • Cybersecurity Development Actively collaborate in the development and finalization of the Cybersecurity Architecture (currently under development) aligned with NCA ECC-2.
  • Design Authority Lead design authority reviews to ensure all projects strictly align with the approved architectural vision.
  • Cloud Architecture Govern the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) resource hierarchy, landing zones, and cloud-native services usage.
  • Vendor Management Evaluate and recommend technology platforms, ensuring alignment with architecture standards and regulatory requirements.
  • Governance Establish, chair, and enforce decisions through the Architecture Review Board (ARB).

4. Competencies

Functional Competencies

  • Candidates must possess deep expertise in Enterprise Architecture frameworks, particularly TOGAF or equivalent standards, with a strong emphasis on architecture governance, compliance enforcement, and continuous improvement.
  • Strong proficiency in cloud architecture, specifically Google Cloud Platform (GCP) with Saudi data residency awareness, is required.
  • The role demands advanced knowledge of integration architecture, such as API gateways, Enterprise Service Buses (ESB), and event streaming technologies.
  • Expertise in data architecture governance (data ownership, lineage, quality, and NDMO alignment) is essential, as the EA will be responsible for enforcing and improving the approved data architecture.
  • Proficiency in identity architecture (SSO, IAM, lifecycle management) is required.
  • Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks (NCA ECC-2) is expected, as the EA will contribute to the ongoing development of the cybersecurity architecture.
  • Previous experience governing and implementing enterprise architectures in education ecosystems (SIS, LMS, CRM) is highly desirable.

Non-Functional Competencies

  • The Enterprise Architect must demonstrate exceptional strategic thinking, with a mindset focused on aligning L1 and L2 policies. Strong stakeholder influence skills, particularly at the C-level and with cross-functional teams, are critical for driving architectural adoption and compliance.
  • A governance-first mindset, prioritizing authority before process, is necessary.
  • The ability to operate effectively within the ambiguity of an establishment phase, balancing enforcement with pragmatic flexibility, is a key success factor.

5. Deliverables

Deliverable Description

  • Architecture Governance Reports Regular reporting on adherence to the approved target-state architecture.
  • Integration Compliance Reviews Validation reports ensuring SIS, CRM, ERP, and LMS adhere to integration standards.
  • Architecture Enhancement Proposals Updates and refinements to the approved architecture based on evolving needs.
  • Security & Compliance Audits Reports validating implementation alignment with NCA ECC-2 and PDPL.
  • Technology Standards Updates Maintenance and enforcement of reference architectures and technology standards.
  • ARB Operations Management of Architecture Review Board meetings, decisions,
  • and exception logs.

6. KPIs and Acceptance Criteria

  • KPI Target System Boundary Definition No functional overlap between CRM, SIS, and ERP systems. Integration Standards All systems integrated via standardized APIs or events.
  • Regulatory Compliance Full alignment with PDPL, NDMO, and NCA ECC.
  • Shadow IT Reduction Measurable reduction in system duplication and shadow IT.
  • Governance Approval All architectural designs approved by governance bodies (L1/L2 alignment).

7. Qualifications and Experience

  • Applicants must hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Enterprise Architecture, or a related field.
  • TOGAF certification (or equivalent) is required.
  • A minimum of 10 to 15 years of relevant experience in enterprise architecture is expected, with experience in higher education or government ecosystems strongly preferred.
  • A proven track record of delivering complex, multi-system integration architectures is mandatory.

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