Head of Enterprise Architecture

Primary Functions of the Position:

• Direct and develop the enterprise architecture organization, including domain and data architects and the EA Governance Lead, establishing clear accountability for architecture outcomes.

• Guide the documentation of current-state and target-state domain architectures and establish actionable technology roadmaps aligned with business strategies, product priorities, and delivery backlogs.

• Shape technology direction for strategic transformation across Private Banking, Commercial Banking, Deposits and Treasury Management, digital client experiences, and enterprise data and integration capabilities.

• Partner with business, Product, Engineering, Operations, Risk, Security, and Raymond James technology leaders to align investment priorities, resolve cross-domain dependencies, and enable delivery of business value.

• Provide hands-on technical leadership for significant architecture decisions, evaluating complex designs, challenging assumptions, guiding tradeoffs, and coaching architects and engineers.

• Provide accountability for effective architecture governance while supporting the EA Governance Lead’s management of governance activities; oversee the disposition process for Requests for Comments (RFCs) and Architecture Decision Records (ADRs), including engagement with the Technical Design Forum (TDF).

• Identify and prioritize architectural risks, technical debt, modernization opportunities, and reusable capabilities to improve scalability, resilience, and long-term technology effectiveness.

• Establish meaningful measures of architecture effectiveness, including roadmap alignment, decision timeliness, design quality, standards adoption, and contribution to predictable delivery.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• 7–10+ years of progressive technology and architecture experience, including substantive hands-on design responsibility.

• 2+ years leading architects or technical teams and developing technical talent.

• Demonstrated experience shaping enterprise technology direction and enabling complex, multi-platform transformation.

• Banking or regulated financial services experience strongly preferred.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, engineering, or equivalent practical experience.

Essential Skills and Abilities:

• Deep technical knowledge across enterprise applications, cloud platforms, integration, APIs, data architecture, infrastructure, security, and modern engineering practices.

• Ability to translate business objectives, product strategies, and operating models into actionable architecture direction, roadmaps, and technology investment priorities.

• Strong people leadership, coaching, and talent-development skills, with the ability to build accountability and elevate architecture practices.

• Sound technical judgment to evaluate complex designs, challenge assumptions, assess tradeoffs, and guide practical decisions.

• Understanding of enterprise modernization, platform rationalization, emerging technologies, and approaches that improve scalability, efficiency, and adaptability.

• Knowledge of architecture frameworks, governance, security, operational resilience, and regulatory expectations in complex technology environments.

• Exceptional executive communication, relationship-building, and influence across business, Product, Engineering, Operations, Risk, and technology partners.

• Ability to connect architecture direction and decisions to business outcomes, cross-domain dependencies, and effective execution of strategic priorities.