ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE & IT RATIONALIZATION LEAD

About this opportunity

About the job ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE & IT RATIONALIZATION LEAD Role Overview We are seeking a senior Enterprise Architecture & IT Rationalisation Lead for a confidential large UAE-based industrial group. Working closely with the SVP of Technology & AI, the successful candidate will assess the existing technology landscape, define the target-state architecture, and identify opportunities to simplify, consolidate, and optimise the organisation's IT estate. The role requires a business-oriented architecture leader who can connect technology decisions to operational outcomes, reduce unnecessary complexity and cost, and establish a practical roadmap for a more integrated, scalable, secure, and internally managed technology environment. Key Responsibilities Assess the current enterprise architecture across business capabilities, applications, data, infrastructure, cloud, integration, and security. Define a pragmatic target-state enterprise architecture aligned with business strategy, industrial operations, and the technology transformation roadmap. Lead IT rationalisation initiatives covering application duplication, legacy systems, overlapping platforms, technology obsolescence, and unnecessary complexity. Develop application and technology portfolio maps, capability models, architecture principles, standards, and transition roadmaps. Identify opportunities to consolidate systems, simplify integrations, optimise technology investments, and reduce total cost of ownership. Evaluate build-versus-buy decisions, platform choices, integration patterns, cloud adoption, and technology lifecycle risks. Align enterprise architecture with Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, industrial IT/OT integration, data and AI initiatives, and cybersecurity requirements. Establish architecture governance, design reviews, technology standards, exception processes, and decision-making frameworks. Work with business leaders, application owners, infrastructure teams, cybersecurity, data teams, and external vendors to ensure architectural alignment. Assess the technology implications of insourcing, outsourcing, vendor transitions, and the development of internal technology capabilities. Build business cases and prioritised roadmaps that balance strategic value, delivery feasibility, risk, cost, and operational continuity. Present architecture options, rationalisation opportunities, risks, and investment recommendations to senior technology and business leadership. Required Experience and Skills Extensive experience in enterprise architecture, technology strategy, IT transformation, or enterprise IT rationalisation. Demonstrated ability to assess complex technology estates and develop actionable current-state and target-state architecture roadmaps. Strong knowledge of application portfolio management, system integration, data architecture, infrastructure, cloud, and cybersecurity alignment. Proven experience identifying technology duplication, simplifying application landscapes, consolidating platforms, or optimising IT expenditure. Strong business case development, total-cost-of-ownership analysis, technology governance, and executive communication skills. Ability to translate architectural principles into practical delivery decisions and measurable business outcomes. Experience working across multiple business functions and coordinating complex transformation dependencies. A pragmatic, hands-on approach suited to a time-bound interim leadership assignment. Preferred Experience Industrial, manufacturing, engineering, energy, or other asset-intensive environments. Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, OT/IT convergence, MES, ERP, and industrial data platforms. Enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF, ArchiMate, or equivalent methods. Cloud and platform modernisation, legacy technology retirement, integration rationalisation, and technology cost optimisation. Experience supporting insourcing, operating-model redesign, and the rebuilding of internal technology capabilities. Assignment Details Location: Dubai, UAE. Work arrangement: Fully onsite. Contract: Initial 3 months, with potential extension. Programme: Approximately 18 months. Availability: Able to start within the next few weeks. Important Screening Criteria Candidates must demonstrate practical ownership of enterprise architecture decisions and IT rationalisation outcomes, rather than architecture documentation alone. Vertical: Technology