Enterprise Architect

Job Description:

Ratonga Matihiko | Digital Services

Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• Permanent position, 37.5 hours per week

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do
Working within UC’s Enterprise Architecture practice, you will help develop and mature an enterprise-wide architecture capability that gives leaders and delivery teams greater clarity, consistency and confidence. You will translate complex organisational needs into coherent architecture direction, guide significant technology-enabled change and ensure investment decisions are grounded in measurable business value.

This is a senior and influential role for an architect who combines strategic thinking with delivery awareness—and who knows that effective architecture enables progress rather than adding complexity.

Partnering with business leaders, product teams, Principal Engineers, Technical Leads and subject-matter experts, you will:

• develop enterprise and business architecture aligned with UC’s strategy, operating model and organisational priorities
• maintain an integrated view of business capabilities, value streams, information assets, applications and technology
• provide authoritative architecture advice for complex initiatives and technology-enabled organisational change
• lead and govern solution architecture across multiple projects, balancing functionality, service quality, risk and sustainability
• develop architecture principles, standards, roadmaps, methods and reusable artefacts
• evaluate proposals, challenge assumptions and guide stakeholders towards strategically aligned decisions
• identify dependencies, duplication, consolidation opportunities and cross-domain impacts before they become delivery constraints
• assess emerging technologies and communicate their potential benefits, risks and relevance to UC
• strengthen architecture governance, assurance and decision-making across Digital Services
• coach and support colleagues undertaking architecture and solution-design activities
• build trusted relationships across UC and communicate complex technical and business information clearly.

UC uses the CAUDIT Higher Education Reference Model to support an integrated understanding of its business and technology landscape. Your work will help the University respond to changing priorities with greater speed, confidence and architectural clarity.

Mōu | Who You Are

You are an experienced architecture professional who can see the whole system without losing sight of delivery realities. You bring intellectual curiosity, sound judgement and the confidence to provide clear advice—even when priorities compete or assumptions need to be challenged.

You be able to demonstrate:

• approximately 12–13 years’ experience in technology or digital environments
• substantial experience in senior architecture roles, including at least two years in enterprise architecture or an equivalent strategic architecture position
• demonstrated experience applying enterprise architecture frameworks, methods and practices
• experience developing architecture principles, standards, roadmaps, governance and reusable artefacts
• a strong record of guiding complex technology-enabled business change and evaluating strategic options and trade-offs
• broad knowledge across business, data, application, integration and technology architecture, with recognised depth in one or more areas
• experience developing business capabilities, value streams, operating models and technology landscapes to support investment and transformation decisions
• the ability to provide authoritative advice, constructively challenge proposals and influence senior stakeholders
• experience working across multidisciplinary teams and multiple initiatives to identify dependencies, risks and opportunities for reuse or consolidation
• experience strengthening architecture methods, tools and governance, and coaching others in architecture and solution design
• a relevant bachelor’s degree or graduate diploma in information technology, or equivalent recognised capability.
• Experience in higher education or another research, teaching or similarly complex environment would be advantageous. A master’s degree, enterprise architecture qualification or TOGAF certification would also be valuable.
• An alignment with our organisation's values and culture, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With
Building world-class digital capability is crucial to the University of Canterbury's ongoing success. Digital Services is a large team, striving to provide a modern dynamic foundation from which the University (UC) can explore new business models and ways of working. Digital will transform how we work, behave, and the expectations of the communities we service.

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC
We offer a range of benefits, for more information, please visit us: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/about-uc/work-at-uc/benefits-working-uc . (For more information about Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/ )

The closing date for this position is: 2 October 2026 (midnight, NZ time)
Please note, applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place before the close date.

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted via our careers website and should include a cover letter and resume.

Please note, we do not accept applications by email, however we are happy to answer your queries in relation to the application process, please forward these to [email protected]

You must have Aotearoa New Zealand or Australian citizenship/permanent residency to be considered for this role.

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