Head of Enterprise Architecture - US TECH (New York)
Head of Enterprise Architecture - US TECHApplylocations: New Yorktime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todaytime left to apply: End Date: September 21, 2026 (30 days left to apply)job requisition id: JOBREQ00115364 Head of Enterprise Architecture - US TECH *At Chanel, we are focused on creating an inclusive culture that nurtures personal growth, contributing to collective progress. We believe the uniqueness of each individual increases the diversity, complementarity, and effectiveness of our teams. We strongly encourage your application, as we value the perspective, experience, and potential you could bring to CHANEL. *About the role: CHANEL is hiring the Head of Enterprise Architecture for the US Tech Team. This leadership role will be based in New York City and will report to the CIO. Our CIO is seeking a transformative Head of Enterprise Architecture to lead a pivotal evolution in how technology empowers our luxury retail business.This executive will have strategic and operational ownership for the overall design of the architecture of the application landscape, architecting scalable, future-ready solutions that empower the business to accelerate growth and operational excellence. Fostering cross-regional collaboration and shared learning to build bridges between the US and global architecture communities. The role will align capabilities within a product-oriented model.The Head of Enterprise Architecture architects the platforms, data pipelines, integration patterns, and guardrails that make responsible and scalable AI possible. The ideal leader will bring at least 15 years of experience in hands-on IT, Enterprise Architecture, SDLC, executive-level presentation and storytelling with a proven track record of driving successful architecture adoption across teams and regions. Strong relationships, collaboration, and influence to drive modernization, simplification, measurable value, and technology engagement.The Head of Enterprise Architecture will define and govern the end-to-end architecture that supports CHANEL’s product lifecycle. The role ensures that product systems, data domains, integrations, and platforms are connected, scalable, and aligned with both US business needs and global standards, enabling faster execution, operational efficiency, removing architecture fragmentation and future innovation. Our ideal leader simplifies the product-system landscape and connects creativity, operations, technology, and client experience. What impact you can create at CHANEL: * Driving architectural consistency and standardization across the global technology landscape to ensure coherence and reliability and harmonize with regional and global priorities* Establishing and upholding robust governance frameworks and structural discipline to guide enterprise-wide technology decisions* Defining the Enterprise Architecture operating model, governance forums, decision rights, standards, exceptions, and gates* Embedding strong architecture principles for Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning enablement. Moving from static architecture to dynamic capability-driven architecture.* Design the enterprise data architecture - from ingestion to consumption, ensuring data flows from operational systems (POS, OMS, WMS) to analytics and AI platforms with minimal friction* Define data domain ownership - clear accountability for customer data, product data, transaction data, and supply chain data, aligned with business domains* Harmonize US data architecture with the global data platform - ensuring US data products are consumable by global analytics teams and vice versa, while respecting data residency and privacy requirements* Architect for unstructured data - text, image, video, and conversational data alongside structured retail data, enabling generative AI use cases* Future-proof technology: evaluate and integrate emerging technologies (genAI, agentic frameworks, multicloud solutions) into the enterprise operating model* Knowledge of solution architecture and system design principles; ability to guide and govern architecture decisions for complex, multi-domain initiatives to ensure alignment with enterprise standards and strategic direction* Provide the necessary thought leadership, analysis and design related to developing a well-managed enterprise architecture. Define repeatable processes that guide portfolio planning, investment decisions, and roadmap execution aligned to business outcomes* Own Application Portfolio Management using SAP LeanIX, ServiceNow APM / CMDB, or equivalents to map capabilities, rationalize redundancy, and show dependencies* Define and enforce the end-to-end Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) standards across the region, ensuring consistent delivery practices - from requirements through to deployment and post-production support. Using Agile Methodology drive quality, speed, and repeatability across all delivery teams and vendor partners* Shape the enterprise approach to AI and Machine Learning adoption, working closely with business stakeholders to identify high-value use cases, establish guardrails for responsible deployment, and ensure AI/ML capabilities are architected into the broader technology landscape rather than bolted on as standalone initiatives* Stand up and lead a Center of Excellence (COE) for Architecture, bringing together architecture talent across the region to build shared capability, creating a high-performing community of architects across the enterprise to drive standards, share best practices, and ensure architectural consistency across programs and domains* Own the Reference Architecture for US CHANEL Tech, using and adopting global playbooks, including librarianship and delivery of standards and build patterns* Define cloud, integration, platform, security, and resiliency standards, including landing zones, API-first patterns, and secure-by-design expectations* Build and maintain strong relationships with all functions across the business and IT to understand their processes and how they work to develop them into secure, automated, and integrated solutions that improve speed, efficiency, performance, accuracy, and security* Optimize business workflows: translate complex capability maps into simplified, efficient IT value stream to enhance agility and operational efficiency* Provide architecture input into planning, budgeting, TCO reduction, investment prioritization, and KPIs for rationalization, debt reduction, reuse, and target architecture alignment You are energized by: * Engaging strategically across all organizational levels within a global luxury retail maison to align technology vision with business ambition* Providing visionary thought leadership while fostering deep collaboration with cross-functional divisions and key client stakeholder groups* Architecting scalable, future-ready solutions that empower the business to accelerate growth and operational excellence* Championing emerging technologies and industry trends to ensure the organization remains at the forefront of digital innovation* Thriving within a highly collaborative, multicultural environment that values diversity of perspective and collective problem-solving* Navigating competing priorities with clarity and composure in a fast-paced, high-demand environment while maintaining strategic focus* Inspiring and motivating cross-functional teams through inclusive leadership, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to shared success What you will bring to the team: * Knowledge of enterprise architecture principles, frameworks, and governance models; ability to define, implement, and govern enterprise-wide architecture direction that ensures alignment of technology capabilities with business strategy across regional & global operations* Expertise with technical / solution architecture and system design principles; ability to guide and govern architecture decisions for complex, multi-domain initiatives to ensure alignment with enterprise standards and strategic direction.* A minimum of 15 years in a leadership technology role with a focus on Enterprise Architecture; ideally for a global matrixed company, major consultancy or system integrator* Operates effectively between US autonomy and global alignment; knows when to push for standards and when to advocate for flexibility* Speaks the language of retail; understands P&L, merchandising, consumer behavior, clienteling, supply chain, and store operations as it relates to technology. Balances architectural rigor with delivery speed.* Complete understanding and practical application of EA frameworks such as TOGAF or equivalent, including current/target state, transition planning, roadmaps, gap analysis, and migration planning* Technical debt reduction: identify, assess and mitigate the operational, obsolescence, and financial risks associated with maintaining legacy platforms* Strong expertise in designing and executing phased application decommissioning playbooks to securely sunset end-of-life, legacy hardware and software* Experience and understanding of multiple technical domains, application, data, DevOps, AI/ML, integration, big data, mobility, analytics, cloud, platform architecture, etc.* Knowledge of Enterprise Architecture methodologies such as TOGAF or the equivalent, and experience with tools such as SAP LeanIX, ServiceNow APM / CMDB, ArchiMate, Bizzdesign, or equivalents* Drive enterprise-wide simplification of technology landscapes, reducing complexity across platforms, applications, and processes to improve agility and operational efficiency* Experience working in a retail environment, with understanding of the customer trends and digital innovations in luxury retail is a plus* Experience working in complex IT environments, and able to prioritize and plan complex work in a rapidly changing context* Complex Problem Solving and Systems Thinking: Leverages deep technical acumen and a systems-orient
