Job Title: GDOT Chief Enterprise Technology Architect
Job Location: Atlanta, GA
Job Duration: 5-6 Months (possibility of extension)

Job Summary:

• As the Chief Enterprise Technology Architect at GDOT IT, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our technology landscape.
• You will lead the evolution and implementation of a comprehensive enterprise architecture that aligns with GDOT's strategic goals and enables efficient, effective, and innovative transportation solutions.
• Your work will directly support GDOT's mission by leveraging technology to enhance safety, sustainability, and mobility across Georgia's transportation system.
• This position will report directly to the Chief Information Officer.
• Local candidates only as the selected candidate will be expected to be onsite via a hybrid schedule. While the intent may be a long-term tenure, this position is subject to annual budget restrictions.
• The initial contract is through the end of this fiscal year and is anticipated to be renewed July 1st.

Key Responsibilities:

1.Strategic Leadership:

• Develop and maintain a forward-thinking enterprise architecture strategy that supports GDOT's mission and objectives
• Collaborate with executive leadership to align IT initiatives with business goals and transportation needs
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing within the IT division
• Ensure that all architectural decisions and initiatives contribute to GDOT's strategic goals of safety, system preservation, project delivery, mobility, and employee development
• Support and Shepherd the IT division in its role as a critical enabler of GDOT's mission, identifying opportunities to leverage technology for transformative impact

2.Stakeholder Engagement:

• Gather requirements and insights from diverse stakeholders, including leadership, customers, and frontline staff
• Facilitate collaborative decision-making processes to ensure all voices are heard and considered in architectural decisions
• Build strong relationships with internal and external partners to drive technology adoption and success
• Engage with transportation experts to understand how technology can best support GDOT's mission of innovation, safety, sustainability, and mobility
• Act as a bridge between IT and other GDOT divisions, ensuring technology solutions are aligned with operational needs

3.Collaborative Standards Development and Implementation:

• Facilitate the co-creation of enterprise architecture standards and best practices through inclusive, cross-functional workshops and working groups
• Foster a culture of shared ownership in architectural standards by involving stakeholders from various departments in the development process
• Guide the establishment of flexible governance processes that encourage adherence to standards while allowing for innovation and agility
• Lead regular, collaborative reviews of standards to ensure they evolve with emerging technologies and changing business needs
• Ensure that architectural standards align with and support GDOT's goals, particularly in streamlining processes and improving access for small businesses
• Develop and implement strategies to communicate the value and benefits of standards across the organization, encouraging voluntary adoption

4.Research and Innovation Initiatives:

• Spearhead research initiatives to explore emerging technologies and their potential applications within GDOT
• Organize and facilitate proof-of-concept (POC) projects to test innovative solutions in real-world scenarios
• Lead hackathons and innovation challenges that bring together diverse teams to solve complex transportation problems
• Establish partnerships with academic institutions, research centers, and industry leaders to stay at the forefront of technological advancements
• Create and maintain an innovation lab or sandbox environment where teams can experiment with new technologies and approaches
• Develop a framework for evaluating and scaling successful POCs and hackathon outcomes into enterprise-wide solutions
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and experimentation across the IT division and broader GDOT organization

5.Solution Architecture Support:

• Mentor and guide Solutions Architects, ensuring they have the necessary tools and knowledge to succeed
• Collaborate with Solutions Architects to align their work with the broader enterprise architecture vision
• Facilitate knowledge transfer and cross-pollination of ideas between different architectural teams
• Ensure that solution architectures contribute to GDOT's goals of project delivery and mobility enhancement.

6.Technology Enablement:

• Develop and implement training programs to enhance the technical capabilities of GDOT IT staff
• Identify emerging technologies and evaluate their potential impact on GDOT's operations
• Lead proof-of-concept initiatives to test and validate new technologies before broader adoption
• Focus on technologies that can enhance safety, sustainability, and mobility in Georgia's transportation system
• Champion the role of IT as a strategic enabler, demonstrating how technology drives GDOT's mission forward.

7.Communication and Change Management:

• Articulate complex architectural concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Develop and execute change management strategies to support the adoption of new architectural approaches
• Create and maintain documentation to support the understanding and implementation of enterprise architecture principles
• Communicate how architectural initiatives support GDOT's vision of increasing Georgia's competitiveness through transportation leadership
• Promote the value of IT initiatives in enabling GDOT's mission across the organization

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field; Master's degree preferred
• 10+ years of experience in enterprise architecture, with a focus on government or transportation sectors
• Strong understanding of enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, Zachman)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate at all levels of the organization
• Proven track record of leading large-scale digital transformation initiatives
• Experience with cloud technologies, data analytics, and emerging technologies such as AI and IoT
• Knowledge of transportation systems and smart city concepts is a plus
• Demonstrated ability to align technology initiatives with organizational missions and goals
• Experience in positioning IT as a strategic enabler in large organizations