Enterprise Architect

Kinder's•Walnut Creek, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Kinder’s is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and technically accomplished Enterprise Architect to shape the technology foundation supporting the company’s growth. The role defines and advances enterprise architecture strategy, ensuring systems, platforms, data, and integrations work together as the business expands its operations, product portfolio, and technology capabilities. This highly visible leadership position bridges business strategy and technology execution. It partners with IT leadership, functional business leaders, and external technology partners to set architectural standards, guide technology investments, simplify complex environments, and develop scalable solutions. The successful candidate combines enterprise architecture expertise and business acumen with a builder’s mentality, working strategically while staying engaged in technical decisions and practical solution delivery. The Enterprise Architect will also establish foundational capabilities, processes, and an operating model for Kinder’s emerging Enterprise Architecture function. The role may grow to include recruiting, developing, and leading a dedicated team as business needs evolve. The company describes its work environment as entrepreneurial, collaborative, and office-centered, with flexibility to work outside the office when needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
10+ years of progressive experience in enterprise technology, including substantial experience in enterprise architecture, solution architecture, or technology transformation.
Demonstrated success leading enterprise technology modernization or transformation initiatives in complex business environments.
Experience developing enterprise architecture strategies, future-state roadmaps, and architectural standards.
Strong knowledge of enterprise applications, ERP systems, integration architecture, cloud technologies, data platforms, and cybersecurity principles.
Experience working with SAP or comparable enterprise ERP platforms.
Ability to evaluate complex technology environments, identify opportunities for simplification, and develop scalable architectural solutions.
Experience establishing or maturing enterprise architecture practices, governance models, or technology standards.
Strong business acumen and ability to translate business objectives into technology strategies and investment recommendations.
Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and guide technology decisions without direct reporting authority.
Experience partnering with technology implementation teams, external vendors, and enterprise transformation programs.
Strong communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and competing priorities.
Hands-on, collaborative leadership approach, with the ability to operate strategically while remaining engaged in technical architecture and solution design.

Nice To Haves

Experience in consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, manufacturing, distribution, or similarly complex operating environments.
Experience supporting large-scale ERP transformation, enterprise systems integration, or digital modernization initiatives.
Familiarity with SAP S/4HANA and related enterprise technology ecosystems.
Experience with cloud platforms, integration middleware, APIs, and modern enterprise data architectures.
Familiarity with enterprise architecture methodologies such as TOGAF or comparable frameworks.
Experience building or scaling an enterprise architecture capability within a high-growth or transforming organization.
Exposure to AI, automation, advanced analytics, and emerging enterprise technologies.
Experience supporting technology integration associated with acquisitions, business expansion, or organizational transformation.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and execution of enterprise architecture strategies that support technology transformation and evolving business needs.
Assess the current enterprise technology environment, identify architectural gaps and technical debt, and develop a future-state architecture roadmap.
Drive modernization initiatives that improve integration, scalability, reliability, and efficiency across enterprise systems.
Align transformation priorities with business objectives, operational needs, and technology investments in partnership with IT and business leaders.
Guide architectural decisions across ERP, enterprise applications, data platforms, cloud infrastructure, and integration technologies.
Identify opportunities to streamline platforms, reduce complexity, improve interoperability, and strengthen enterprise capabilities.
Support digital transformation initiatives involving automation, analytics, AI, and emerging technologies.
Establish measurable outcomes for architecture and modernization initiatives and help ensure investments deliver business value.
Establish enterprise architecture principles, standards, frameworks, and decision-making practices.
Develop and maintain current-state and future-state architecture models showing technology capabilities and dependencies.
Create practical architecture governance processes that support consistency, security, scalability, and business agility.
Ensure new solutions align with long-term enterprise architecture objectives and evaluate emerging technologies, vendors, and platforms to inform investment decisions.
Guide architectural design and integration decisions involving SAP S/4HANA and other enterprise business systems.
Balance immediate operational requirements with long-term technology sustainability and architectural integrity.
Advise IT leadership and business stakeholders on technology strategy.
Work with Finance, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Commercial Operations, and other functions to understand business capabilities and technology requirements.
Translate business challenges into scalable technology solutions and architectural recommendations.
Influence technology decisions across teams without relying on direct reporting relationships.
Partner with Enterprise Applications, Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, and Data & Analytics teams to align architecture and transformation priorities.
Communicate architectural concepts, investment recommendations, and technology tradeoffs to technical and nontechnical audiences.
Establish foundational capabilities, processes, and an operating model for the Enterprise Architecture function.
Identify future architecture talent and capability needs based on growth and technology transformation priorities.
Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance to internal teams, consultants, implementation partners, and vendors.
Develop reusable architecture standards, reference models, and documentation to support organizational scalability.
Help shape the future Enterprise Architecture organization, with potential to recruit, develop, and lead a dedicated team as business needs evolve.
Foster a collaborative, forward-looking approach to architecture that encourages innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.