Solution Architect

GRDC is seeking a forward-thinking Senior Enterprise Architect to operate as the organisation’s senior architecture authority and strengthen its enterprise and solution architecture capability. The role requires a senior architecture professional who can translate organisational strategy and business priorities into practical target-state architectures, technology roadmaps, standards and governed solution patterns. The position will provide enterprise and solution architecture leadership across cloud platforms, applications, data, integration, security and digital services. The successful candidate will guide strategic initiatives from early planning through delivery, provide architecture governance and assurance, and work with internal stakeholders and vendors to ensure that technology investments are secure, sustainable, interoperable and aligned with GRDC’s longer-term direction.  Key duties and responsibilities Functional Responsibilities: Establish and maintain GRDC's enterprise architecture principles, standards, target-state architecture and technology roadmaps. Translate organisational strategy and business priorities into practical architecture direction and investment guidance. Maintain an enterprise-wide view across business capabilities, applications, data, integration, cloud, security and digital platforms. Provide solution architecture leadership for strategic programs, digital initiatives and technology investments. Develop and review conceptual, logical and solution architectures to ensure alignment with enterprise architecture and target-state direction. Assess technology and solution options, providing recommendations that balance strategic value, risk, cost, security and maintainability. Maintain architecture governance and assurance processes across programs, projects and technology initiatives. Review significant solution designs, architecture decisions and vendor proposals for compliance with approved standards and principles. Provide architectural direction for cloud, data, integration, analytics, digital platforms and AI-enabled capabilities. Identify opportunities to simplify, modernise and optimise the technology landscape while reducing technical debt and complexity. Act as GRDC's principal architecture authority when engaging with vendors, delivery partners and technology suppliers. Support procurement and vendor evaluation activities through architecture requirements definition and solution assessment. Maintain architecture artefacts, decision records, risk assessments and governance documentation. Provide trusted architecture advice to executives, business stakeholders and delivery teams. Mentor technology teams and promote adoption of architecture standards, patterns and best practices. Operating context The role operates across a diverse technology environment comprising legacy applications, cloud platforms, data services, digital products, integration services, analytics platforms and vendor-delivered solutions. The role is expected to guide GRDC's transition toward modern, secure, data-driven and AI-enabled technology capabilities while maintaining governance, interoperability and alignment with organisational objectives. Technical Competencies:  Enterprise and Solution Architecture Significant experience across enterprise and solution architecture roles in complex digital environments. Ability to translate organisational strategy, business capabilities and investment priorities into target-state architectures and achievable transition roadmaps. Experience developing and applying architecture principles, standards, reference architectures and reusable solution patterns. Ability to develop and review conceptual, logical and solution architecture designs across the full solution lifecycle. Cloud and Microsoft Platform Architecture Strong understanding of cloud architecture and the Microsoft technology ecosystem, including Azure application, integration, data, identity, security and management services. Experience defining architecture direction for cloud platforms, landing zones, environment segmentation, shared services, governance and monitoring. Ability to assess cloud solutions for security, resilience, scalability, interoperability, maintainability and cost-effectiveness. Application and Integration Architecture Strong understanding of modern application architecture, digital platforms, APIs, event-driven integration and service-to-service communication. Experience defining consistent integration patterns covering security, interoperability, versioning, lifecycle management, monitoring and access control. Ability to assess application and integration designs for alignment with enterprise standards and the intended target state. Data, Analytics and AI Architecture Strong understanding of modern data and analytics architecture, including Microsoft Fabric, OneLake, Lakehouse concepts, pipelines and semantic models. Ability to define architecture patterns for data ingestion, transformation, storage, integration, publication and consumption. Understanding of data quality, metadata, lineage, access governance, information security and lifecycle management. Ability to assess AI-enabled solutions and define appropriate architectural controls for security, governance, traceability and human oversight. Security and Zero Trust Architecture Strong understanding of secure-by-design and Zero Trust principles, including explicit verification, least privilege, segmentation, continuous monitoring and assume-breach design. Experience providing architecture direction for identity and access management, secure APIs, encryption, secrets management, logging and threat detection. Ability to integrate security and assurance requirements into enterprise architecture, solution design and technology investment decisions. Architecture Governance and Assurance Experience establishing architecture governance, design-review practices and proportionate assurance checkpoints. Ability to assess designs and technology decisions against architecture principles, standards, target-state direction and organisational requirements. Ability to identify and manage architectural risks, dependencies, exceptions, cross-solution impacts and technical debt. Strong documentation discipline across roadmaps, architecture designs, decision records, standards, risks and assurance findings. Technology Strategy and Modern Delivery Ability to assess emerging technologies and determine their strategic value, limitations and fit within GRDC’s risk appetite. Strong understanding of DevOps, DevSecOps, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code and automated assurance sufficient to guide architecture and assess delivery approaches. Ability to balance innovation with security, maintainability, interoperability, organisational capability and long-term value. Vendor and Procurement Architecture Experience working with vendor architects, engineering teams and delivery partners in vendor-led initiatives. Ability to define architecture requirements and evaluate vendor proposals, solution designs and whole-of-lifecycle implications. Ability to maintain GRDC’s architectural ownership, knowledge and decision history throughout externally delivered programs. Professional and Functional Competencies: Strategic and systems-thinking capability, with the ability to connect organisational objectives, business capabilities and technology decisions. Ability to assess architecture options objectively and provide clear, evidence-based recommendations. Strong architectural judgement when balancing strategic value, delivery constraints, security, cost, risk and maintainability. Ability to communicate complex architecture concepts clearly to executive, business and technical audiences. Strong facilitation and influencing skills, including the ability to achieve decisions across multidisciplinary stakeholder groups. Ability to apply architecture governance consistently while remaining pragmatic and delivery-focused. Strong written communication and documentation discipline across architecture, governance and assurance artefacts. Ability to provide constructive challenge and maintain architectural integrity while preserving effective stakeholder and vendor relationships. Ability to mentor others and uplift enterprise architecture, solution architecture and modern technology capability across IDT. Please note that shortlisted applicants may be invited for an additional interview to determine the candidate’s suitability for the role.  Criteria The buyer has specified that each candidate must provide a one page pitch to address all criteria specified. This is equal to 5000 characters. Essential criteria Weighting 1. Technical Competencies Weighting: 60% 2. Professional and Functional Competencies Weighting: 30% 3. Soft Skills Weighting: 10% Desirable criteria 1. Soft Skills • Strong verbal and written communication skills for executive, business, technical and vendor engagement. • Ability to translate complex technology matters into clear business language. • Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills for resolving complex and ambiguous problems. • Collaborative and consultative working style, with the confidence to provide constructive challenge. • Sound judgement and pragmatism when balancing competing priorities and architectural trade-offs. • Proactive approach to identifying and addressing risks, dependencies and emerging issues. • High level of accountability, integrity and professional discretion. Opportunity summary Sellers can submit Up to 1 candidate Number of sellers invited Fewer than 5 Number of candidates submitted Fewer than 10 RFQ closing time 00 Weeks 04 Days 06 Hours Send us feedback About Accessibility Privacy Terms of use Disclaimer and copyright An initiative of the Digital Transformation Agency The Australian Government acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present. © Commonwealth of Australia