Strategic Architect (Pre-Delivery / Advisory)

Strategic Architect (Pre-Delivery / Advisory)

GavinHeath is partnering with a client in Denver, CO looking to add a Strategic Architect (Pre-Delivery / Advisory) to their team. The role is a CONTRACT/CONSULTING position.

Position Summary The Strategic Architect is a senior-level individual contributor responsible for shaping business and technology initiatives prior to execution. This role partners with executive leadership to define problems, evaluate solution options, and develop decision-ready business cases that enable effective portfolio-level decision-making.

This position operates upstream of delivery teams and focuses on strategy, analysis, and executive alignment, not implementation.

Work Environment / Structure

• Senior individual contributor (no direct reports)
• High visibility with executive leadership
• Advisory-focused, embedded within strategic planning functions
• Success measured by quality of decision support and clarity of initiatives, not delivery execution

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leadership to translate strategic priorities and ambiguous business challenges into clear problem statements and defined outcomes
• Lead problem framing and demand shaping activities prior to formal project intake or delivery engagement
• Develop high-level requirements to evaluate multiple solution options, including architectural, operational, cybersecurity, and regulatory considerations
• Analyze and present trade-offs across cost, risk, speed, and complexity to support informed decision-making
• Build comprehensive business cases including value articulation, assumptions, dependencies, constraints, and success metrics
• Produce governance-ready documentation and artifacts that meet enterprise intake and approval standards
• Identify and integrate risks and constraints early, including cybersecurity, data protection, regulatory, and architectural considerations
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders (architecture, cybersecurity, operations, and SMEs) to validate solution options and assumptions
• Develop and deliver executive-level presentations and materials summarizing recommendations, risks, and decision implications
• Enable faster, higher-quality decisions by ensuring initiatives are well-defined, structured, and aligned before entering delivery

Required Experience

• 10+ years of experience in one or more of the following:
  • Technology strategy
  • Business architecture
  • Enterprise analysis
  • Management consulting or transformation roles
• Demonstrated experience working in early-stage, ambiguous problem spaces
• Proven track record of developing business cases and strategic recommendations in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Experience operating within formal governance, portfolio management, or intake processes
• Direct experience supporting or advising senior executive stakeholders (VP, SVP, or equivalent)

Required Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-structuring capabilities
• Ability to evaluate multiple solution paths and clearly articulate trade-offs
• Advanced communication skills with the ability to influence executive-level stakeholders
• Ability to operate independently with minimal direction in high-ambiguity environments
• Strong business acumen with an understanding of how technology enables enterprise strategy

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in management consulting or strategic advisory roles
• Experience in high-growth or rapidly scaling organizations
• Familiarity with enterprise architecture frameworks, cybersecurity principles, and IT governance models
• Experience aligning business strategy with technology roadmaps and investment decisions

GavinHeath is an equal opportunity employer. GavinHeath will extend equal opportunity to all individuals without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, disability, age, creed, ancestry, genetic information, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.