Principal Enterprise Architect

About the RoleThe Infrastructure Operations team is undergoing a significant transformation to modernize technology platforms, simplify operations, accelerate AI and automation adoption, improve service quality, and increase organizational effectiveness.We are seeking a highly accomplished Principal Architect, Infrastructure Transformation to lead this transformation journey.This is an Individual Contributor transformation leadership role responsible for defining and driving strategic transformation initiatives across Infrastructure & Operations. The successful candidate will partner with executives, technology leaders, architects, engineers, and business stakeholders to modernize infrastructure capabilities, evolve operating models, accelerate innovation, and deliver measurable business outcomes.The role requires a unique combination of technology leadership, transformation experience, organizational influence, and strategic execution. Success will come from the ability to create effective solutions, align diverse stakeholders around a common vision, remove obstacles, guide critical decisions, and drive sustainable organizational change across a highly matrixed global environment.This is not a traditional program management or operational leadership role. It is a transformation leadership position focused on shaping the future of Infrastructure & Operations and ensuring successful adoption of new capabilities, technologies, and ways of working.What You Will DoLead Infrastructure Transformation StrategyDevelop and maintain a multi-year Infrastructure Transformation roadmap aligned with business and technology objectives.Partner with senior executives to identify strategic opportunities that improve operational effectiveness, resiliency, scalability, and business value.Define future-state operating models, organizational capabilities, and technology strategies.Establish transformation priorities and sequencing to maximize business impact and value realization.Create and communicate a compelling vision for the future of Infrastructure & Operations.Drive Technology ModernizationLead enterprise-wide modernization initiatives across infrastructure, operations, cloud, platform engineering, database services, observability, service management, automation, and operational tooling.Accelerate adoption of modern engineering practices, automation, reliability engineering, and cloud-native operating models.Champion simplification, consolidation, and standardization across technology platforms and services.Drive adoption of AI-enabled operations, intelligent automation, self-service capabilities, and data-driven decision making.Ensure technology investments support long-term strategic objectives and measurable business outcomes.Lead Organizational ChangeDrive adoption of new technologies, platforms, processes, and operating models.Build alignment across technology and business organizations to support transformation objectives.Develop change management, communication, and stakeholder engagement strategies.Foster a culture focused on innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.Partner with leaders across the organization to navigate complex organizational change and transformation challenges.Enable Transformation ExecutionEstablish governance frameworks that support successful transformation outcomes.Align workstreams across infrastructure, architecture, engineering, security, operations, and business teams.Coordinate cross-functional dependencies and remove barriers to progress.Support and facilitate executive steering committees and transformation leadership forums.Develop executive dashboards, transformation metrics, and outcome-based reporting.Identify and mitigate strategic risks that may impact transformation success.Ensure initiatives remain aligned to target-state operating models, architecture principles, and business objectives.Influence Across the EnterpriseServe as a trusted transformation partner to senior executives and technology leaders.Lead through influence rather than formal organizational authority.Build strong partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups.Drive alignment in complex environments with competing priorities and perspectives.Facilitate strategic decisions that balance business, technology, operational, and financial considerations.Communicate transformation progress, challenges, opportunities, and outcomes to executive leadership.Drive Business Value RealizationDevelop transformation business cases and investment strategies.Define measurable success criteria and value realization objectives.Partner with Finance and business leaders to validate operational and financial outcomes.Ensure transformation investments deliver meaningful improvements in efficiency, resiliency, service quality, user experience, and business performance.Monitor and communicate transformation outcomes to leadership stakeholders.Required QualificationsBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related discipline.12+ years of strong experience in Infrastructure, Cloud, Platform Engineering, Technology Operations, Database Engineering & Operations. Enterprise Architecture, or related fields.5+ years leading large-scale technology modernization or transformation initiatives.Proven success driving enterprise-wide transformation programs from strategy through implementation and adoption.Experience driving AI, automation, platform engineering, or AIOps initiatives.Demonstrated ability to influence large matrixed organizations and lead without direct authority.Strong understanding of Infrastructure & Operations within complex enterprise environments.Experience guiding technology organizations through operating model changes, modernization efforts, and organizational transformation.Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills.Strong business, financial, and strategic thinking capabilities.Preferred QualificationsMaster's degree in Business Administration, Computer Science, Technology Management, Engineering, or related discipline.Experience leading Infrastructure & Operations transformations within global enterprises.Experience implementing cloud modernization programs on Azure and/or AWS.Experience leading large-scale operational excellence programs.Experience with managed services, strategic sourcing, or technology transformation partnerships.Experience defining transformation governance frameworks and executive reporting models.Our Interview PracticesTo maintain a fair and genuine hiring process, we kindly ask that all candidates participate in interviews without the assistance of AI tools or external prompts. Our interview process is designed to assess your individual skills, experiences, and communication style. We value authenticity and want to ensure we’re getting to know you—not a digital assistant. To help maintain this integrity, we ask to remove virtual backgrounds and include in-person interviews in our hiring process. Please note that use of AI-generated responses or third-party support during interviews will be grounds for disqualification from the recruitment process.Applicants may be required to appear onsite at a Wolters Kluwer office as part of the recruitment process.Compensation:$146,900.00 - $262,400.00 USDThis role is eligible for Bonus.Compensation range listed is based on primary location of the position. Actual base salary offer is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skills, experience and actual hiring location. Your recruiter can share more information about the specific offer for the job location during the hiring process. Additional Information:Wolters Kluwer offers a wide variety of competitive benefits and programs to help meet your needs and balance your work and personal life, including but not limited to: Medical, Dental, & Vision Plans, 401(k), FSA/HSA, Commuter Benefits, Tuition Assistance Plan, Vacation and Sick Time, and Paid Parental Leave. Full details of our benefits are available upon request. SummaryLocation: USA - Riverwoods, ILType: Full time