Director, Enterprise Architect

At Regional Transportation District (RTD), We make lives better through connections! When you join RTD, you will be among dedicated employees exhibiting RTD's values of passion, respect, diversity, trustworthiness, collaboration, and ownership. RTD is committed to an inclusive and diverse workplace. As part of our diversity value statement, we encourage our employees to honor diversity in thought, people, and experience. Come join RTD on this great journey to be the trusted leader in mobility, delivering excellence and value to our customers and community. RTD Employee Benefits: (RTD Represented Employee Benefits: Please refer to the Labor Agreement included in the above link for details.) DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Technology Architecture Management and Partnership Leads enterprise architecture for transit technology platforms including scheduling and dispatch systems, real-time passenger information systems, fare collection technologies, fleet telemetry, rail and bus operations platforms, and enterprise mobility data platforms. Operates and Chairs the Enterprise Architecture Review Board and leads enterprise governance: establishing architectural principles, target-state reference models, standards, and exception management; developing an enterprise architecture communication plan; and ensuring solutions align to target-state with traceability to business outcomes. Partners with domain architects to build business capability maps, value streams, and transitional architectures; integrates cybersecurity (i.e. Zero Trust), data strategy and governance, integration platforms (API/iPaaS), and cloud-native patterns across portfolios; and ensures conceptual completeness of designs. Aligns architecture governance with enterprise risk, compliance, and service management (e.g., COBIT/ITIL); drives architectural controls into change and asset processes; and assures traceability from standards to platform lifecycles and configurations. Identifies and evaluates opportunities to apply artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve transit operations, including predictive maintenance, service planning, ridership forecasting, customer experience, and operational efficiency; establishes architectural patterns, data requirements, and governance frameworks to support responsible AI adoption across the organization. Ensures configuration and lifecycle management are aligned to reference architectures and roadmaps; maintains authoritative enterprise architecture repositories (diagrams, patterns, principles, standards) with version control and reuse metrics. Owns multi-year technology roadmaps and modernization initiatives (cloud migration, platform consolidation, security-by-design, data interoperability); prioritizes replatforming/retirement; and drives innovation scouting and proofs-of-concept for emerging technologies with business relevance. Provides strategic consultation to business and IT leaders—advising on options, risks, cost-benefit tradeoffs, and timing; influences capital planning and investment prioritization to ensure architecture initiatives receive appropriate funding; approves tools and components consistent with enterprise standards. Develops and executes an enterprise architecture communication and adoption plan; promotes EA process, outcomes, and value to senior leadership and stakeholders. People Power Management Maintains appropriate staffing levels and reviews progress to ensure the quality and quantity of work meet standards and deadlines for deliverables to meet program goals and objectives. Recruits staff to include interviewing, hiring, assigning work, training, coaching, and counseling to ensure consistent application of Employee Guidelines, processes, and procedures. Conducts performance reviews and holds employees accountable for optimal performance of their responsibilities. Fosters a safety-first culture, prioritizing prevention, accountability, and continuous improvement. Takes action to advance the goals of Equal Employment Opportunity, Small/ Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Title VI and ADA Plans, thereby ensuring RTD's hiring programs, work environment, contracting and procurement practices, and transit services/programs are fair, equal, and non-discriminatory. OTHER: All job-related duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or Information Technology required or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience. Ten (10) years of combined IT and business experience, including substantial enterprise architecture experience and demonstrated success leading large cross-functional programs. Five (5) years of direct supervisory or management experience. Experience defining enterprise AI strategy, including architectural principles for AI adoption, AI lifecycle governance, model observability, and responsible AI frameworks. Ability to assess AI readiness across business units and establish guardrails for safe, ethical, and effective AI deployment at scale. Experience in cloud-native architectures (Azure/AWS), containerization/microservices, API ecosystems/iPaaS, data platforms and governance, Zero Trust security, and modern integration patterns across on-premise, cloud, and SaaS. Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, or relevant field of study, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience. Fifteen (15) years of combined IT and business experience, including substantial enterprise architecture experience and demonstrated success leading large cross-functional programs. Certifications in one or more of the following: TOGAF (or equivalent), COBIT/ITIL for governance, and cloud architecture certifications (Azure/AWS). Experience in SAFe or similar Agile framework. Transit industry business and/or technology experience. Or: An equivalent combination of education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. Key Competencies & Characteristics: Proficiency across holistic EA domains (business, application, data, technology/security); capability modeling and value stream mapping; platform strategy; roadmap development; and enterprise standards management. Proficiency across holistic EA domains (business, application, data, technology/security); capability modeling and value stream mapping; platform strategy including shared capability delivery models; roadmap development; enterprise standards management; and responsible AI governance frameworks. Working knowledge of agile at scale (e.g., SAFe) and modern product operating models; ability to align architecture with product portfolios and delivery cadence. Working knowledge of agile at scale (e.g., SAFe) and modern product operating models; ability to align architecture with product portfolios and delivery cadence. Experience with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code as architectural enablers. Proficient with EA tools and repositories; ability to produce executive-quality visualizations and narratives. Exceptional executive communication, storytelling, and influence skills; able to translate complex tradeoffs into business-friendly recommendations. Experience shifting governance from manual gate-based reviews toward automated compliance, continuous observability, and policy-as-code approaches. Demonstrated enterprise influence without formal authority; change leadership across functions; and stewardship of architectural outcomes tied to measurable business value. Ability to manage time and workload effectively which includes planning, organizing, and prioritizing with attention to details. Strong organizational and strategic planning skills. Has aptitude for problem solving and bringing creative ideas to the table, and ability to facilitate move from ideas/concepts to working technical solutions. Ability to identify resources, motivate participation, clearly communicate one’s vision, and drive execution. The ability to self-manage, independently identify program goals, assess risks, and achieve results. Ability to keep appraised of latest developments and updates in enterprise architecture and IT governance. WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those required by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations. The work environment is a typical office environment with minimal exposure to excessive noise or adverse environmental issues. CAREER MAP: Based on job performance, experience, education and position availability the next step on the career map for this position may be: Deputy Chief Information and Technology Officer. Pay Range: $141,115.00 - $199,326.25 Annual EEO POLICY AND ADA ACCOMMODATIONS RTD is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless to the race, sex, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. RTD is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, pre- employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, promotions, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to our Employment ADA Coordinator Kris Frazier at View email address on click.appcast.io, or the Talent Acquisition team View email address on click.appcast.io. To learn more or see our EEO policy, please visit our EEO page at: RTD posts a compensation range that represents a good faith estimate of what RTD anticipates paying for the position at the time of posting. Starting salary is based on the candidate’s relevant and verified education, training and work experience. Applicants should submit all relevant and verifiable education, training and work experiences at the time of application. RTD provides public transportation services in an eight-county region centered in Denver, Colorado. As a public agency, employees are dedicated to serving the public and providing for the transportation needs of over 3.1 million area residents as well as visitors to the region. Services include bus, rail, shuttles, ADA paratransit services, demand-responsive services, vanpools, and more. The agency’s dedicated workforce epitomizes RTD’s mission of making lives better through connections. In 2024, the system had more than 65 million boardings, a number that has seen year-over-year increases since 2020. RTD employs over 3,100 people and has an operating budget of $1.5 billion. Together, RTD employees work hard to keep this region moving day and night. RTD is committed to full equal opportunity and affirmative action for all applicants and employees. Equal opportunity ensures all qualified applicants and employees are treated fairly and not discriminated against with regard to the individual’s race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy. RTD participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. #J-18808-Ljbffr RTD - Regional Transportation District of Denver, CO (RTD)