Senior Manager – Platform, Architecture & Modernisation Advisory

Job description

The opportunity Technology leaders are facing a new architecture problem. Cloud, data, AI, enterprise platforms and increasingly agentic systems can no longer be treated as separate transformation agendas. Decisions made across these layers determine an organisation's speed of innovation, technology economics, resilience, interoperability and ability to scale AI safely. Deloitte Africa Engineering, AI & Data Advisory is looking for an exceptional Senior Manager – Platform, Architecture & Modernisation Advisory to help executives navigate these decisions and translate them into executable transformation programs. This is not a conventional enterprise architecture or solution architecture role. It is a senior consulting and practice-building position for someone who can challenge technology strategy, make complex architecture choices understandable to executives, create investable modernisation pathways and mobilise engineering teams to execute them . Your mandate As capability steward, you will build and lead Deloitte Africa's Advisory proposition around the technology foundations required for modern digital and AI-enabled enterprises. You will connect strategic intent to the architecture decisions required to make it real. Your mandate spans: Technology decision advisory. Help CIOs, CTOs and CDAOs make consequential decisions around cloud, data, AI, integration, enterprise platforms, modernisation and emerging technology. Architecture challenge. Independently assess and challenge existing technology strategies and architectures, identifying structural constraints, unnecessary complexity, technical debt and future capability gaps. Transformation architecture. Translate target-state architecture into sequenced, investable transformation programs rather than producing architecture diagrams without an execution pathway. Commercial leadership. Build propositions, create pipeline, originate engagements and expand architecture-led advisory into wider engineering transformation opportunities. Capability stewardship. Develop Deloitte's architecture methods, reference patterns, talent, technology ecosystem and market position. What you will do You will: Advise CIOs, CTOs, CDAOs and architecture leaders on strategic technology choices. Perform independent architecture and technology-strategy reviews. Define enterprise technology principles and target-state architectures. Develop modernisation strategies spanning applications, cloud, data, integration and AI. Design enterprise AI platform strategies and associated architecture roadmaps. Help clients determine what should be built, bought, modernised, consolidated, retired or consumed as a service. Translate architecture alternatives into explicit business, cost, risk and execution trade-offs. Develop cloud, data and AI platform roadmaps aligned to business strategy. Shape enterprise architecture for GenAI and agentic AI, including model access, knowledge, integration, orchestration, observability, control and security. Advise on AI gateways, control planes and common enterprise AI services. Evaluate hyperscaler, SaaS, platform and technology vendor propositions independently. Support major technology investment decisions and commercial negotiations. Connect enterprise architecture to technology operating model, governance and delivery implications. Develop pragmatic transition architectures and transformation sequencing. Structure and lead complex technology advisory engagements. Mobilise specialists across Cloud, AI, Data, Cyber, Engineering and enterprise platforms. Lead senior architecture forums and executive decision workshops. Originate and convert advisory and transformation opportunities. Build signature offerings, methods, reference architectures and reusable IP. Develop ecosystem relationships with hyperscalers and major technology providers while maintaining independent client advice. Mentor and develop architecture-oriented advisory talent. The profile we are looking for You will likely have 15+ years of relevant experience across technology consulting, enterprise architecture, cloud/data/AI transformation or related disciplines. We expect: Significant experience in consulting, technology advisory or a strongly client-facing equivalent environment. Deep credibility in enterprise technology architecture. Demonstrated experience working across more than one of cloud, data, AI, applications, integration or digital platforms. Experience leading complex architecture or technology transformation programs. Ability to translate highly technical choices into clear executive decisions. Strong understanding of modern enterprise AI architectures. Experience working with at least one major hyperscaler and familiarity with multi-cloud enterprise environments. Commercial experience including opportunity shaping, proposals, pursuits and client development. Strong understanding of transformation economics and architectural trade-offs. Experience leading multidisciplinary teams. Exceptional stakeholder management with credibility at CIO, CTO, CDAO and Chief Architect level. Relevant undergraduate qualifications in engineering, computer science, information systems or related disciplines are expected. Relevant architecture, cloud or technology certifications are advantageous but will not substitute for demonstrated capability. Architecture depth We expect meaningful expertise across areas including: Enterprise and solution architecture; Public and hybrid cloud architectures; Modern data platforms; AI and GenAI platforms; Enterprise AI gateways and control planes; Agentic AI architecture; Application and platform modernisation; API and event-driven integration; Enterprise SaaS ecosystems; Security and identity architecture; Observability and operational resilience; MLOps/LLMOps and AI lifecycle management; Technology standards and architecture governance; and FinOps and technology-consumption implications. You are not expected to be the deepest SME in every domain. Your differentiator should be the ability to see across them and determine how architectural decisions interact at enterprise level. What will distinguish exceptional candidates Exceptional candidates may have: Served as a Chief Architect, Enterprise Architect or CTO-level advisor while maintaining strong consulting and commercial capability; Built architecture or technology-strategy consulting propositions; Led major cloud, data or AI modernisation programs; Designed enterprise-grade AI platform architectures; Originated consulting work through trusted CIO/CTO relationships; Experience across several major technology ecosystems rather than attachment to a single vendor; An ability to challenge prevailing architecture thinking constructively; and A reputation for converting architecture complexity into clear executive choices. How success will be measured You will be accountable for: building a credible market-facing Platform & Architecture Advisory business; originating and converting qualified pipeline; managed revenue and contribution to downstream EAID transformation revenue; development of distinctive propositions and architecture IP; client impact and quality of strategic technology decisions; expansion of advisory engagements into executable transformation; effective orchestration of the broader EAID capability; development of strong architecture advisory talent; and trusted relationships across client technology leadership and strategic technology partners. Why this role is different The role is not about producing the architecture. It is about helping executives answer: What technology estate do we need for the enterprise we are trying to become and what decisions must we make now to get there? You will help turn those decisions into programs Deloitte can help clients execute. Note: The list of tasks / duties and responsibilities contained in this document is not necessarily exhaustive. Deloitte may ask the employee to carry out additional duties or responsibilities, which may fall reasonably within the ambit of the role profile, depending on operational requirements. Be careful of Recruitment Scams: Fraudsters or employment scammers often pose as legitimate recruiters, employers, recruitment consultants or job placement firms, advertising false job opportunities through email, text messages and WhatsApp messages. They aim to cheat jobseekers out of money or to steal personal information. To help you look out for potential recruitment scams, here are some Red Flags: Upfront Payment Requests : Deloitte will never ask for any upfront payment for background checks, job training, or supplies . 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Be careful not to use any contact details provided in the suspicious job advertisement or email. At Deloitte, we want everyone to feel they can be themselves and to thrive at work—in every country, in everything we do, every day. We aim to create a workplace where everyone is treated fairly and with respect, including reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. We are committed to employment equity and building a diverse and inclusive workplace across the African continent. Our recruitment processes are aligned with our Employment Equity Plan and the principles of the Employment Equity Act. Preference may be given to candidates from designated groups. We actively support the inclusion of people with disabilities and embrace neurodiversity in the workplace. We recognise and value the unique strengths that neurodivergent individuals bring, and we are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive. If you require reasonable accommodations in relation to your disability and neurodiverse needs during the recruitment process, please let us know. We are happy to make adjustments to suit your individual needs. At Deloitte, our Purpose is to make an impact that matters for our clients, our people, and society. This is the lens for which our global strategy is set. It unites Deloitte professionals across geographies, businesses, and skills. It makes us better at what we do and how we do it. It enables us to deliver on our promises to stakeholders, while creating the lasting impact we seek. Harnessing the talent of 450,000+ people located across more than 150 countries and territories, our size and scale puts us in a unique position to help change the world for the better—by bringing together the services we provide, the societal investments we make, and the collaborations we advance through our ecosystems. Deloitte offers career opportunities across Audit & Assurance (A&A), Tax & Legal (T&L) and our Consulting services business, which is made up of Strategy, Risk & Transactions Advisory (SR&T) and Technology & Transformation (T&T). About Africa Consulting Services Deloitte’s Africa Consulting Services has always been about helping our clients and our people move forward. It’s important that we do the same for our business: celebrating how far we’ve come, and always preparing to take our next, big steps towards a global future. We’re moving and evolving on our journey to be an undisputed leader in consulting, globally and in all major markets. Together, we will achieve our aspirations through a relentless focus on our shared strategic agenda.