Chanel Head of Enterprise Architecture

About Chanel

Chanel is one of the world’s most revered luxury houses, founded by Gabrielle Chanel and distinguished by an enduring vision of elegance, freedom, and modernity. As an employer, the House brings together métiers ranging from haute couture, fashion and leather goods to fragrance, beauty, watches, and fine jewelry, offering employees the opportunity to contribute to a legacy defined by exceptional craftsmanship and creative audacity. Chanel values excellence, discretion, collaboration, and long-term development, fostering an environment where talent is nurtured and heritage is continually reinterpreted for contemporary clients. Its teams are united by a commitment to quality, innovation, and the timeless spirit of the brand.

Role & Responsibilities

• Define and govern enterprise-wide application architecture, data domains, integrations, and platforms aligned with US business needs and global standards
• Establish architectural governance frameworks, decision rights, standards, exceptions, and operating model with clear gates and forums
• Design enterprise data architecture from ingestion to consumption, ensuring seamless data flows from operational systems (POS, OMS, WMS) to analytics and AI platforms
• Define data domain ownership with clear accountability for customer, product, transaction, and supply chain data aligned to business domains
• Harmonize US data architecture with global data platforms while respecting data residency and privacy requirements
• Architect support for unstructured data (text, image, video, conversational) alongside structured retail data to enable generative AI use cases
• Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies including generative AI, agentic frameworks, and multicloud solutions into the enterprise operating model
• Own Application Portfolio Management using tools such as SAP LeanIX or ServiceNow APM/CMDB to map capabilities, rationalize redundancy, and show dependencies
• Define and enforce end-to-end Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) standards using Agile methodology to drive quality, speed, and repeatability
• Shape enterprise approach to AI and Machine Learning adoption, establishing guardrails for responsible deployment and ensuring AI/ML capabilities are architected into the broader technology landscape
• Establish and lead a Center of Excellence for Architecture to build shared capability, drive standards, and ensure architectural consistency across programs and domains
• Own the Reference Architecture for US CHANEL Tech, delivering standards and build patterns through global playbooks
• Define cloud, integration, platform, security, and resiliency standards including landing zones, API-first patterns, and secure-by-design expectations
• Build and maintain strong relationships across all business and IT functions to translate complex capability maps into simplified, efficient IT value streams
• Provide architecture input into planning, budgeting, total cost of ownership reduction, investment prioritization, and key performance indicators for rationalization and debt reduction
• Champion technical debt reduction and design phased application decommissioning playbooks to securely sunset legacy systems
• Drive architectural simplification across the technology landscape to reduce complexity and improve agility and operational efficiency

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years in senior leadership technology roles with a focus on Enterprise Architecture, ideally in global matrixed organizations, major consultancies, or system integrators
• Mastery of Enterprise Architecture frameworks and principles; expertise with TOGAF certification or equivalent experience
• Proficiency with Enterprise Architecture tools such as SAP LeanIX, ServiceNow APM/CMDB, ArchiMate, or Bizzdesign
• Deep understanding of technical domains including application, data, DevOps, AI/ML, integration, big data, analytics, cloud, and platform architecture
• Proven ability to operate effectively between US regional autonomy and global alignment; judgment to advocate for standards and flexibility appropriately
• Fluency in retail operations and luxury retail dynamics; understanding of P&L, merchandising, consumer behavior, clienteling, supply chain, and store operations as related to technology
• Knowledge of solution architecture and system design principles with ability to guide and govern complex, multi-domain initiatives
• Strong expertise in identifying, assessing, and mitigating technical debt and risks associated with legacy platform maintenance
• Experience designing and executing phased application decommissioning playbooks to securely sunset legacy systems
• Advanced capability to work credibly at executive level, anticipating and addressing strategic business challenges through technology solutions
• Complete understanding and practical application of EA frameworks including current/target state, transition planning, roadmaps, gap analysis, and migration planning

Skills

Experience

The ideal candidate brings hands-on IT experience combined with proven success driving architecture adoption across teams and regions. Required are at least 15 years in senior leadership positions within Enterprise Architecture or equivalent technology roles, with demonstrated track record of establishing architecture governance, delivering complex multi-domain solutions, and managing enterprise-wide technology transformation. Experience must include working in global, matrixed environments and ideally with major consultancies, system integrators, or large multinational corporations. The candidate should possess executive-level presentation capability, strategic business acumen, and proven relationships across organizational levels. Specific experience in luxury retail or consumer goods environments is valuable, as is hands-on involvement with technical debt remediation and legacy system decommissioning programs.

Education

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in computer science, engineering, or a related technical field is required. A Master's degree (MSc or MA) is preferred.

Workplace

Compensation

The base compensation for this position ranges from USD 223,300 to USD 265,000 per annum.

Benefits

Wellbeing resources including dedicated paid time off for wellbeing (2-week August Office Closure) and a Wellbeing fund; Family and caregiving benefits including parental leave, fertility support, MilkStork, and Care.com Membership; Generous paid time off policies covering vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days; 401(k) and other incentives; Robust healthcare offerings including medical, dental, vision, MDLIVE virtual care, One Medical, Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care and Dependent Care), Health Savings Account, and Employee Assistance Program; Life insurance, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, Health Advocate, International Business Travel Accident and Medical, and Commuter Transit and Parking.

Culture

Chanel fosters a culture of timeless creativity, exacting craftsmanship, and quiet excellence, where employees are encouraged to uphold the house’s heritage while contributing to its continued innovation. The workplace environment is refined, collaborative, and deeply committed to quality, offering professionals the opportunity to grow within a globally respected maison that values discretion, artistry, and long-term vision.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.