Principal Enterprise Architect

Principal Enterprise Architect Locations: Fort Wayne, IN • Chicago, IL • Dallas, TX (On-Site) Reports To: Chief Information Officer (CIO) Department: Information Technology Position Overview The Principal Enterprise Architect serves as the strategic “city planner” for Do it Best technology—designing, governing, and advancing the enterprise architecture that supports both current operations and long-term growth. This role leads the Architecture Center of Excellence (COE) and partners with Solution Architects across Business Enablement, Enterprise Enablement, Data & Digital, and Infrastructure to ensure all systems work together cohesively and align with business priorities. The Principal Enterprise Architect works closely with the CIO to develop the enterprise technology roadmap that delivers on the company’s mission of enabling success through innovation, data, and ease. Key Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the enterprise architecture vision, principles, and roadmap.

• Partner with the CIO to develop and maintain the enterprise technology strategy aligned with corporate vision and IT mission.

• Lead the Architecture COE to establish standards, reference architectures, and governance practices.

• Evaluate and guide the adoption of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs), to improve productivity, insights, and user experience.

• Drive modernization, integration, and data initiatives supporting retail, distribution, and member-facing systems.

• Partner with Solution Architects to ensure interoperability, scalability, and security across platforms.

• Represent Do it Best in executive forums, steering committees, and industry conferences to share vision, progress, and innovation strategy.

• Collaborate across IT and business functions to ensure technology decisions drive enterprise outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or related field; Master’s preferred.

• 10+ years of progressive IT leadership, with 7+ years in enterprise or solution architecture.

• Experience in retail, distribution, or supply chain technology environments.

• Strong knowledge of cloud and hybrid infrastructure, data integration, APIs, and security architecture.

• Proven success integrating or applying AI/ML solutions in enterprise environments.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to engage executives, board members, and external audiences.

• Preferred certifications: TOGAF, AWS/Azure Solutions Architect, or equivalent.

Success Measures

• Enterprise architecture roadmap aligned with business and IT strategy.

• Increased adoption of AI-driven technologies delivering measurable business outcomes.

• Strong architecture governance through the COE.

• Reduced technical debt and improved system interoperability.

• Recognition of Do it Best as a technology thought leader in retail and distribution.

Benefits available to you…

• Full insurance benefits package including Medical, Dental, & Vision

• Paid time off to foster work/life balance

• Profit sharing

• Bonus Pay opportunities

• Retirement funding opportunities

• Education reimbursement

• Health club reimbursement

• Career advancement opportunities

About True Value For more than 75 years, True Value has empowered independent retailers to become a recognized, trusted fixture on Main Streets everywhere through its iconic brand. From expansive product sets and market-customized assortments to innovative marketing programs and value-added services, True Value is the partner for all things hardware. Now part of the Do it Best Group, the world’s largest independent home improvement co-op, True Value continues to support thousands of stores globally while retaining an independent spirit, community focus, and its trusted legacy brand. For more information, visit truevaluecompany.com.