A project requires specialized architecture services and is considered high risk. The external architect providing those services has accepted another job and will resign soon. What should the project manager do next?

The project manager's immediate priority is to understand the full impact of the architect's departure on the project. Discussing with the project team leverages their collective knowledge to assess risks, identify potential solutions, and determine the best course of action. This aligns with proactive risk management. Asking for new employer contact information is unprofessional and unlikely to yield a positive outcome. Requesting the vendor retain the expert by offering incentives is premature; the project manager first needs to understand the internal impact before engaging external parties. Escalating to procurement is also premature; the project manager needs to gather information and assess the situation before involving other departments.