Dealing with Difficult DBAs
The DBA StackExchange was made to address technical and strategic aspects of DBMS products and deployment of such into infrastructures. When it comes to dealing with difficult DBAs, there is no black-and-white answer to offer. In your particular case, I will make an exception.
I answered two interesting posts four(4) years ago

May 02, 2011 : How could DBAs be more &#39;programmer friendly&#39;?
May 24, 2011 : Why is Database Administration so hard?

I discussed 4 ways people have become DBAs. Somewhere, over the course of time, your head DBA has lost touch with what Developers and Developer/DBAs are doing and their ever-changing needs. In fact, times have changed and the developer technologies of today may no longer be in the head DBA's wheelhouse.
You need to comply with the standards put in place until productivity slows down considerably. OH, I AM SORRY, THAT'S WHATS HAPPENING NOW !!!
Guess what? You must get a third-party involved (his boss or his boss's boss) and thoroughly prove that the standards are interfering with product development. In other words, your Agile Development has become Fragile Development.
I recently saw a picture in LinkedIn that might reflect what you are going through

Have all your ducks in a row. Do all you homework. Have all your facts and figures down in writing. Think of it in terms of Six Sigma: You want to streamline process development while eliminating wasted efforts.
FINAL WORDS
Mind you, you should never approach this with a complaining spirit. You need to present this situation in such a way that the you want the head DBA on your side instead of off your back. If the head DBA is in your company, he/she brings something to the table in the eyes of your company. You don't want to diminish the head DBA's dignity. You must find a way to appeal to it. Notwithstanding, you must also let the current productivity speak for you and the head DBA (without casting blame). In the end, you will find the solution that creates a team atmosphere which includes the head DBA or the company may step in with standards even harder to deal with. Now, GO DO YOUR HOMEWORK ...
Please let us know how it turns out !!!