Architect, Solutions at Standard Bank Group

Job Purpose

To develop, design and maintain the solution architectures for specific business functional/technical areas. To participate in the definition of the higher-level functional and non-functional requirements, analyse technical trade-offs, determine the major components and subsystems, and define the interfaces and collaborations between them, safeguarding the strategic alignment of technology architecture with the agreed business outcomes.

Key Deliverables 

• Adhere to Agile methodologies and follow Agile principles through work outputs and behaviours and strive to reach mature levels on the Continuum model by building own competence to work in a continuous delivery environment
• Articulate solution risks and impacts to relevant stakeholders
• Collaborate with stakeholders from different disciplines in a cross-functional team to deliver against iteration target
• Communicate with all stakeholders across all levels to accept and adopt architectures and/or solutions
• Conform with the approved Enterprise Architecture Governance Framework and Decision Model, as well as with architecture governance body and personal individual Architect mandates
• Coordinate activities across areas and domains to facilitate and deliver relevant artefacts in achievement of relevant domain/client segment architectures
• Create domain/client segment architectures by collaborating with key stakeholders, peers and/ or feature teams, aligned to reference architectures and client segment and domain architectures, patterns and roadmaps
• Design, develop, and maintain solution architectures for specific business functional/technical areas and actively participate in the programme to ensure implementation on the evolving solution of an application
• Determine the technical design within the architectural guidelines
• Develop domain/client segment architecture patterns to be consumed in Client Solution, Client Segment or Domain Architectures
• Engage with and participate in the broader SBG Architecture Community of Practice and collaborate with other Solution Architects as well as with Enterprise Architects across the group to ensure strategically aligned fit-for purpose cost-appropriate architectures and solutions.
• Evaluate and score requests for information and requests for proposals (RFI and RFP) responses and present reports by providing recommendations and findings
• Investigate and research the problem statement or programme needs to deliver relevant solution artefacts
• Maintain reference and solution design documentation according to Group standards
• Maintain the SBG Universal Technology Register, and log all architecture decisions, risks, deviations, and technology investigations (e.g. proof of concept / technology), in the SBG central architecture registers
• Monitor requests for information and requests for proposal (RFI and RFP) and provide input and evaluation criteria applied during these processes. Evaluate and score RFI and RFP responses.
• Observe sound risk management practices and implement validated architecture patterns to be consumed in Client Solution, Client Segment or Domain Architectures
• Participate and or present in relevant Engineering Architecture Governance forums or related forums (Internal and/or External associations)
• Perform technical assessments of new and proposed technologies, solutions, products and services as well as concepts (proof of concepts / proof of technology) for adoption by the organisation
• Plan and develop the architectural runway and backlogs for specific domains/segments in support of upcoming business features/capabilities
• Plan and develop the architectural runway in support of upcoming business features/capabilities
• Produce transitional architectures aligned to the target architectures ensuring the formulated architectures and / or solutions are at the appropriate level (conceptual, logical and or physical
• Provide advice and specialist consulting on planning and analysis, design, build, test and deploy, identification of opportunities and enablement and risk and impact analysis for Solution execution
• Provide an assessment, review, recommendation and or opinion of Solution, Domain and Client Segment architectures for alignment to Engineering and Business Strategies, legislation and regulation and other relevant governance processes
• Provide architectural, technical advice and insights to resolve critical situations affecting the organisation and recommend remediation options inclusive of advantages and disadvantages to all stakeholders
• Uphold the strategic alignment of technology architecture (functional, platform, application, information and data, security, and integration architecture) with the agreed business outcomes
• Work in partnership with Business representatives (e.g. Product Owner, Product Manager) ensuring alignment and delivering value to the customer

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

• Type of Qualification: Post Graduate Degree
• Field of Study: Information Technology

Experience Required
Enterprise Technology & Solutions Architecture
Technology
5-7 years
Experience in multiple IT disciples e.g. Dev Hardware, analysis, design, service management, architecture

5-7 years
Good understanding of Agile working practices and LEAN and SCRUM proficiency and working collaboratively across teams. Experience gained in the management of platforms and operating systems

8-10 years
Experience in designing innovative solutions within technology businesses such as Authentication Systems, System, Platform, and Account Migrations, Enterprise Solution Architecture (ESA), Business Architecture, Information Architecture, Application Architecture or Technology Architecture with a balanced mix of skills covering technologies and industry knowledge

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Behavioral Competencies:

• Adopting Practical Approaches
• Articulating Information
• Checking Details
• Developing Expertise
• Documenting Facts
• Embracing Change
• Examining Information
• Interpreting Data
• Managing Tasks
• Producing Output
• Taking Action
• Team Working

Technical Competencies:

• Emerging Technology Monitoring
• Information Technology Architecture
• Internal & External IT Environment
• IT Applications
• IT Knowledge
• Solutions Assessment
• Stakeholder Management (IT)