Description
We are committed to building a workplace where everyone feels heard and respected, and extending our culture of care so that every individual can reach their full potential. We want you to have a sense of belonging and feel valued for your contributions and the perspectives you bring.
Summary: The Lead Architect, Americas, is responsible for developing and maintaining technology principles, roadmaps, design patterns, standards, and models to ensure that technology solutions meet business requirements and integrate effectively into the RES IT systems landscape.
As part of a global architecture practice, this role will be critical to executing the global IT Strategy by applying architecture practices that drive optimized system design and implementation, operational performance, resilience, and cloud services adoption. Through these activities, this role will assist in the following:
- Addressing the current fragmented IT landscape enables business agility, increases operational effectiveness, and enables business growth.
- Reducing the ‘cost of complexity’ with a proactive IT design and delivery approach.
- Building a culture of standardization to reduce complexity and cost and increase business and technology agility.
- Apply techniques and expertise to support RES’ global Architecture function and be a proactive and valued business partner by identifying technology solutions to help the business grow and enhance resilience and competitiveness.
- Supporting the development and maintenance of architectural standards.
- Updating and enhancing a RES architecture model and repository to ensure better assessment and execution of technology change planning and delivery.
- Quality, fit, and thoroughness of solution architectures, including the fit in the overall enterprise architecture and conformance to standards and principles.
Requirements:
- Design solution architectures for a wide range of systems, including cloud and on-premise applications, business analytics, integration, collaboration, project management, and ERP, ensuring good overall design and fit of the solution into the overall systems landscape while adhering to architectural principles.
- Provides deliverables like standard definitions, reference models, and architecture designs to support architectural governance to assess the impact of new and ongoing technology investment on the business and IT estate.
- Understands the cross-functional IT architecture while having subject matter expertise and the ability to communicate its role and importance to the business.
- Produces and maintains architecture roadmaps and designs patterns and standards to support the successful delivery of IT solutions and business objectives.
- Acts as a design authority for all solution architecture matters through producing and reviewing solution proposals covering client, on-premises, and cloud-hosted solutions.
- Works closely with the Global Architecture function to enable the governance and development of the design review board and ensure all material technology change is assessed and endorsed by our Technical Design Authority.
- Maps business needs against the capabilities of relevant technology solutions to ensure that architecture proposals are documented and provided for IT or business-driven change activities.
- Ensures cost optimization and re-uses practices are applied to ‘AS-IS’ and ‘TO-BE’ IT architecture solutions to maximize the benefits returned from the RES technology landscape in line with business objectives.
- Shapes and gains buy-in to the IT Strategy and supporting standards, roadmaps, and design patterns across IT teams and business stakeholders.
- Evaluates emerging technologies and recommend those that will increase performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
- Provides expert Architecture advice (directly or via line manager) to the IT Steering Board and regional leadership in support of developing a technology solution to deliver business objectives and targets.
- Promotes, communicates, and ingrains the application of good solution architecture practices and patterns within IT and business change projects through collaboration with key stakeholders, partners, and customers.
- Ensures solution architecture proposals align with principles and practices contained in the RES Cyber Security Framework.
- Develops proposals for investment to align RES IT change that improve the RES IT landscape and its capabilities to RES IT and strategic business goals.
- Supports the definition and selection of enterprise technology and solutions.
- Provides leadership for a regional team of architects, ensuring alignment with the global architecture team performance and standards.
- Attends work regularly and punctually, as scheduled or expected.
- Complies with Employee Handbook, Code of Conduct, and Company Policies & Procedures.
- Present, support, and lead by example with a safety and quality-oriented attitude.
- Follows safety and security procedures and determines appropriate action. Reports potentially unsafe conditions and uses materials and equipment properly.
- Fosters and demonstrates a workplace inclusive of creating opportunity, serving others, building trust, innovation, and exceeding expectations.
- Manages one or more direct reports.
- Participates in the hiring and selection process to fill positions on the team.
- Communicates regularly with direct reports on goals, accomplishments, and information on policies.
- Demonstrates leadership and expertise in eyes of the client group.
- Employee Development:
- Provides tasks and assignments that challenge and stretch employees’ responsibilities.
- Conducts regular discussions with employee(s) on personal development. Comfortable with empowering others.
- Conducts timely, effective performance reviews in accordance with RES guidelines.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in computer science or Information Systems
- Certification in TOGAF preferred.
- 5+ years of experience as a Solution Architect is required.
- 2+ years of management experience preferred.
- 4+ years of construction or utility industry experience preferred.
- Critical thinking, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement.
- Knowledge of TOGAF and other common architectural practices.
- Ability to produce and maintain technology roadmaps at the enterprise and at the capability level.
- Extensive knowledge of solution architecture in relation to IT systems and infrastructure.
- Extensive knowledge of good practice in relation to the design, implementation, and operation of enterprise IT environments.
- Knowledge of IT governance processes covering financial management, project management, compliance, and IT risk management.
- Experienced with formal project management methodologies: waterfall and agile.
- Excellent knowledge and experience of architecture focusing on the Application domain but spanning Data, Business, and Technical.
- Proven experience managing and partnering with 3rd party suppliers.
- In-depth understanding of Architecture Framework good practice (TOGAF / Zachman).
- Understanding of IT marketplace trends.
- Proven ability to engage, build strong relationships, influence, and partner with stakeholders across functions and geographies.
- Display a high level of analytical problem-solving skills and the ability to assimilate complex information, to facilitate escalation and resolution of issues.
- Thorough, and tenacious focus on delivering successful business outcomes.
- Credible and capable; able to quickly build confidence in senior managers and peers.
- Passionate about technology and how it can improve the customer experience.
- A dynamic individual, with strong, proven delivery skills. Unafraid of taking decisions and happy to take accountability.
- Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills – A capable negotiator, both internally and with third parties.
- An ability to shape IT direction and translate strategy into action.
- An individual of integrity who will respect and demonstrate RES values (Passion, Accountability, Collaboration, Excellence). Sensitive and intuitive, whilst displaying gravitas and credibility.
- Self-motivated, able to lead by example, demonstrating a safety and quality-oriented attitude.
- Functional competencies include system thinking, responsibility/stewardship, innovation, building strategic partnerships, and business acumen.
Anticipated base salary range: $145,000 – $170,000
The final agreed-upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. This position is bonus eligible.
Physical requirements and environment:
The work environment and physical demands characteristics are representatives of those the employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Rarely: Climbing, crouching, kneeling, pulling/pushing/lifting between 5-15lbs., and stooping are required.
Occasionally: Carrying 5-15lbs., gripping, handling, pinching, and walking are required.
Frequently: Standing is required.
Constantly: Reading, grasping, hearing, reaching, vision, repetitive motion, and sitting is required.
Rarely exposed to extreme cold, heat, humidity, and wet climates, in the working environment.
Occasionally exposed to noise and hazards in the work environment.
We maintain a drug-free workplace. Candidates will be required to pass a pre-employment background investigation and drug test as a condition of employment.
RES is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
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