IT Infrastructure Architect at PPS

Purpose of the Job:

A technical specialist role, reporting into the IT Executive: Enterprise Architecture, this role is responsible

to develop and maintain the overall design plan for the logical and technical infrastructure and networks as well as offer infrastructure services. The role will gain overall commitment for all high-level infrastructure and network plans, initiate and participate in projects to evaluate technologies and methods for implementing these plans. The role will guide the execution of Incident, Change, Release, Problem, Performance, and Availability Management within Infrastructure and Networks. This specialist function will advise on any issues related to IT security and performance as well as drive the software and hardware installations, specification, testing and service transition.

Key Accountabilities

Infrastructure architecture

• Define short-term and long-term plans to make certain the infrastructure and networks meet the business needs
• Identify the business requirements and incorporate new hardware, operating systems or connectivity solutions for both on premise and cloud-based solutions
• Conduct research on emerging technologies and architectural approaches in support of infrastructure and network development efforts and recommend technologies that will increase cost effectiveness and flexibility, engage with IT Management on these issues
• Analyse new and existing systems to ensure that these systems provide the necessary security.
• Analyse overall system performance and expectations.
• Analyse infrastructure and networks along with defining a roadmap to reach target architecture and drives implementation of the technical architecture roadmap
• Reviews infrastructure and network footprints to identify consolidation and cost reduction opportunities.
• Introduce alternative technologies to improve or enhance information systems to support organisational goals.
• Identify architectural risks and propose alternative and solutions
• Promote alignment between technology and business strategy

Technical Support

• Develop, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and associated training plans for infrastructure and network resource administration
• Develop and deploy methodologies for testing infrastructure and network performance for infrastructure and network resource administration
• Provide solutions in areas of disaster recovery, data integrity and security. Evaluate and recommend software technologies in these areas, evaluate alternatives and analyse problems
• Support the creation and communication of program architecture guiding principles, strategic technology standards, frameworks, and roadmaps
• Hands on design for a secure, efficient, and adaptable connected services model.
• Support design reviews, gap analysis and assessments
• Support failure mode and performance management analysis processes
• Hands on creation of context, sequence and interaction diagrams and other program integration architecture artefacts using standard best practices

IT Environment

• Participates in proof of concepts to assist in defining technology direction and enabling business strategy.
• Formulate detailed plans to add new systems to the existing core infrastructure.
• Create logistic plans for conducting physical integration of hardware.
• Provide technical direction and support throughout the infrastructure process.
• Influence and enable the technology environment with best practice solutions
• Co-create and support the innovative solutions and the integration of new infrastructure
• Engage with business and IT leaders to ensure that architecture roadmaps continually align with business objectives
• Collaborate with IT management to suggest and guide innovation of new software and technologies aligned to best practices

IT Governance

• Adhere to the architectural governance framework in order to mitigate risk and abide by requirements protocols
• Deliver the integration of software hardware, applications, and third-party solutions to support the delivery of business goals within the set IT standards
• Report architectural risks and suggest alternative and solutions
• Participates in the governance process for reviewing specific solutions to assure they are properly leveraging program frameworks and standards.

Effective Communication and Stakeholder management

• Collaborates with key business stakeholders, marketing, production, and operations, sharing insights to improve multichannel experiences, product development and needs identification
•  Communicate requirements of any future infrastructure needs, in collaboration with the other IT capabilities
• Anticipates and responds appropriately to the needs, reactions and feedback of stakeholders
• Ensures that key business inhibiting capabilities are highlighted with a solution orientation approach
• Regularly communicate with stakeholders in a thorough manner using appropriate and effective communication tools
• Harnessing business improvements and optimisation to the IT business objectives
• Expresses opinions, information and key points of view clearly and assertively
• Is confident in conceptualising, building and presenting concepts and plans
• Create and sustain networks for best practices and insights across the architecture environment so that multi-disciplinary approaches are leveraged
• Provides regular information and insights to improve the architect design and software applications principles

Education:

• Matric
• Bachelor degree in either Information Systems, Informatics or Computer Science or Engineering (or equivalent work experience)
• Honours or Masters in Information Systems, Informatics, Computer Science or Engineering is preferred
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification advantageous
• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification advantageous
• Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) certification advantageous

Experience:

• At least 5 -7 years’ experience in an IT technical specialist role
• 5 - 7 years’ experience in a current infrastructure architect position in a sizable organisation; preferably in banking or financial services industry preferred
• 5 - 7 years’ experience in a production IT environment working with enterprise IT infrastructure, hardware, cloud services, web technologies and network areas.
• Advanced experience in the design and implementation of complex computer systems
• Proven experience in adopting architecture and governance frameworks e.g. TOGAF or Zachman

Knowledge and Skills (maximum of 10):

•  Sound analytical, logical reasoning and business acumen.
•  Sound planning, organising and execution skills.
• Sound communication (verbal and written) in English.
• Extensive knowledge in designing, integrating and managing complex infrastructure solutions
• Sound knowledge of the Windows, Linux, Domains, Active Directory and its concepts, and the interaction between hardware, operating systems, network, Cloud and application software.
• Demonstrate competency in the documentation of architectural design or review design documents
• Technical working knowledge of VMware
• Excellent customer relations skills and ability to work with demanding customers
• Ability to draft accurate documentation that supports the architectural designs
• Demonstrates the ability to understand and interpret key technology platforms relative to PPS
• Knowledge of the technology elements that contribute to maturing the 4th Industrial Revolution objectives; robotics, automation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, etc.

Competencies (maximum of 8):

• Sound problem solving and analytics skills
• Innovation orientation
• Business Acumen
• Persuading and Influencing
• Change navigation and adaptable