Lead Solution Architect - Sandton at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Description

Key critical skills and experience required:

• Min 4 years Solution Architecture experience
• 8+ years hands-on Technology and Engineering experience
• Experience in customer-facing disciplines and agile delivery disciples and techniques
• Agile delivery disciples
• T-shaped expertise with a breadth of skill, understanding and experience across different areas of delivery, different banking functional/business domains as well as a depth of skill in technology and integration architecture
• Proven track record in implementing complex architectures and solutions with deep hands on experience in complex technical implementations (engineering backround).
• Practical understanding and experience in Design Thinking, Jobs to be Done, Customer Journeys, Experience Design, CEM, etc.
• Technology Management and Strategy including TCO modelling and analysis, application portfolio management and cost optimization.

Key Accountabilities:

Architecture

• Leverage a solid & deep understanding of the organization strategy to identify, design & deliver relevant, scalable, testable, re-usable technology solutions
• Work in collaboration with delivery teams to independently analyse customer requirements & varying business capabilities & leverage analysis to identify & accurately spec / frame ‘the complex business problems we are aiming to solve’ with each solution design or solution evolution
• Through the above processes, leverage emotional, social & business / commercial quotient to understand consumers and the broader range of stakeholders, their opinions & perspectives and reconcile these within the solution designs (negotiation skills and dealing with complex and divergent stakeholder opinions are a must)
• Leverage expertise in analytical & creative problem solving to synthesise a solution design (build a solution from its components) beyond the analysis of the problem
• Lead design thinking processes to successfully deliver solution blueprints & associated roadmaps
• Create end to end solution blueprints & ensure these can be implemented across all phases of the initiative life-cycle (ideation through to product launch & commercialization)
• Design & or contribute to the design & implementation of detailed feasibilities & business cases
• Leverage a strong engineering background to make the right choices in solution design – this knowledge includes but is not limited to: domain driven design, loosely coupled integration, microservices and other modern software design practices
• The above extends to identifying the best fit tools to be used for a particular solution, understanding those that would not be a good choice and leveraging researching skills to pivot towards something better
• Assume ‘one stop’ shop accountability for solution blueprint design & delivery decisions within an organization based on the above
• Work with project / program management teams to design solution roadmaps aligned to the strategic requirements of an organization and through which the solution can be implemented across all phases of the initiative life-cycle (ideation through to product launch and commercialization)
• Work embedded, as part of a delivery team, to ensure the successful design & implementation of solution blueprints
• Ensure that the detail of the solution (across all architecture domains) is accurate to the implementation of the initiative, true to the bank’s architectural principles/preferences, implementable by the different teams involved in the solution
• Work as part of embedded delivery teams to conduct solution reviews, code reviews, testing and other disciplines associated with solution design & delivery
• Attend various Group & Business specific architectural design forums and present solution designs and detailed business cases for approval
• Leverage synthesis & creative problem skills to identify risk (impending danger & challenges) and work with a cross functional group of stakeholders across the value chain for support & direction
• Conduct solution reviews against defined customer metrics and ensure the ongoing achievement of business results through solution implementation
• Ensure a solid understanding of emerging & evolving architectural principles and hold one stop shop accountability for the evolution of solutions in alignment with these principles (where it makes sense to do so)
• Build architectural capability across delivery teams in a business to ensure ongoing evolution of skills in solution delivery
• Contribute to the architecture body of knowledge
• Contribute to the design & evolution of architectural principles and preferences

People

• Participate in peer reviews (code, solution, testing etc.) and transfer knowledge and capability across delivery teams for improved solutioning & evolving architectural practices
• Set & Cascade solution direction across technology delivery teams
• Build & evolve the architectural capability of Delivery teams across the business – through active coaching & information / knowledge sharing
• As an SME, support the proactive attraction, recruitment, development, & retention of strong technology teams across an estate
• Leverage and embed agile practices in delivery teams and work to build strong self-directed, high performance teams through agile working practices (including daily, weekly, etc. sprint routines, regular & honest feedback etc.)

Financial & Vendor Management, Risk & Governance

• Carry the ‘one stop shop’ accountability for all risk associated with solution design (from ideation to deployment)
• Apply the organization risk & governance frameworks
• Ensure solution design alignment to Group guidelines & ensure solutions are sustainable for the enterprise
• Proactively involve / engage chapter & guild leads in solution decision making, applying an enterprise wide lens to product & service development
• Ensure solution design alignment to regulatory requirements and continuously update knowledge on regulatory requirements for the successful design of new & evolution of existing solutions
• Deliver on time & on budget (always)

Education

• Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology