Solutions Architect: Managed Services at Nexio

ROLE REQUIREMENT

• Primarily involved in the development, evolution, and approval of the long-term vision across a function.
• Solutions Architect
• Direct impact on business performance
• Provides technical leadership to managers and/or professional staff
• Provides technical guidance to employees

Business Unit Collaboration

• Overall responsibility for all Managed Services proposals and pricing.
• Responsible to provide quality solutions and pricing for Services deliverables.
• Participate in the development and execution of a Managed Services strategy to deliver growth of the Services BU, generation of long-term annuity income opportunities for Nexio and, operational relevance and efficiency.
• Participate in the development, management, and continual update of the Nexio service catalogue.
• Collaborate with sales in an appropriate manner to help Nexio to win new business and retain existing clients at appropriate levels of profitability.
• Ensure collaboration and alignment with all business units so that they understand the services and solutions being positioned and can provide input accordingly.
• Implement and continuously develop Services pricing models and calculators.

Solution Development

• Overall responsibility for the Managed Services components in proposals, RFIs, RFPs and RFQs.
• Understanding the client solution requirement and creating a framework for the Managed Services response, aligned to client requirements and overall solution.
• Unpack and co-ordinate the service requirements, incorporating internal Nexio BUs, sub-contractors and any other third parties.
• Obtaining and collate service solution information and pricing aligned to the requirements, inclusive of:
• Service definitions and descriptions
• Cost drivers
• Resourcing requirements
• Integration requirements
• References
• Transition and/or implementation approach, deliverables, and timelines
• Documenting the service solution in line with the requirements, ensuring:
• All requirements are answered.
• Providing solutions for review that is structured and relevant to the client requirements and solution design, avoiding copy and paste data-dump.
• Provide solutions for review that has been formatted to the Managed Services standard.
• Ensure solution delivery timelines are met, and fully aligned to quality standards.
• Facilitate solution review gates, inclusive of solution sign-off and commercial approval.

Solution Pricing

• Ensure the services proposed are appropriately priced and aligned to the required scope of services, including:
• Due Diligence
• Service Implementation / Service Transition
• Service Transformation
• Service Integration
• Cost Drivers
• Assumptions and Exclusions
• Obtain financial approval form RFP stakeholders prior to solution submission.
• Comprehensive financial model for the contracted service duration, reflecting service-related revenue, margin, and cost distribution.

Solution and Client On-boarding/ Transition

• Overall responsibility for creating and maturing a transition/ on-boarding framework for new clients and services; and
• Overseeing the execution of transition/ on-boarding projects to ensure that new services and clients are set up for success and are delivered at the appropriate level of quality.

Contract and Risk Management

• Participate in all elements of contract negotiation, contract on-boarding, for Nexio contracts with clients, 3rd parties and suppliers.
• Ensure that all contracts are aligned to the solutions developed to mitigate risk and protect Nexio’s financial, reputation and other interests; and
• Ensure development and agreement of SLAs and Underpinning Contracts aligned to the Solution Scope, prior to handing over to the Transition and Operations teams.

Additional Information:

• Individuals at this level have fully developed knowledge of the business, marketplace and clients. Is recognized as an expert in own area within the organization
• Interprets internal or external business issues and recommends best practices. Provides technical guidance to more junior levels of staff
• Able to build strong interpersonal relationships with peers, brand leaders, and other senior management throughout the company
• Able to be a “big picture” thinker
• Encouraging to team and staff; able to mentor and lead
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to align multiple strategies and ideas
• Confident in producing and presenting work
• In-depth understanding of the IT and Telecommunications industry

TECHNICAL / PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Proven comprehension of cross-functional domains and the ability to design and present integrated solutions within our customer environments. 
• Ability to interface with C-level customers, partners and peers at a strategic and technical level.
• Demonstrate creative problem-solving and decision-making to solve complicated business problems.
• Excellent analytical, organisational, presentation and customer service skills.
• Able to align and articulate capabilities as they relate to business priorities and goals.
• Solid skill in preparing written communications and materials.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: active listening and customer-care; knowledge and compliance with email correspondence.
• Ability to multi-task and adapt to changes quickly.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work in a fast moving and changing environment.
• Willing to work overtime as and when required
• Willing to travel regularly to customer locations and industry events.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Matric
• Bachelor's degree in information technology or equivalent qualifications
• ITIL Foundation certification
• 10+ years of IT experience across all disciplines in infrastructure technology solutions.
• 7+ years of experience developing IT Service solutions and strategies across multiple domains across all disciplines.
• 5+ years Managed Services and / or Outsourcing experience.
• Understanding of service delivery models and the commercialisation thereof.
• Proven ability to drive collaboration and lead multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience with project management disciplines preferred.