Solutions Architect at Sanlam Group

Who are we?

Sanlam Developing Markets (SDM) (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sanlam Life Limited) is one of the top financial services providers in the South African entry-level and emerging middle market. It aims to understand the unique requirements of clients and offers a wide range of simple and affordable financial solutions that cover needs such as funeral insurance, savings for education, life cover and personal accident plans. In terms of the Sanlam Group Governance Policy, SDM is managed by the SA Retail Mass cluster, which is part of the Sanlam Life and Savings cluster within the Sanlam Group. There are four businesses within the SA Retail Mass cluster, namely; Group Benefits, Individual Life, Safrican Insurance and African Rainbow Life.

What will you do?

Responsible for the development of a systems architecture that describes the complete set of components and interfaces that make up IS application solutions to specified business requirements in a large, complex organisation. The specification, product selection and design of infrastructure components to implement a systems architecture. The identification of new and emerging software technologies, methodologies and products, and ICT methods and techniques and the ongoing assessment of their relevance and potential value to the organisation.

What will make you successful in this role?

• Accountable for generating business solutions and to develop architecture and design to meet business requirements.
• Complete architecture artefacts for all solutions
• Investigate the business landscape to find opportunities and apply new technology where relevant
• Work closely with the business and the Design Authority to ensure alignment of solutions across the organisation
• Be the custodian of system solutions by taking responsibility for architectural design
• Contribute to the Sanlam Retail Mass IT Architecture Governance and alignment to the Group IT architecture.
• Oversee the overall System Architecture Creation, Optimization, and Maintenance
• Ensure a comprehensive view of existing systems and environments is maintained and communicated
• Manage and document architectural constraints and/or deviations
• Collaborate with business and technology teams to clarify and guide the evolution of system solutions
• Be accountable for the definition and management of architectural methodology and overall system documentation at a business problem, system and sub-system level.
• Participate in the conducting of Lift-off Analysis and Design
• Assist the Execution Team by providing appropriate guidance and constraints communicated
• Continuous research of New Technologies and Approaches
• Provide with IT consultation services to project teams and clients
• Provides advice and negotiates contracts with technology-related suppliers

Qualification And Experience

• Grade 12
• Formal qualification in IT/IS preferable (e.g. BCom Information Systems/Informatics/Computer Science), etc.
• At least four years broad technical/experience with extensive depth in one or more disciplines - preferably in Microsoft technologies.
• At least one year experience in solution analysis and other architectural experience

Knowledge And Skills

• Software development methodologies e.g. Agile
• Insurance industry knowledge
• Facilitation skills
• English language proficiency (written and spoken)
• Some experience in UML modelling
• Experience with integration technologies such as REST/JSON/Web Services
• Some knowledge of ColdFusion
• Enabling technologies and trends e.g. Microservices, ECM, BPM, BRM, ESB & BI
• Understanding of the Cloud computing environments
• Knowledge of architecture frameworks such as TOGAF/Zachman

Personal Attributes

• Interpersonal savvy - Contributing through others
• Manages complexity - Contributing through others
• Plans and aligns - Contributing through others
• Optimises work processes - Contributing through others