Director Architecture

Job Description

Grade: P9

Referral Level: Level 3

Division: IGM-TECH

IGM Financial Inc. is one of Canada's leading diversified wealth and asset management companies with approximately $271 billion in total assets under management. The company provides a broad range of financial planning and investment management services to help more than two million Canadians meet their financial goals. Its activities are carried out principally through IG Wealth Management and Mackenzie Investments.

Under IGM Financial’s unique business model based on leading brands and multi-channel distribution strategy is Mackenzie Investments, founded in 1967. Mackenzie Investments is a holistic asset-management partner for thousands of Canadian financial advisors and the investors they support.

At Mackenzie Investments You Can Build Your Career with Confidence.

We have a vision and a strategy that will challenge the way business in this industry is done and help Canadians be successful in the ways that mean the most to them. As part of our team, you will do some of your best work, develop some of your most valuable skills and give back in ways that make a difference in the lives of Canadians. We are proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Top Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc. for empowering our employees with the tools to thrive while working remotely, while also providing resources to ensure physical and mental wellness were put front and centre.

Join an unstoppable team that is embedded in continuous learning, understanding, and knowledge sharing. You will thrive in our supportive environment where you can indulge your curiosity to learn, while receiving the feedback you need to refine your skills and abilities. We are dedicated to offering a hybrid work environment when applicable.

Mackenzie Investments is a diverse workplace committed to doing business inclusively - this starts with having a representative workforce! We encourage applications from all qualified candidates that represent the diversity present across Canada.

The successful candidate will join the IGM Enterprise Architecture and Technology Solution Architecture team, working in a dynamic and demanding environment. The Enterprise Architecture team helps define IT strategies and provides cross-platform oversight and support for application and infrastructure delivery teams.

The Role:

As a member of our Infrastructure Delivery team, you will be part of a highly collaborative group with experience in and passion for delivering innovative cloud solutions across all three major cloud providers, with a particular focus on Azure and GCP. The Director of Cloud Architecture is an individual contributor role and will oversee the direction, design and service affinity of cloud infrastructures to ensure they are secure, scalable, and efficient. This role requires a strategic mindset coupled with technical expertise in cloud architecture and management.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive cloud strategy aligned with the organization's objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee the solution development of cloud infrastructure across AWS, Azure, and GCP.
• Ensure high availability and reliability of the cloud infrastructure, including direction on deep-level incident and problem management, if required.
• Design cloud services and monitoring to prevent, detect, and respond to incidents and ensure continuous performance and security with our operational partners.
• Support other application and technology architects in developing solutions to meet business requirements.
• Help lead the development of policies and procedures for cloud architecture, security best practices, and site reliability planning.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders to align cloud initiatives with technology and business needs.
• Keep abreast of new technologies and cloud risks; recommend and partner-to-lead improvement and innovation initiatives.
• Work closely with the InfoSec department to ensure the cloud infrastructure meets all regulatory and internal requirements and standards.
• Collaboratively manage vendor relationships and be part of the team that negotiate contracts for cloud-related products and services.
• Report to senior leadership on the status and risks of the cloud infrastructure.

Core Competencies and Experience:

• Post-secondary education in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cloud Computing, or a related field.
• Relevant professional certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect, etc.
• Extensive experience in cloud system design, implementation, and management.
• Effective communication skills and the ability to present complex subjects to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong leadership skills and experience in partnering with highly technical teams.
• Excellent understanding of the current and near-term cloud landscape and architectures.
• Proficiency experience in incident response, data protection, and disaster recovery.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategies and participate in large-scale projects.

Additional Competencies:

• Risk Management: Capable of identifying potential risks and creating contingency plans to mitigate them.
• Facilitation: Guide and manage group discussions and activities effectively, ensuring that meetings are meaningful, productive, and focused on achieving common goals.
• Financial Acumen: Understanding of financial management principles to manage budget effectively.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to solve problems that may arise during the project or solutions lifecycle quickly and efficiently.
• Adaptability: Flexible and able to adapt to changes or issues that may arise.
• Attention to Detail: Keen eye for detail to ensure that all aspects of the solution are considered, and nothing is overlooked.
• Time Management: Ability to manage their time and the team’s time effectively to ensure that deadlines are met.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Cloud Computing, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in cloud architecture and management, with a focus on Azure and GCP.
• Professional certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect.
• Strong understanding of cloud security best practices and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with hybrid cloud environments.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Experience in vendor management and contract negotiation.

Mackenzie Investments is an accessible employer committed to providing a barrier free recruitment experience. If you require an accommodation or this information in an alternate format at any stage of the recruitment process, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team who will work with you to meet your needs.