Group Manager: Solution Architecture

Job Purpose

Strategic and Tactical role in the Digital Technology organisation and is accountable for aligning Aspen's integrated technology strategy with its business mission, strategy, and processes and documenting this using architectural solution models. Develops and communicates a multi-dimensional solution architecture to deliver agreed business outcomes. The role plans, implements and controls activities to synthesize system components to create operational systems, products and services that eventually lead to solutions.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Leads the development of organisational systems integration and build capabilities including automation and continuous integration.
• Develops organisational policies, standards, and guidelines for systems integration and build.
• Provides resources to ensure systems integration and build can operate effectively and ensures adoption and adherence to policies and standards.
• Leads the development of architectures for complex solutions ensuring consistency with agreed requirements.
• Develops organisational capabilities, processes and procedures for automation and continuous integration of build, packaging, testing, security and deployment.
• Ensure security and privacy requirements are an essential part of systems integration and build.
• Test, validate and sign off of integration and build to satisfy requirements, architectures and design.
• Keep stakeholders informed and provide feedback into risk management processes.
• Establishes policies, principles and practices for the selection of solution architecture components.
• Manages trade-offs and balances functional, service quality and systems management requirements within a significant area of the organisation.
• Communicates proposed decisions to stakeholders.
• Coordinates and manages the target architecture across multiple projects or initiatives.
• Maintains a stable, viable architecture and ensures consistency of design and adherence to appropriate standards across multiple projects or initiatives.
• Defines the planned operation and maintenance of the solution within a production environment — includes changes to services, process, organisation, and operating models as well as technology.
• Ensures that existing and planned solution components are compatible with relevant architectures, strategies, policies, standards and practices.
• Develops roadmaps and manages and communicates the implementation thereof.
• Acts as Platform Owner and solution Architect for various solutions and solution components.
• Provides guidance and risk-based governance to support solution implementation including managing requests for changes and deviations from specifications.
• Leads the creation and review of a systems capability strategy that meets the strategic requirements of the business.
• Works with key stakeholders and roles in interpreting business goals and drivers.
• Ensures the buy-in of all key stakeholders.
• Captures and prioritises market and environmental trends, business strategies and objectives, and identifies the business benefits of alternative strategies.
• Develops and presents business cases for approval, funding and prioritisation of high-level initiatives.
• Contributes to creating and reviewing a systems capability strategy which meets the business's strategic requirements.
• Determines requirements and specifies effective business processes, through improvements in technology, information or data practices, organisation, roles, procedures and equipment.

Education:

• Matric / Grade 12
• B.Com / BSc Computer Science degree or equivalent work experience

Experience:

• 10+ years’ experience of managing relationships with internal business customers.
• 10+ years’ experience leading teams, internal and 3rd parties in a multivendor approach.

Certifications:

• Current industry certification in architecture (i.e., TOGAF, Zachman, DevOps, CI/CD etc.)
• Proven experience of managing Enterprise Architecture domains (Application, Business, Data, other) for a multinational entity.
• Proven knowledge in one or more Enterprise platforms, e.g. ERP, integrated ITSM, Regulatory, Cloud Development, etc.
• Advanced experience in strategy development and solution architecture across platforms e.g. Business Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, general applications, etc.
• 10+ years’ experience leading teams, internal and 3rd parties in a multivendor approach.

Skills and Attributes:

• Innovation
• Visioning
• Strategic planning
• Global thinking
• Entrepreneurial thinking
• Teamwork
• Initiative
• Results oriented
• Systems thinking
• Focused
• Problem-solving and good judgment
• Responsibility and accountability
• Cooperation
• Proactive
• Resilience
• Active listening skills
• Presentation skills
• Meeting facilitation
• Organisational awareness
• Influence skills
• Pragmatic
• Empathy

Aspen Competencies:
Business:

• Accountability/ Ownership

People:

• Communicate Effectively

Self:

• Take Action with Integrity

Aspen is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups through a fair recruitment and selection process in line with Aspen’s Transformation Agenda.
Internal Applicants must inform their direct line managers of their application. Applications must be completed using an Aspen email address.
If you have not heard from the HC department within 30 days of this advert closing, please consider your application unsuccessful.