Permanent - Solutions Architect - Bedfordview - South Africa

Permanent - Solutions Architect - Bedfordview - South Africa

The Solutions Architect is a pre-sales role responsible for providing technical solutions to new and existing mining and commercial customers. These technical solutions will span the entire value chain from in-field architecture to DDS final product suite, which includes advanced analytics product offerings.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced industry professional with strong core technical skills and architecture understanding to join and add value to a highly driven team.

Responsible for actively driving and managing the pre-sales process with customers, the Solutions Architect must be able to articulate the company’s technology and product portfolio, positioning to both business and technical users.

Primarily engaged in a pre-sales role, the Solutions Architect will provide technical assistance and guidance during the pre-sales process by identifying customers' technical and business requirements, prior to designing a solution, consulting with technical teams about capabilities, and supporting business sales teams, account managers, and partners on proposal activities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Draft and review project definition report (own the technical portion of PDR in particular).
2. Ensure scope of work ties in with customer requirements and can articulate technical and/or business information to relevant internal and external clients, including change of scope updates.
3. Internal product training of business unit and assist relevant sales teams with technical knowledge, ensuring the technical close in engagements.
4. Obtain and approve quotes from sub-contractors.
5. Product and solution costing.
6. Conduct final audits on completed installations.
7. Responsible for change of scope.
8. Support sales on customer engagements.
9. Prepare CVPs (fit for purpose solution).
10. Troubleshoot and support existing installations/sites/vehicles.
11. Represent Mining and C&I interests in PPG sessions.
12. Develop and deploy a communications strategy that enables efficient and effective communication protocols from and to internal and external clients, providing timely and effective feedback on requests or proposals.
13. Collaborate with clients to ensure comprehensive and accurate understanding of their requirements and devise effective resolutions through innovative solutions architecture.
14. High caliber presentation skills to convey architected solutions/proposals to all client levels, including C-Suite clientele.
15. Ability to influence at a C-Suite level.
16. Adhere to good governance, risk, and compliance within the broader company’s governance standards.
17. Contribute to pre-sales strategies to improve the company’s solutions capabilities.
18. Interact with the relevant company's functional unit to expedite work output.
19. Partake in bi-annual performance appraisals, discussing development plans with the manager and structuring work to enable business continuity within the team by removing key person dependencies and fostering a culture of cross-skilling and knowledge sharing.
20. Responsible for training sales and technical staff on products on a quarterly basis.
21. Chemical engineering & project management skills.
22. Comes predominantly from the fuel industry with experience in delivery, storage, and dispensing where there's a tank farm.
23. A minimum of 5 years of progressive responsible experience in a directly related area, during which technical analysis rapport has been established as a professional.
24. Demonstrated experience in influencing and directing conversations with others through storytelling.
25. Experience in navigating known-unknowns as well as unknown-unknowns in data trend/relationship.
26. Understanding end-to-end requirements including product maintenance and reporting requirements.
27. Understanding the link between their role and the sales role and a deep appreciation of how the role impacts the business meeting sales targets.