Group Technical Services (GTS) Chief Architect

Salary: R1,5 million plus incentive bonuses

The Chief Architect leads the GTS Account Architecture Team and owns the:
• GTS Technology and Services for the Account
• Technology Plan for the Account
• Overall technical solution

By leveraging the GTS Global Assets, the Chief is responsible for:
• Driving innovative value propositions to the client
• Tailoring and communicating technology points of view
• Communicating the value and importance of currency

The Chief maintains a strong, face to face relationship with the Client to:
• Represent the technical solution to the Client and Business Executives
• Own Technology and Architecture Governance
• Own the interplay with the Client for aspects owned or shared with Client
• Understands Client’s business and technology needs across all services

Single point of accountability for:
• Technical leadership
• Managing architectural decision making and arbitration
• Technical integrity of the solution
• Accountable to the Client and Business

Key Skills required:

Technical Skills
• Apply Knowledge of Enterprise Architecture
• Apply Knowledge of Systems Engineering Process Methodology
• Cloud knowledge, capability, experience and skills
• 2-3 Years’ experience in having designed, architected and implemented Private, Public or Hybrid Cloud.
• Understand and apply knowledge of IT service management processes eg. ITIL
• Understand and apply knowledge of standard architectural frameworks
• Understand delivery capability and processes
• Setting Technical Direction
• Lead Strategy/Design/Implementation of Solution
• Develop Solution Architectures
• Use Modelling Techniques
• Perform Technical Solution Assessments
• Apply IT Standards in Creation of Solutions
• Apply Methodologies
• Design Solutions for Security
• Develop Client Requirements & Architectural Decisions

Non-Technical Skills
• Leading and managing individuals & teams
• Coach & mentor senior architects
• Manage solution pipeline and workflow
• Use Consulting Techniques
• Perform Negotiations
• Manage Client Relationships
• Manage expectations
• Develop Project Output for Future Re-use
• Negotiate outcomes
• Understand, apply and manage solution processes
• Apply audit principles
• Apply written communication skills
• Apply verbal communication skills, including public speaking:
- Present concepts
- Describe proposals
- Present status reports
- Provide architectural advice and guidance
• Construct business case for IT infrastructure investment
• Conduct IT infrastructure architecture and design process audit / review

Role Description: Chief Architect

Understand client’s business and technology landscape to drive Innovation and Strategic Technology Plan
• Provides technical leadership and drives innovation.
• Leads technical governance and drives architecture standards.
• Leads requirements and design reviews.
• Builds Client relationships. May participate in Client’s technical governance meetings.
• Participates in discussion with client to expand contract in order to increase profitable revenue.
• Chief validates solution with strategic architecture for account.
• Consults during transition & transformation.
• Identifies and manages technical risks (All technical roles participate in risk management).
• Identifies cost savings for the business and client.
• Understands the contract.
• Identifies potential opportunities.
• Participates in (but does not own) RCA’s and Crit sits when needed.
• Interfaces on a daily basis with the account leadership team.
• Contributes to overall Account Plan, Fall Plan and Quarterly forecasts.
• Partners with account Client Technical Architect (where assigned).
• Partners with GTS Base Growth sellers to stay current on technology and services and help identify opportunities
• Understands RFS Process and consults as required.

The Chief Architect is a senior technical position assigned to one or more Strategic Outsourced accounts. He or she is part of the senior account leadership team for the designated account and works closely with senior executives.
The role is a Client facing leadership role and the Chief Architect requires a strong and trusted relationship with the Client to understand the challenges, desired outcomes and success criteria for their business.
The Chief Architect must understand – and often contribute to – the client’s technical strategy, and helps translate this into business strategy and communicates this with the account team.
As well as the client facing side, the Chief Architect also has a leadership role within the business, and provides technical leadership, mentoring and governance to the team of architects working on the account.
•Representing the business to the designated client Accounts as their trusted technical advisor.
•Providing functional leadership to the team of architects working on the designated client accounts
•Providing architectural governance functions, often in the form of chairing governance forums such as a Design Authority or Architectural Review Board.
•Representing the business within the Client’s technical governance forums.
•Helping to ensure client, the Business and Account policies are being followed and implemented.
•Having a view of new and incremental business requiring technology support on the Account.
•Reviewing and understanding client strategic plans and documents.
•Owning the creation of the Technology Plan for the Accounts.
•Providing technical and career mentoring for architects working on the Account.
•Participate in the creation, client approval and execution of the Client Delivery Plan.
•Represent the architectural results of Client Delivery Plan to the client.
•Assumes leadership responsibilities commensurate with the rest of the senior account team.
•Champion and continuously communicate viability of innovations that add business value to the client.
•Technical Advisor to drive innovative value propositions to the client.