Vacancy (P & S Blank) - Potters Bar, United Kingdom - Canada Life

Canada Life

Verified Company

Potters Bar, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

Application closing date: 17th July 2023

Canada Life Group is the top-level European holding company for the Great-West Lifeco's European insurance, reinsurance, and asset management companies, with business operations in the UK, Ireland, Germany, and the Isle of Man.

European Technology sits within Canada Life Group and encompasses the technology community across all European entities - Irish Life Group, Canada Life UK, Canada Life Europe as well as Central Technology Services - Europe.

European Technology supports the business strategy and collaboration of technology across all European divisions. There are multiple IT units within European Technology, each of which has its own individual set of technology platforms.

European Technology is at an important stage in its evolution.

There is a need to bring market leading speed, agility, cost efficiency and risk mitigation to enable the delivery of strategies across the European businesses.

To respond to and meet this challenge a new strategy and enabling organisation is being created.

This role can be based in Ireland or the UK.We have embraced a hybrid working model for most of our positions, which means that you can enjoy a balanced approach of working from home for part of the week and working from the office for the remainder of the week.

Job Purpose

The role of Head of Enterprise Architecture will work within the Office of the Chief Information Officer, Europe (OCIO) and report to the Chief Architect, Strategy, and Planning Officer.

This role will lead a team and be responsible for providing renewed focus on Enterprise Architecture across the European organisation and to participate in Global Architecture initiatives.

The role includes leadership and managerial responsibilities and will involve significant senior relationship and stakeholder management across multiple lines of business in Europe.

Key Accountabilities

Direct the European Enterprise Architecture practice across European business entities within countries, and Shared Services units
Responsible for driving the development and maintenance of Architecture principles, policies, standards, frameworks and guidelines
Responsible for ensuring standardisation across Europe for non-differentiating technologies and bringing all technology units to alignment on the benefits of this
Responsible for the ongoing operation and optimisation of the European Technical Design Authority and its interfaces with regional TDA structures
Drive and lead European communities of practice across key technology areas such as Data, Digital, etc.
Promote reuse and sharing of technology, designs and patterns across European units through Communities of Practice
Develop new architecture patterns and capabilities to support emerging technologies e.g. Cloud, Data etc
Promote the adoption of new technologies implemented across Europe through change management (in conjunction with local change management units)
Lead and motivate a team, managing the performance and development of direct reports, ensuring alignment with the European Technology strategic direction. Ensure robust succession planning and uses talent management strategies to build and retain capability
Is a role model for the vision and values of European Technology, exemplifying the ways of working and culture where we do the right thing for our organisation and people to succeed; embracing diversity in all its forms to create an inclusive environment to get the best outcomes
Key contributor to the European Technology annual planning and budgeting process and leads oversight of significant IT budgets

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Expert level of knowledge of IT Enterprise Architecture
Deep knowledge and understanding of IT governance and risk and operational risk
Exposure to environment with Board and regulatory oversight
Excellent commercial acumen
Direct experience with financial management issues and activities, preparing budgets and forecasts based on operational requirements
Experienced Change Agent with experience leading organisations through strategic change and innovation cycles
Deep service management skills
Strong knowledge of product and service life cycles
Degree in Engineering, Business Administration or a technologyrelated field, or equivalent work or educationrelated experience. Master's Degree is a plus.

Strategic Thinking, Planning and Decision Making

Navigate problems that are novel or complex in nature to deliver successful outcomes and strategic value
Ability to influence key senior stakeholders in Europe and globally across the organisation bringing technical depth to ensure the IT strategy and vision underpins business value

Leadership Skills

Ability to lead experienced practitioners with a diverse range of knowledge and capabilities to drive business success
Proven leadership capability, with a track record of attracting and recruiting t