IT Solutions Architect - Kettering, United Kingdom - Barratt Developments

Description

What you'll be doing? Supporting the business and our divisional offices, our Head Office functions cover all departments from our Executive Board through to our support functions such as Group Design and Technical, HR, Health and Safety, IT, Sales and Marketing, Commercial, Procurement, Group Finance, Corporate Affairs, as well as Legal and Company Secretariat. We also have a specialised function – Barratt Partnerships. While the work varies from team to team, our key requirements don't: you must be well organised, extremely helpful and resourceful, and able to use your initiative. You'll understand that what you do is important, and impacts on your team, the department, and the wider business.

The Solution Architect has proven ability to understand business need, and is accountable for the design and delivery of high quality solutions in their domain. Equally able to work at both an enterprise and a detailed level, they will use their excellent communication skills to help design and deliver appropriate end-to-end solutions that could span across multiple lines of business.

With experience in the design, delivery and management of multiple technologies on large and/or potentially complex programmes and products. They will be seen as the technical expert on the projects and products they are accountable for, and as a natural problem solver they will have the ability to both roll up their sleeves and get other subject matter experts involved as required.

Reporting to the Lead Architect you will take ownership for the architecture in their domain by both contributing and aligning to the overall IT architecture strategy and ensuring that designs are taken through the Design Governance process and approved on time. You will be expected to:

Assess ideas, scope and feasibility of proposed new and enhanced business capabilities

Support the Head of IT Architecture and Lead Architect to produce Architecture Roadmaps including advising on architectural aspects of sequencing, phasing, dependencies, constraints and deliverability of the roadmap

Liaise with other Architects to gain their expertise, input and estimates where required

Assist in the production and validation of estimates for Roadmaps and Projects, ensuring that all design components have been included and the costs represent best value for money. This includes validation of designs/estimates provided by third parties

Provide advice on key design decisions arising from the requirements/epics/user stories that drive high cost/complexity versus business value, and propose adjustments and/or alternative solutions to deliver maximum value

Support the Lead Architect through the creation and maintenance of Architecture Standards, Patterns, and Building Blocks to drive solution re-use, delivery pace, quality assurance and cost efficiency

Define the Outline Solution Architecture, and ensuring all key design decisions are identified and prioritised

Define High Level Designs ensuring they meet agreed business requirements/epics/user stories, align with Strategy and Architecture, whilst being cost effective, deliverable and supportable

Ensure any divergence from Architecture Principles, Roadmaps & Standards are agreed with the Head of IT Architecture, and any ensuing technical debt is captured in the Technical Debt Register

Be accountable for the technical delivery of your projects by taking ownership for the end-to-end design, ensuring that detailed design and development follow the High Level Design

Review detailed designs and the solution at key points during the project to ensure that the integrity of the end-to-end integrated design has been maintained

Recommend alternative approaches if specific difficulties are encountered during solution delivery, i.e. where a modification of the design is required or where an alternative approach is more efficient

Advise on testing of non-functional, operational and technical requirements, review results and assist with analysing and resolving defects where required

Assist the resolution of technical issues promptly to help keep the project on track

Build strong relationships with peers in the business and IT

Inspire team members to continually improve ways of working by setting high standards for solution design and ensuring compliance

Build and maintain relationships with existing suppliers and potential future suppliers to build awareness of technology opportunities, supplier roadmaps and industry best practices

Regularly investigate and keep abreast of industry trends in Construction and Technology, ensuring that your knowledge is kept relevant and up to date

What you'll need? To be successful in the role, we are looking for:

Experience defining and owning the Architecture roadmap for a large, complex business

TOGAF Certification and/or relevant experience in a mature Architecture Function

Experience of having direct responsibility for architecture/design activities on large/complex projects

Experience of using Architecture Tools

Strong academic record, ideally with graduate level education

Experience in designing solutions using Cloud technologies

Ability to identify, communicate and solve complex problems

Ability to establish, develop and maintain effective relationships with both technical and non-technical stakeholders up to Senior Manager level

Extensive experience of agile, lean, continual delivery and waterfall delivery methods

A passion for technology and to help teams deliver the right solution

Strong customer focus – able to meet the demands of internal customers

Excellent communication skills – providing verbal and written communication that is outstanding to both direct reports and senior management as well as other stakeholders

Flexible and adaptable – capable of changing direction where required and showing flexibility to meet new demands

Our Company and Benefits We've been nationally recognised as a 5 star housebuilder since 2009 for supplying high-quality homes for all generations. That's more than any other major housebuilder. It's because we combine the brightest minds, the latest technology, and a genuine commitment to putting customers first. We want the best people in the industry to help us shape the future of building. We have tailored opportunities for apprentices, graduates, experienced professionals and ex-Armed Forces personnel to come and help us stay one step ahead, and build the homes that Britain needs.

We are building an organisation where anyone with drive and talent can pursue the career they want. We are building a culture where anyone, regardless of gender, race, sexuality, disability, background or any other characteristic, can progress and be proud to work for us. Barratt adopts a hybrid way of working which assumes that where roles allow, our office-based colleagues divide their time between working in the office, on our construction sites and sales offices, and working from home, as the role dictates. We recognise the many benefits that an effective hybrid working culture brings to both the Company and our colleagues.

As part of working for Barratt Developments PLC and specifically for this role we offer:

Competitive Salary

Competitive Bonus Scheme

Annual Medical Health Assessment

Private Medical Insurance - Single Cover

26 days' holiday (increase by 1 day for every 3 years' continuous service up to 29 days)

Choice of Flexible Benefits

Enhanced Family Friendly Policies