Open Systems Architect

Our client is one of the most professional and forward thinking financial institutions in Canada located in Waterloo, ON.

Individual Accountabilities:

• Reporting to the IS Leader within the Institutional portfolio of Solution Delivery and in alignment with the Institutional IS Portfolio Architect, you will:
• Develop architecture, currency plans and coordinate technology deliverables in alignment with Global and Divisional IS Strategy and applicable Centers of Expertise
• Develop and manage the capability, DR recoverability and capacity of the Front Office systems development group to support IIS project development portfolio and asset management requirements
• With the Development Practice Manager and in alignment with Centers of Expertise, enhance existing development processes, practices and standards in the Front Office systems area
• Contribute to planning for resource deployment of Front Office developers to projects and other IIS initiatives; participate in resource and skills management of Front Office development staff including hiring, staff development, performance management, mentoring, motivating, coaching and delegation of tasks
• Document technical solution proposals, estimates, systems, implementation plans, processes and procedures
• Provide technical leadership, train and mentor team members including staff, contracts, onsite and offshore vendor resources
• Interface with technical, operational , shared services, business and client stakeholders to resolve application, security and network/communication issues
• Drive the quality of solution deliverables in the various systems within the Affinity Markets and Affinity areas through project involvement and by working with other Solution Architects and Consultants in a collaborative team environment
• Contribute to organizational development and the successful delivery of various systems development projects through collaboration with Customer Relationship Managers (CRMs), Project Managers, Practice Managers and senior IS Leaders in a matrix environment
• Support the utilization of Shared Services functions to ensure the successfully delivery of projects and initiatives; contribute to a Service oriented team and culture
• Adhere to Global Information Risk Management policies and standards

Key Behaviours:

• Service oriented, execution focused, and collaborative
• Demonstrate thought leadership with respect to the function driving innovation, identification and resolution of complex issues
• Understand the business strategy and how technology can enable it
• Think strategically, assessing alternatives for short and long term impacts
• Drive continuous improvement (i.e. lower unit costs/improved service levels)
• Flexibility and adaptability when dealing with change
• Influence and negotiate effectively with a variety of stakeholders
• Maintain a balance of confidence and approachability

• 10+ years progressive experience in open systems architecture and development within an Enterprise scale business applications IS environment
• University/college degree with relevant Computer Science background or equivalent industry experience
• 3+ years people management and leadership experience and a proven ability to work well within a team environment and build strong collaborative teams
• Experience developing secure financial, transactional websites for end users and client organizations
• Experience implementing enterprise integration between B2B partners
• Demonstrated experience navigating the complexities of integrating new technologies and influencing individuals across businesses to achieve objectives
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills with the ability to provide updates to all levels
• Strong planning, analytical, conflict management and organizational skills
• Ability to recognize critical path deliverables and key dependencies, with a proven track record of delivering IS solutions within project timelines
• Experience performing evaluation on user requirements with a focus on cost benefit analysis
• Strong knowledge of Systems Development Lifecycle (SDLC) processes and methodologies
• Strong knowledge of web security best practices
• Experience developing external and general design documentation
• Ability to work and lead effectively in dynamic, complex situations within a fast-paced, customer-focused environment
• Technical environment includes: BPM, MVC, WCF, BizTalk, Java, Domino, Worklight, HTML, CSS, DB2, Websphere, Salesforce, Microsoft .Net platform including Visual Studio, C#, Web Services, Microsoft SQL Server including Reporting Services
• Preferred: Experience with financial and insurance systems and/or familiarity with business functionality (e.g., group benefits products, group retirement products, affinity group products)
• Preferred: Experience delivering IS business applications with global vendor partners
• Preferred: TOGAF certification