A Multinational Corporate Bank is seeking to employ an IT ARCHITECT responsible for strategically aligning IT architecture (functional, application, data and integration architecture) with agreed business outcomes for Africa IT. The ideal candidate will have completed a Post B-degree qualification (honours/masters) with IT as major subject along with 15+ years of IT solutions exposure.Job Purpose
Strategically aligning IT architecture (functional, application, data and integration architecture) with agreed business outcomes for Africa IT.
Direct the IT Architecture division to deliver to the demand for architecture artefacts.
Investigate strategic IT trends and advice on the impact and alignment required by the Bank.
Coordinate enterprise, domain and solution architects from Delivery Partners (PBB, CIB, GEF, OPS, etc) to deliver towards the agreed strategic outcomes for Africa IT.
Be the custodian of the IT architecture governance process and participate in Delivery Partner governance.
Assist the 16 African countries to interpret business and IT strategies into an integrated business process, information, application and infrastructure architectural framework and provides a high level roadmap for the implementation of the architecture (from an As Is to the To Be state).
Provide guidance to large/complex projects through consulting with domain architects and peers involved in implementation projects.
Represent the company as a functional, industry sector and/ or consultancy expert.

 
Key Result Areas
Create, build and maintain the IT architecture competency and capability for the African countries through coordinating the efforts of the Delivery Partners in the Business Units.
Direct the creation of conceptual, logical and physical architecture representations.
Influence IT and business stakeholders towards alignment and adoption of architecture direction and solutions.
Represent Africa IT in subordinate councils of the Enterprise Architecture (EA) Board – these subcouncils include Data, Business Analysis, Open Source, etc.
Prepare EA Board packs.
Coordinate and upkeep of the Application Portfolio Management (APM) / Technology Portfolio Management (TPM) solution.
Work with in country architects to ensure Application and Technology standards are in place as well as governing new solutions.
Direct the building and maintenance of a technology transition roadmap.
Influence the technical community towards adoption of and alignment with conceived architectures.
Review architectures (implemented, work in progress and new) for quality, suitability and strategic fit.
Facilitate inter-project, inter-process and inter programme IT-Architecture integration across the IT systems landscape.
Facilitate the creation, maintenance of and adherence to architectural principles.
Facilitate external input and vendor influence on architecture evolution.
Provide thought leadership by injecting experience and intellectual capital at appropriate forums.
Operate as IT Architecture design authority.
Facilitate an active communication programme for IT Architecture.
Manage financial dimensions of architecture domain.

 
Qualifications
Post B-degree qualification (honours/masters) with IT as major subject.
In-depth knowledge of Banking Practices and Procedures with particular reference to IT solutions.
Knowledge and technical appreciation of the inter connectivity and interfaces between various technical platforms, operating systems and processes.
15+ years of IT solutions exposure.

 
Experience
The ideal candidate will have had solid experience in IT Strategic Planning, IT /Business architectures, IT solutions development, project and programme management.
Historically developed computer programs i.e. personally written code.
At least 10 years of IT solution development experience inclusive of major systems (1000+ functions with 30+ interfaces).
Must have lead vendor solution evaluations from conception to implementation.
Must have practiced Project Management disciplines and successfully managed and delivered on a range of solutions.
Exposure to Executive Stakeholder Management.
Knowledge of project management methodologies and tools.
Knowledge of reporting and metrics (KPI's).
Understanding of relevant technologies and development life cycles.
Experience with TOGAF, Zachmann – must have created aligned deliverables.
Knowledge of Balanced Scorecard, Prince2 will be advantageous.
Must have people management experience.
Strong business and product knowledge.

 
Skills and Competencies
Proficient level – MS Office, Microsoft Project, Visio, EA tools.
Business writing & presentation skills.
Data gathering and analysis.
Problem solving decision-making.
Change management ability – plays a hands-on facilitation role in an effort to successfully enable people to quickly and willingly adapt to change on an ongoing basis.
Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
Ability to establish and maintain good relationships with people at various levels.
Strong negotiation, networking and influencing – required to network, negotiate and influence stakeholders including business partners to ensure integrated and well executed.
implementation of communication and change initiatives.
Self Motivated and people focused.
Ability to obtain and sustain credibility and influence.
Ability to translate business strategy into internal communications strategy and plans.
Effectively deal with complexity.
Innovation and Resourcefulness.
Resilience and Drive.
Problem solving.
Integrity.
Strong Interpersonal relations.