CREDIT UNION ENTERPRISE ARCHITECT
Introduction
According to a recent report by Experian, credit unions continue to increase their overall numbers and market share in virtually every area of financial services, ranging from automobile loans (25% increase from 2015-2017), through personal loans, bankcard openings and mortgage loans. Credit union members prefer the benefits of ownership, including a voice in the direction and operations of their financial services institution of choice. They also enjoy the prospect of higher member returns and lower fees, more personalized service, and the sense of fulfillment that derives from the knowledge that their membership in a not-for-profit credit union contributes to worthy charitable causes.
The financial services industry however has never been more competitive, especially given the continued growth of online services. Persistent leadership will require continued innovation in technology and services, and an inspired and resourceful employee team that remains attuned to member needs and experience.
Innovation will include continued cloud and digital transformation, as well as contextual banking initiatives to reach members through all the touchpoints that are a part of their daily lives.
Guiding Principles
Our client prides itself on the personalized, high-quality service provided to its members, internal customers and co- workers. Their guiding principles emphasize that their members come first, doing the right thing is all-important and that all employees need to strive to make a difference.
Summary of Role
The Enterprise Architect has a strong grasp of business, communication and technical depth spanning multiple Information Technology (IT) disciplines. The Enterprise Architect provides strategic direction and guidance in support of business objectives and the positioning of Information Technology. The role drives alignment at the management and technical levels and works closely with the rest of IT and the business leadership. Some of the other IT teams include Cyber Security, Infrastructure, Business Relationship Management, Systems Integration and Data, Customer Relationship Management.
Responsibilities
Provide Strategic Alignment
- Ensure that IT solutions are properly architected to achieve desired business outcomes
- Define the principles that guide solution decisions for the enterprise
- Define models, including solution patterns, to guide solution decisions for the enterprise
- Work closely with key business stakeholders and the Project Management Office to ensure what is delivered aligns with agreed architectures
- Create, maintain and execute the IS strategic plan, including the high-level budget
- Create, maintain and execute an emerging technology roadmap
- Lead the relationship between IS strategy and the various credit union’s centers of innovation
Lead, present and moderate architectural-focused activities as needed
- Lead architectural efforts across the enterprise and IS
- Manage the catalog of IS assets and solutions and the interrelationships among them
- Prepare and present at technical, management and executive levels
- Ensure projects and work efforts remain compliant with the Enterprise Architecture design approved through the architecture assurance process
Develop and maintain technology roadmaps and technology portfolios
- Ensure an enterprise-wide approach during strategy and roadmaps development
- Develop broad knowledge and perspective on both business and technology
Provide advice and consultancy on strategy to business and IT management teams
- Communicate emerging technologies, IT trends and best practices.
- Coordinate efforts with solution and technical architects to develop and maintain design standards and execute proofs of concept
- Lead the development of capabilities from conception to post-deployment.
Provide cross-project architectural governance that includes identifying relevant strategy, policy and roadmap alignment
- Monitor and report on project compliance and alignment to IT strategy.
- Work with internal and external technology experts to ascertain system functional capacity, constraints and support lifecycles
- valuate and make recommendations specific to the IT services portfolio
- Optimize to ensure business and technology efficiency and effectiveness
- Proactively identify unnecessary complexity and efficiency gaps within the IT services portfolio and work with BT leadership to address gaps and create remediation plans
Job Competencies
- Knowledge of all aspects of enterprise architecture
- Strong understanding of Cloud technologies, network and data center architecture, as well as application development methodologies
- Understanding of SOA, object-oriented analysis and design, or client/server systems
- Ability to organize work, set priorities and determine resource requirements and necessary sequence of activities needed to achieve goals
- Ability to gauge the strategic direction of the company and how to adjust EA accordingly
- Ability to think conceptually and articulate complex interrelationships between systems and processes in easily understandable terms
- Ability to define multiple solution options to business problems
- Ability to quickly comprehend the functions and capabilities of new technologies
- Ability to understand the long-term (“big picture”) and short-term perspectives of situations
- Ability to estimate the financial impact of ESA and individual solution architecture alternatives
- Ability to collaborate with various teams and departments and build constructive relationships
- Ability to make decisions and solve problems independently
- Ability to adapt well to changes in assignment and priorities
- Dependability and reliability, openness to change and feedback
- A focus on continuous learning and development
- High-quality work standards and output
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
Requirements
- Minimum of 7 years of design and implementation experience in IT, with knowledge in a minimum of 2 of the following technical disciplines:
- Application development
- Systems integration
- API design
- Microservices design
- Network design
- Middleware
- Servers and storage
- Database management
- Operations
- Exposure to multiple, diverse technologies, and processing environments
- Project solution architecture experience
- Activity in the Information Technology community, such as working groups, conferences, etc.
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, systems analysis or a related field, or equivalent experience