Solution Architect

The role

The Solution Architect will develop the core architectural artefacts supporting the overall vision for the architecture of the firm:

• develop a vision for the core architecture segments
• define how the future state will look from a business, application, data and technical perspective
• develop a high level plan for the delivery of the architecture
• develop and supporting standards or patterns that support alignment to the architecture

The role will also participate in the delivery of change, offering thought leadership, guidance and solution outlines; the role will also include:

• Project compliance reporting
• Live environment compliance reporting
• Look for reusable patterns / standards that could be used elsewhere in the enterprise
• Promote the delivery of standardised approaches and technologies
• reduce complexity and cost where possible
• enable business process improvement and increased productivity

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Focus on Strategy and Execution
• Develop and publish  standards, landscapes and roadmaps that support the business to achieve the organisation’s targeted outcomes for a specific domain
• Maintain domain awareness to ensure architecture is fresh, modern and meeting business need
• Develop and maintain relationships with the business representatives
• Participate in the development of an overall IT roadmap
• Assist in the assessment of new ideas / demand
• Lead analysis of the IT environment to detect critical deficiencies and recommend solutions for improvement.
• Present a gap analysis and/or IT investment roadmap that reflects the status of the existing IT estate, namely, its ability to contribute to future-state business capabilities around ecosystems and digital platforms.

ABOUT YOU

• Experience of supporting Finance & HR functions in the development and delivery of their strategic goals
• Experience of SAP Products and Platforms
• Experience / certified in TOGAF
• Experience of working in the legal industry
• Experience of working in a Matrix management structure
• Knowledge of business models, operating models, financial models, cost-benefit analysis, budgeting and risk management
• Familiarity with information management practices, system development life cycle management, IT services management, infrastructure and operations, and EA and ITIL frameworks
• Knowledge of business ecosystems, SaaS, infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), SOA, APIs, open data, microservices, event-driven IT and predictive analytics
• Exposure and understanding of existing, new and emerging technologies, and processing environments
• Exceptional soft and interpersonal skills, including teamwork, facilitation and negotiation
• Strong leadership skills
• Excellent analytical and technical skills
• Knowledge of all components of holistic enterprise architecture
• Knowledge of business engineering principles and processes
• Familiarity with basic graphical modeling approaches, tools and model repositories
• Trusted and respected as a thought leader who can influence and persuade business and IT leaders
• Comfortable, experienced and accomplished at working with business executives, and able to push back in a professional and diplomatic way
• Highly collaborative and supportive of business and of its ideals and strategies
• Unflappable in the face of opposition to architectural ideals
• Organisationally savvy, and understanding of the political climate of the enterprise and how to navigate obstacles and politics
• Ability to balance the long-term (“big picture”) and short-term implications of individual decisions
• Ability to translate business needs into EA requirements
• Ability to estimate the financial impact of EA alternatives
• Ability to apply multiple solutions to business problems
• Ability to rapidly comprehend the functions and capabilities of new technologies
• Ready to think, behave and act in an innovative consulting manner to drive the organisation’s digital business strategies
• Understand and speak the language of the business

ABOUT US
DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

OUR VALUES
In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative – we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
• Be Bold – we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional – we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do. We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work.

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

HYBRID WORKING
We recognise that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That’s why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

PRE-ENGAGEMENT SCREENING
In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits and where relevant, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and work-related references.