Solutions Architect

Are you ready to shape the future of digital services and deliver innovative solutions at a world-class institution?Join The Open University as a Solutions Architect and play a pivotal role in designing and delivering technology that empowers our staff and students.About the RoleThis is an excellent opportunity for a Solutions Architects to join our Digital Services team. You will work with the business, analysts, and the technical team to architect solutions that enable our staff to deliver fantastic services to our students, owning the solution architecture from inception through to delivery.Your design role will be varied, including solutions utilising cloud technologies and integrating them using APIs. You may be overseeing the architecture for brand new products, delivered via Strategic Programmes or architecting changes to existing Open University systems. You will ensure that Architecture is aligned to our strategic direction and adheres to our principles and processes.As part of the wider architecture community, you will work to shape our architecture, developing patterns and standards, and supporting your colleagues to achieve their goals.Key ResponsibilitiesDefining and documenting IT solutions that:Align to the business functional and non-functional requirements.Align to the cost and timeframes expected by the business and IT.Align to University and IT strategy.Align to principles, policies, standards, and patterns, raising design exceptions as required.Defining repeatable patterns and standards that aid future projects to be aligned to IT strategy .Communicating the defined solution to all stakeholders and obtaining relevant approval.Acting as an advisor to technical and business community on architectural issues.Ensuring that the solutions delivered align to the documented and approved solution.Helping to shape new requests and demand as part of the IT pipeline process.The Solution Architect will also be involved with:Defining long-term roadmaps.Investigative work to identify new opportunities.Providing support during triage of incidents.Chairing design authorities.Evangelising architecture principals and approaches in the wider IT and business communities.About YouEssential:A degree level qualification with a significant computing element or relevant industry experience.Demonstrable understanding of IT architectural frameworks such as TOGAF.Proven ability to design and document solutions based on business requirements.Evidence of excellent written and verbal communications with the ability to deliver messages in a language relevant to the audiences.Experience of successfully working with agile development teams including both internal staff, external suppliers, and consultancies.Excellent skills of negotiation, influencing and conflict resolution.An ability to gain influence and trust with business and technical stakeholders, including third-parties at all levels of an organisation.Desirable:Evidence of successfully working in a Solution Architect role.Knowledge and experience of designing cloud-based architectures and solutions.An ability to work with business users to understand and refine their requirements.Why Join The Open University?At The Open University, we’re proud to lead in accessible education and digital innovation. This is your chance to shape transformative solutions and make a lasting impact on our students and staff.Our benefits include:33 days annual leave, on top of bank holidays and a three-day Christmas closure periodAccess to a leading pension scheme for UK higher education with generous employer contributionsStaff Fee Waivers for OU study, meaning you could earn a degree for freeHybrid working, with limited requirement to attend the office in-person, with agile working and family friendly policiesDiscounts, wellbeing support, and development opportunitiesReady to make an impact?Apply now and help us deliver cutting-edge solutions that power the next generation of learning at one of the UK’s most respected institutions.