Head of Architecture, Europe

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To work collaboratively with Architects. To provide the vision, strategic direction, and initiative roadmap for enterprise-impacting, transformational, technology imperatives. To define the reference and implementation Architectures for enterprise-impacting, transformational, technology imperatives. To persuade and influences senior Business & IT leaders on the architectural direction for enterprise-wide, transformational, technology imperatives.

Head of Architecture, Europe

Job Description

More than 45 years ago, John C. Bogle had a vision to start an investment company that did things differently. A company with no external shareholders. Where all the profits were invested back into the business and used to lower costs. Evidently, it was as bold as it was brilliant. To this day, Vanguard Group still has no external shareholders. That means no share prices to protect, and no profits to generate for outside owners.

Today, Vanguard is one of the world's largest investment management companies, serving more than 50 million investors worldwide. For more than 25 years Vanguard Australia has been supporting individual investors, financial advisers, and superannuation members to achieve their long-term financial goals.

Our Team & Opportunity

At the core of our strategy is our technology and crew - providing best in class technology services that are designed to scale with our growing business. We encourage reuse across business lines, and a service-based architecture that enables agile delivery aligned to client outcomes.

As part of the Technology team, the Head of Architecture will report into the HO International Technology Office. You will provide the vision, strategic direction, and initiative roadmap for enterprise-wide, transformational, technology imperatives across the local and international market.

The Head of Architecture will provide the strategic direction and lead team of technical support staff who design, develop, test, implement and monitor software and tools. Act as a subject matter expert and thought leader, and manage the implementation and evaluation of products. Additionally, will partner with leaders to strategise and effectively shape IT demand that will deliver business impact.

What you will do

• Define the reference and implementation architectures for enterprise-impacting, transformational, technology imperatives.
• Influence senior business & IT leaders on the architectural direction for enterprise-wide, transformational, technology imperatives.
• Build commitments to information strategy by considering and evaluating different points of view, creating a cohesive argument.
• Enhance organisation reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.
• Confirm architecture capability and flexibility by developing analytical models; completing validation tests.
• Continuously pursue an advance-level technical acumen, establish working relationships with strategic and boutique technology providers, leverages the Internet as a critical resource for related knowledge capital, inclusive of blogs, podcasts, webinar, etc.; attends conferences and engages in associated activities (e.g., conducting presentations, leading workshops), consume and contribute content from and to Open Source communities.
• Meet the information architecture financial objectives by forecasting requirements preparing annual budgets; scheduling expenditures, variances, initiating corrective actions.
• Participate in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.
• Provide guidance and training as necessary to develop crew.
• Build and develop a teams, allocate architects across a portfolio of strategic initiatives, whilst working directly with architects in conceptualising business technology solutions that have the potential to produce transformational outcomes.

What are we looking for

Domain Expertise

• A recognised reputation as a technical expert in the relevant technical platforms and systems
• Domain-driven or object-oriented design, cloud platforms, microservice and SOA architectures, API's, mobile and web development, data layer design and analytics platforms
• Development experience as a technical leader and detailed knowledge of appropriate technology and technical trends
• Proven ability to make architecture decisions and drive them through implementation at the product family and product level

Mindset and Behaviours

• Visible passion of their subject area, participation in domain activities and groups
• Ability to find new solutions outside conventional frameworks and to make change while maintaining compliance with standards or addressing standards as they go out of date
• Develop strong and authentic relationships with peers, clients and key stakeholders that empower them to lead long-term collaborations and deliver successful business outcomes
• Openness to new ideas and desire to develop them together with the teams
• Creative, forward-thinking ability to envision scaled solutions and new capabilities. Ability to plan and execute pathways to achieving these across technology, process, people

Agile / Digital Experience

• Experience in agile as a manager, architect, developer or engineer (or similar )
• Understanding of their role in agile as an active participant in solution development and enforcing compliance with standards, (in contrast to a theorist architect creating "ideal" solutions)
• Experience leading a high-functioning, highly agile team of engineers that delivers scalable and responsive web-based cloud solutions

Individual Skills

• Strong communication skills e.g., concise and clear explanation of complex technical ideas, solutions and alternatives to the SPO, the teams and all parties involved; proven ability to coach and mentor
• Contribution and collaboration internationally across APAC & USA, to uplift and support the team strategically based on best practice and transparency

Specialisations that will make an impact

• Experience with Technology Architecture (industry) frameworks, practice and strategy
• Extensive (deep) experience in design, development and implementation of cloud native platforms
• Strategic technology plan development; expert knowledge of multiple IT platforms and an understanding of large, complex technology ecosystems and can effectively navigate both legacy (e.g. IBM mainframe) and modern technology platforms (e.g. AWS and cloud native development) with experience modernizing systems and leading large transformations.
• Experience with R&D, innovation, development and scaling of technology platforms
• Software development experience including experience as a top technologist with established world-renowned expertise, authority and leadership in the technology architect field
• Experience in leading people and building highly effective (new product/platform focused) software development teams
• Experience in operating in complex global operating environment
• Knowledge, skills and demonstrated experience in transformation transformative initiatives and complex programs
• Solution focused with mix of creativity, strategic thinking and business acumen
• Innovative mindset with ability to map new technologies, trends, emergent practice to business opportunities for Vanguard
• Knowledge of information security concepts and how they relate to digital development
• Expert knowledge in a broad base of legacy and emerging cloud technologies and their life cycles.
• Strong collaboration skills as well as excellent written and oral communication skills, including interviewing and presentation skills

Inclusion Statement

Vanguard's continued commitment to diversity and inclusion is firmly rooted in our culture. Every decision we make to best serve our clients, crew (internally employees are referred to as crew), and communities is guided by one simple statement: "Do the right thing."

We believe that a critical aspect of doing the right thing requires building diverse, inclusive, and highly effective teams of individuals who are as unique as the clients they serve. We empower our crew to contribute their distinct strengths to achieving Vanguard's core purpose through our values.

When all crew members feel valued and included, our ability to collaborate and innovate is amplified, and we are united in delivering on Vanguard's core purpose.

Our core purpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.