Solutions Architect

We’re First Central Insurance & Technology Group (First Central for short), an innovative, market-leading insurance company. We protect the things customers love so they can get on with what matters to them in life. 

Data drives us. It fuels our outstanding distribution, finance, technology and legal services. Our underwriting skills are built on data expertise; it creates the insights we need to give the right cover to the right customers at the right price. But, it’s the people inside and outside our business that power us. They make us stand out, help us succeed. We’re ambitious. We’re growing. We’ve won awards.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Solutions Architect to join our Technology and Data team , this is a flexible hybrid working role with occasional visits to our offices, when required, in either Salford Quays, Manchester, or Haywards Heath, West Sussex. 

Our Architecture team are currently working on some fantastic projects and are looking for someone who is pro-active, creative, self-motivated, who loves to deliver business success and can drive enterprise solutions forward supporting our highly ambitious and exciting plans.

This role is pivotal in engaging with business stakeholders and delivery teams, leveraging Agile and SAFE methodologies to effectively communicate, document and deliverenterprise solutions.

You’ll be working in a highly empowered environment, where your input and expertise will be valued, as you will own the solutions from inception to delivery, involving enterprise-class internal platforms, COTS (Customisable Off the Shelf) products and Cloud services, whilst collaborating with Programme and Engineering teams and third parties. You’llwork closely with business stakeholders at all levels translating business objectives into operational, functional, and technical solutions, as well as supporting the Lead Solutions Architect through recommendations and enabling the governance of internal and external solutions.

Core skills we’re looking for to succeed in the role:

Solutions Design : Extensive experience in designing Enterprise Solutions, leveraging a combination of internally developed platforms and third-party products

Architecture Techniques: A practical knowledge of analysis, design, modelling and Enterprise Architecture techniques, and the creation of architecture blueprints, strategies, and roadmaps

Strategic Technology Trends : A good understanding of strategic and emerging technology trends

Cloud Technologies : An appreciation of cloud technologies, particularly with experience in migrating enterprise solution from on-prem/private cloud to public cloud

Communication: Fantastic communication abilities and capable to easily translate complex concepts to a variety of audiences at all levels 

Autonomous Decision Making : Ability to operate with a high level of independence and comfortable making critical decisions with limited supervision

Nice to have skills, but optional:

Solution Development Background: Experience from your previous careers in two or more technology solution development disciplines is extremely beneficial (e.g. technical or infrastructure architecture, application development, database or cloud development)

Industry Knowledge : Exposure to Insurance and or Financial Services in a regulated environment is highly preferred but not essential

Certifications : A formal architectural certification is preferred, but not essential 

Enterprise Architecture Tools : Experience with EA tooling platforms is high beneficial

Making it happen. Together 

What’s Involved: 

Working closely with HoPs and Business Analysts to understand business drivers and business capabilities (future and current state) and determines corresponding enterprise solution designs to drive the organisation's targeted strategic business outcomes

Working closely with the Product Owners and Product Solution Architects to ensure a robust architectural runway that can support future business requirements throughout the product lifecycle

Monitoring the current-state enterprise to identify deficiencies through aging of the technologies used or misalignment with business and technology strategies

Reviewing emerging technology trends and disruptions and their practical application to enable new and evolving business and operating models

Leading evaluation, architecture and analysis for the implementation of a solution architecture across the Enterprise, ensuring alignment to business and technology strategies and enterprise standards and patterns

Developing a roadmap for the evolution of the enterprise architecture from current to future state, identifying and defining enablers to that evolution

Proposing standard definitions, reference models and architecture designs to support architectural governance to assess the impact of new and ongoing technology investment on the business and enterprise

Providing consulting support to delivery teams to ensure the product (or initiative) is aligned with the overall enterprise architecture

Contributing to the setting of standards and processes for the Solution Architecture Community of Practice and ensure these are adhered to and best practice is followed to support a fully agile change and development environment.

Complying with the requirements, and act in accordance with, the Group Code of Conduct and Fitness and Propriety policies at all times

Ensuring compliance with Company Policies, Values and guidelines and other relevant standards/ regulations at all times,

Responsibility for maintaining department risk registers (as applicable), providing evidence and commentary for controls, updates for Mitigation Actions and maintaining control matrices and Attestations.

Experience & knowledge

Exposure to multiple, diverse technologies, platforms, and processing environments

Good understanding of strategic and emerging technology trends, and the practical application of existing and emerging technologies to new and evolving business and operating models

Experience of creation and maintenance of reference architecture documentation

Knowledge of analysis, design, modelling and Enterprise Architecture techniques

Experience developing architecture blueprints, strategies, and roadmaps, ideally leveraging architectural tooling

Experience delivering presentations to senior-level executives and technical audience

Ability to communicate complex and abstract concepts in an easy to understand and follow manner

Experience of delivering enterprise solution architecture and governance services within an Agile delivery framework

Ideally an Insurance or financial Services background, although other backgrounds will be considered

Knowledge of FCA requirements (including TCF)

Skills & Qualifications

Ideally a minimum of five years of experience in at least two technology solution development disciplines, including technical or infrastructure architecture, network management, application development, middleware, database management or cloud development

Formal architectural certification is preferred

Identification and management of risk

Problem solving skills, with the ability to adopt a logical approach to solving problem

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Behaviours 

Commercially focussed and results driven taking a pragmatic approach to delivering value Self-motivated and enthusiastic An organised and pro-active approach Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team A flexible approach and positive attitude Emphasis on attention to detail and accuracy Takes initiative to make decisions Strives to drive business improvements to contribute to the success of the business

Don'tmiss out on this exciting opportunity, apply now, and take your career to new heights with us

What can we do for you?

People first. Always. We’re passionate about our colleagues and know the best people deserve an extraordinary working environment. We owe it to them so that’s what we offer. Our workplaces are energetic, inspirational, supportive. To get a taste of the advantages you’ll enjoy, take a look at all our perks in full .

Intrigued? Our Talent team can tell you everything you need to know about what we want and what we’re offering, so feel free to get in touch.

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