One of the largest professional services firm in the UK are looking for a highly experienced Cloud Architect to join their IT team.

Overview

The purpose of this role is work as part of the IT Architecture Team to design, document and facilitate the implementation of the company's application, technology and enterprise architectures through the various IT teams and technology partners. These IT Architectures must support the overall business strategy. This role reports to the solutions and architecture manager. The primary responsibility of this role would be to own and help deliver the clients cloud strategy.

Responsibilities

• Work with application teams to define our vision and roadmaps for cloud-based and hybrid-cloud solutions.
  * Provide strategic influence across groups, projects and products to implement cost-effective technology solutions to solve complex business problems.
  * Engage in concept discussions, proposed technology solutions, to meet business objectives.
  * Engage with senior leadership and project stakeholders to articulate opportunities, costs, and risks associated with decisions made around the platform architecture and implementation.
  * Design and define cloud architectural solutions and oversee the implementations
  * Participate in the development and continuous improvement of:
  o application and data architectures that are aligned to the business strategies and direction
  o technology architectures that enable the application and data architecture
  o Development architectures that enable IT to develop business solutions in the most efficient and effective manner adhering to the clients IT Solution Design Principles.
  * Working with the change and communication function ensure that user training and user adoption is considered for all cloud based solutions.
• Stay abreast of developments in appropriate new technologies/services and lead the investigation / assessment of the suitability of these to clients environment and business needs.
  * Ensure that IT Architecture team members are active participants in teams formed to progress projects, business initiatives/aims etc.
  * IT Governance:
  o ensure that agreed standards and working practices are followed
  o highlight any non-conformance with agreed standards and working practices with the head of architecture
  * Promote an environment that encourages collaboration, team working and innovation both within the Architecture Team and across IT and other company teams
  * Act as an ambassador for Architecture and IT and deputise for the head of architecture as requested
  * Relationship manager between agreed technology partners and the LLP and act a point of escalation between IT and the technology partner.

Requirements

Technical Knowledge, Professional Qualifications and Experience

Capabilities:

• A minimum of 3-5 years' experience of working as an Cloud Architect delivering successful migration/greenfield projects
• Extensive experience delivering Azure based solutions
• An understanding and experience of implementing 3rd party SaaS solutions
• Proficient in designing, building and deploying infrastructure at a complex level
• Demonstrate extensive experience in the IT industry with expertise in all areas of cloud technologies specifically Microsoft Azure and Office 365.
• A broad understanding of the latest developments in technologies, industry specific issues, competitor and vendor activity and initiatives
• Experience in Cloud design, strategy and architecture related activities - ideally a cloud professional certified for the Azure/o365 platforms.
• Demonstrated ability in technology partner management practices including the ability to lead vendors/partners in defining architectures
• Knowledge around managing cloud risk & compliance assessments
• Exceptional verbal and written communication, including presentation skills
• Demonstrate a good knowledge of IT industry trends, suppliers and products.
• Good knowledge of the clients products and services advantageous

• People/Team Management
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal including active listening
• Ability to identify and analyse alternative approaches to dealing with issues and problems
• Use of different leadership styles to positively influence others
• Demonstrates commitment to the firm's values
• Empower others by collaborating on joint ideas and encourages others to view change as a positive process
• Ability to influence and persuade others outside his/her direct control
• Exhibit confidence in dealing with various levels of the organisation both with IT and the business units, including executive management levels
• Empower others by collaborating on joint ideas
• Ability to identify and analyse alternative approaches to dealing with issues and problems

• Excellent Client Service
• Demonstrate confidence in dealing with all levels of the firm, including executive management levels
• Demonstrate ownership and responsibility for deliverables/services.
• Excellent customer service and consulting skills
• Experienced in managing internal and external/3rd-Party resource partnership models
• Demonstrable skills in influencing and negotiation methods and techniques.