GLASGOW HOUSING ASSOCIATION
JOB PROFILE
Job Details
Job Title
IT Solutions Architect
Location/
Section
IT
Service Area
Business Development & Growth
Report to
CTO
Grade
SCP 51-54
Date
Completed
March 2012
Job Summary
IT is committed to delivering quality information through strategic IT leadership to deliver highly effective
services to GHA.
The IT Solutions Architect will report directly to the CTO and will be responsible for solving problems by
outlining solution architecture descriptions, then monitoring and governing their implementation.
Job Outputs
The role holder will carry the responsibility for delivering the following outputs and they will be achieved
through effective working relationships with the identified interdependencies. The Solutions Architect has
several essential duties and responsibilities, and the post holder may be required to perform work not
specifically referred to below.
Role output
Includes the requirement to:
Methodology and Quality
Assurance
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Business Planning and General
Management
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Subject Matter Expertise
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Lead the development of formalised solution methodologies Build
and maintain repository for deliverables, methodologies, and
business development documents
Interface and coordinate tasks with internal and external technical
resources. Collaborates with Project Managers and technical
directors to provision estimates, develop overall implementation
solution plan, and serve lead as required, to implement installation,
customization, and integration efforts
Oversee aspects of project life cycle, from initial kick-off through
requirements analysis, design and implementation phases for
projects within solution area
Provide quality assurance for services within solution area
Write, or direct the writing of white papers that further insight and
thought in the solution area
Take ownership of a particular solution offering
Develop and execute a solution strategy and business plan that
support product growth
Shape, design, and plan specific service lines in business areas
Act as visionary and strategist for solution business areas
Survey market landscape for solution insights, direction, vendors,
and methods
Provide expertise to identify and translate high-level system
requirements into software design documentation
Work with technical and business writers to ensure quality internal
and external client-oriented documentation
Business Development
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Strategic Business Acumen
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Works with major lines of the
Business
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Enterprise Architecture
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Help Business Development life cycle by serving as a SME to help
identify and qualify business opportunities
With Business Relationship Analysts and the Business Solutions
Manager, develop and maintain relationships with Business Leads
and SMEs
Contribute to and shape Business requirements during solution
design
Contribute to the Technical and Business strategy across the GHA
Group
Work with the Business Analysts to document/refine requirements
(functional and non-functional)
Identify strategic solutions promoting business opportunities across
the GHA Group
Define solutions alongside internal technical leads
Engage with strategic partners and vendors when defining and
scoping technical solutions, supporting business objectives
Understand, adopt and promote reusable design patterns and
promote the adoption of strategic technical solutions
Carry out mapping of product requirements and Business Problems
to re-usable end-to-end technology solutions and platforms
Data Architecture
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Assisting with the definition of enduring data architecture strategies,
including assessment of regulatory, business requirements, and
business process needs
Project Management
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Represent GHA group and negotiate technical solutions and
strategies on behalf of the organisation in complex projects involving
strategic partner organisations and other external bodies
Work with the Project Managers and Business Analysts to develop
high level project schedule resource plans for the project, and
project costs
Provision of Technical Lead within major projects
Guide application development by evaluating and selecting the
development methodologies and tools (e.g. SDLC, scrum, XP, RUP
etc.)
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Development
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Software Architecture
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Prototype and develop proof of concept applications and services
Work closely with PMO, and internal technical team members and
strategic partners
Drive solution development by guiding and mentoring the team
through the entire development process
Provide advice and guidance across technical project deliverables
Understand and contribute to all design requirements needed for the
solution (Business, data, Application, technology, strategy)
Develop high-level models that guide Solutions Architecture design
Document solutions design and how they interact with the larger
Enterprise Architecture
Carry out critical assessment of Commercial Off the shelf (COTS),
vendor and internal development offerings across projects
Define and maintain the GHA IT strategic technical blueprint
GHA will develop as an organisation to deliver its longer term aims. The developing direction and priorities
of GHA will require flexibility and postholders will be required to respond to these within the scope of their
job role.
Behaviours & Competencies
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Strategic Thinking
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Demonstrates an understanding of how current actions will impact longer term goals
Sensitive to wider and organisational priorities
Identifies opportunities to improve delivery through partnership
Deals with ambiguous or unfamiliar situations by applying experience and knowledge in an
innovative way.
Driving Direction
o Consistently reviews and re-establishes goals
o Focuses on challenges that result in a benefit to GHA
o Defines success criteria, targets and goals for self and own team
o Commits significant resource to achieve business goals
o Shows unwavering resolve to do whatever must be done to produce the best long term
results
Team Working
o Gives constructive feedback and asks for and visibly acts on honest feedback
o Considers the teams objectives before their own
o Gets to know others and their aspirations
o Takes a ‘whole GHA’ view when identifying own priorities and plans
o Contributes knowledge, expertise and ideas to the team
o Listens and takes account of others views.
o Always considers bigger picture
o Builds productive relationships with people across and outside the organisation
o Commits resource from own area to support wider projects and initiatives
o Actively seeks opportunities to improve delivery to the customer and raise business
performance by working with colleagues
Customer Focused
o Take Responsibility for the way their customer experiences their team.
o Display a positive impression of their team
o Promises made are delivered
o Ensure Customers are informed and updated on progress
o Always put their customers first
o Anticipates and manages risks and consequences
o Shifts resources as priorities change
o Organises the work to deliver to time, budget and agreed quality standards
o Homes in on key issues and principles
o Outcome focussed
Technical Competence
o Applies knowledge, procedures and legislation during the processing of their work
o Takes responsibility for keeping knowledge up to date
o Provides colleagues with technical assistance.
o Constantly review current ways of doing things and seek to continuously improve.
Communicating with Influence
o Actively listens
o Communication is concise and in context based upon facts
o Explains complex issues in a manner that is appropriate for the recipient, avoiding the
use of unnecessary jargon.
o Applies Organisations policy on confidentiality of Information
o Gives objective advice based upon sound evidence and analysis
o Sells own ideas by linking them to others’ values, needs and goals
o Uses a variety of influencing approaches to impact strategically
o Communicates ideas clearly and persuasively, and with an appropriate degree of
assertiveness.
Accountability
o Accepts responsibility and stands by their decisions
o Accepts and learns from their mistakes and aim to set right
o Works for the most part unsupervised and on the right priorities
o Champions a decision once that decision has been made
o Deliver on my promises
o Takes responsibility for performance weaknesses in themselves and works with
management to build competency.
o Takes difficult decisions and measured risks
o Seeks continuously to improve performance
o Doesn’t shy away from delivering unpopular message
Leadership through Continuous Change
o Finds new ways of looking at issues – challenges the status quo
o Communicates a compelling view of the future
o Makes change work by initiating improvements
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o Challenges the status quo
o Promotes change as an ongoing process
o Identifies and implements service improvements
o Breaks down resistance to change.
o Adapts to change quickly and flexibly.
o Encourages creative and innovate ideas in others
o Seeks new of different ideas and opportunities to learn
Inspiring, Motivating & Developing Others
o Sets clear and long term objectives
o Individuals work together as a team
o Challenges and is prepared to be challenged
o Respects diversity
o Coaches others with less knowledge in their area
o Tackles poor performance or inappropriate behaviour
o Recognises and praises changes achievements, and celebrates successes and
encourages people to continually strive
o Identifies and brings in talent
o Delegates the details to those who are experts and empowers people
Role Modelling
o Acts with honesty and integrity
o Sponsors projects giving support championing the changes at senior level to successful
design and implementation
o Clear, open, honest, direct, concise and respectful
o Values Others
o Is seen as a Role Model and credible leader within GHA
o Is consistent in management approach
Person Specification
Experience
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Hands on experience in multiple industries and across multiple disciplines
master a variety of hardware platforms including mainframes, distributed platforms, desktop, web and
mobile devices
possess skill and understanding of a variety of Operating Systems
Multiple database vendor (e.g. MS, Oracle, IBM) experience
Application development platforms and application servers (.Net C#/Java;IIS/Weblogic/Apache)
Web Services, SOAP, XML, web standards and open-standards integration
Multithreaded programming, designing and building frameworks
SQL design and development
Technical Analysis
Technical Knowledge/ Technical Leadership
Trusted technical advisor
Performance and load testing – Database tuning, availability, scalability
Agile development approaches (SCRUM/RAD)
3-7 years development experience across Enterprise applications
3-7 years experience designing and implementing application and technology solutions within an
enterprise environment
Qualifications
Essential
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Educated to a degree level in a related discipline in Computer Science/Electrical Engineering or a
related degree
Desirable
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TOGAF/BCS Solution Development & Architecture or other Enterprise Architecture qualification
ITIL Foundation/Intermediate
Security-related qualifications
Interdependencies
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CTO and IT Leadership Team
IT Team Managers
GHA Senior Management Team
Executive Director of Finance and Business Services
Area Directors
Assistant Directors
GHA Board
LHO Committees and Housing Managers
External Agencies to support technical analysis and design, project procurement strategies
Partner/Vendor technical and development staff, supporting solution design and architecture
enhancements