Northern Powergrid Employment Opportunities
Northern Powergrid is the power distribution business in Yorkshire, the North East, and northern
Lincolnshire. We operate and maintain the electricity distribution network that delivers electricity to more
than 3.9 million homes and businesses. We provide this essential service to our customers, 24 hours a day,
7 days a week, 365 days a year. All staff employed within Northern Powergrid are expected to offer the
highest levels of customer service, being there when the customer needs us and playing a vital part in any
major incident. Further information on Northern Powergrid is available on our website at
www.northernpowergrid.com
Directorate
Finance
Position:
IT Solutions Architect
Two Year Fixed Term Contract
£(Salary)
£45,000 to £48,000 and up to a 10% performance bonus for each
year plus a 10% retention bonus upon completion of the Contract
Location:
Castleford
The IT Solutions Architect role is part of the IT Transformation Project and approved as part of
the IT Operating Model and Transformation Strategy. The IT Solutions Architect role will work
within the project and alongside the IT Organisation during a 2 year fixed contract. The role
will run alongside the 2 year contract extension with our IT service provider, CGI. The timeline
for this being March 2015 to March 2017.
The role is part of proactively working with CGI and the Northern Powergrid business in order
to fully understand the business applications landscape and arrive at a fully documented
outcome. Properly implemented the IT Solutions Architect role creates the capability for a
seamless transition of applications from one service provider to another thus enabling the IT
Transformation project to succeed and deliver the agreed business benefits.
In addition, the role will be to allow the IT Organisation to become intrinsically linked with the
Northern Powergrid wider business. Working as part of the Project and Enterprise Architecture
team, the IT Solutions Architect role will oversee and ensure the formalisation, prioritization
and timely fulfilment of an applications configuration database.
This role is part of the first tranche of positions being recruited for, and associated with the
early stages of the Transformation project. The roles will be instrumental in the transition
stage of the project with critical project awareness and understanding of the project evolution
allowing their final position in the enduring IT team being fully understood thus providing long
term business benefit.
Reporting to both the IT Transformation Programme Manager and IT Enterprise & Architect
Manager, the successful IT Solutions Architect will become a trusted advisor for and on behalf
of both the business and IT on business application solutions.
Key Responsibilities
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Participate in process flow analysis and process re-design along with the Enterprise
Architecture Team
Produce a detailed functional design document to match business requirements
Provide current best practice and 3rd party solution alternatives as part of the
functional design
Participate in training design, documentation and the delivery of projects
Participate and lead, when required, meetings with the business
Acts as primary liaison between the Business and IT for solution design and
implementation (i.e. Plan phases)
Participate in projects as required
Production of logical models
Architectural design and solutions documentation for business applications
Plan new Business initiatives
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Responsible for the overall design of the application and mapping the business
requirements to systems and technical requirements
Work as a team member of the IT Transmission Project plus the wider Northern
Powergrid IT team with the key areas of focus including the developing business
specific IT application dependencies and the coexistence of apps
Support Business and IT Project Managers with governance during system/service
implementation
Provide advice to various Business and IT departments with planning, design and
improvement opportunities
Implementation planning for new technology upgrades during IT Transformation Project
timeline
Contribute to the on-going application and infrastructure roadmap development
Key Competencies
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To be effective the IT Solutions Architect must have the experience on multiple
hardware and software environments and be comfortable with complex heterogeneous
(diverse) systems environments
Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate complex
ideas in easy to understand business terms to senior leaders
Drives business performance by developing and contributing specific technical or
professional knowledge, skills and experience. Demonstrates a professional attitude
The IT Solutions Architect should have hands-on experience in multiple industries and
across several disciplines. Able to master a variety of hardware platforms including
legacy application, Oracle platform and mobile devices
Committed to working collaboratively to achieve business and IT goals, building
cohesiveness and identity within a work group, and valuing individual perspectives and
contributors
Ability to understand the business requirements and converting them into solutions
Strong collaboration and partnering skills
Qualifications & Attributes
Essential Qualifications and Experience
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Educated to Degree Level or equivalent with +7 years’ experience in IT/Business
Able to manage conflict resolution when Business and IT demands that cannot simply
be reconciled – such resolution would involve complex professional relationships up to
and including the Senior Stakeholders
Detailed understanding of the Business such that the job holder can determine IT
solutions to business requirements
Strong information systems knowledge is essential
Ability to engage Partners and team members at all levels of the organisation
Ability to accomplish results through others, particularly by establishing relationships,
effective controls, monitoring process and structure
Strong collaboration and partnering skills
Proven Negotiations and influencing skills
Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate complex
ideas in easy to understand business terms to senior leaders
Ability to present ideas, sell concepts to executive level leaders
People Management skills
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
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TOGAF Certification
BCS related qualifications
ITIL V3 Foundation 3
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Service management and Governance experience.
Experience and track record of building and maintaining the strategic relationships with
Business and IT colleagues
Strong customer and service delivery skills
Technical Documentation creation and maintenance
Closing date: 29 May 2015
Please visit our careers website to download an application form
recruitment@northernpowergrid.com quoting reference number SA2015 – R1557
and
return
to
Applications are invited from women and men with appropriate experience and qualifications. Applicants are
considered on the basis of their suitability for the post irrespective of sex, marriage and civil partnership,
sexual orientation, gender re-assignment, race, age, disability, religion or belief and pregnancy and
maternity. Northern Powergrid recruits on ability and ability alone.