Digital Solutions Architect

What will I be doing?

Champion modern technology product development & deployment processes and procedures, adhering to IT protocol for digital solutions architecture, following best practices of scalability, security, error handling, monitoring, post go live monitoring and support
Designing robust solutions to deliver a great member experience using hybrid-cloud and mobile first approach
Accountable for maintaining digital architectural landscape within DL IT landscape
Accountable for design blueprints of the entire digital landscape
Responsible for relevant touch points in the DL architectural landscape
Ensure solution fits data journeys - full end to end thinking
Collaborating with business stakeholders, IT Design team and all vendors involved
Work with IT Design/Secure Team to ensure broader solution architecture goals are being met
Provide technical solution designs by taking into consideration business requirements, industry best practices, models, frameworks and security/compliance
Ensure solutions are designed to be compliant with data protection, information, security and PCI standards
Manage the Digital architecture works pipeline closely liaising with POD Heads & Project Managers
Collaborate with PODs (BA/Product Owner/PM) and the vendor architects to produce design blueprints, considering full end-to-end processes / data flows / security / business processes / reporting and impacts to operations and members
Agree with the PODs and IT Programme Management team the scope of works for the POD and IT Project in order to deliver the complete solution
Provide digital requirement definition support - collaborating with Digital Business Analysts during (to educate) and after (to draft solutions) request capture, in order to understand functional, technical, reporting, and user experience requirements
Collaborate closely with the Digital Data Architect to understand the impact of data demands and volumes on existing infrastructure capacity/scale and data interfaces
Embrace/embed 'security by design' principles for all Digital design
Clearly communicate design solution options to business owners in order to seek design approval
Oversee formal approvals process for technical design of Digital products - hand to Security & Legal, Support for formal sign off
Chair monthly Digital Architecture Review Board
Attend weekly Digital/IT Architecture meeting
Follow principles that allow for multiple option design thinking
Design full end to end test plans including Load & Performance stress points
Validate development and testing work carried out by third-party vendors to meet the design requirements
Input to solution cost estimates to ensure accurate budgeting
Produce, manage and keep up to date all Digital designs, architecture, policy and specification documentation
Working jointly with the Digital Data Architect, prepare documentation/work closely with IT support team on handover to support tasks
Adhere to design principles and DL security standards in all design works
Ensure landscape is fit for purpose and identify areas of optimisation required: infrastructure and architecture review, identify technical debt, capacity planning, environment management, review incident trends and automation
Join critical P1s or major incidents to assist with troubleshooting scenarios (when/where relevant)
Work with Director of Digital Engineering to refine digital technology strategy for David Lloyd Digital
Develop Digital architecture/technology roadmaps
Represent Digital Architecture at the IT Change Advisory Board

How will I be measured?

Digital pod team deliverables start and finish on time with minimal solution/technology barriers
No design/architecture related escalations to Director of Digital Engineering and Head of Design & Data
Digital Solutions Architect is the go to for all Digital IT architecture queries - seen as knowledgeable and able to provide the complete apps, data and infrastructure view point
For all new service introductions/enhancements in infrastructure/apps/data: no service issues are generated due to design flaws
Service optimisation delivered & or service optimisation papers that are approved
All solution designs are approved within SLA
360 feedback including from vendors - is supportive of the role and the incumbent is seen to be expert in the field of Digital solution architecture
All Digital/IT management meetings, Digital Architecture Review Board, CAB are attendedWhat qualifications, skills and experience do I need?

Ability to work in a multi-speed organisation, and coordinate the different moving parts required to deliver new functionality
Experience in dealing with and prioritising the requests of multiple stakeholders
Experience overseeing modern development processes, including: Native mobile app development, Back-end microservices development (Java, NodeJS), IaC approaches to infrastructure provisioning (Terraform/Terraform Cloud)
Systems design/architecture experience, particularly in modernisation/Digital Transformation projects
Diverse solutions architecture experience covering modern cloud infrastructure, modern technology & legacy systems
Background in dev ops, engineering, infrastructure AS code
Degree in Computer Science or a technology-related field
Experienced in applying commercial judgement to ensure recommendations are in line with budgets
Comfortable with documenting and communicating the model used to understand the enterprise, system, application, and network through a series of viewpoints
Strong influencing and engagement skills
Skills in presentation, communication, facilitation
Adept at working collaboratively both within the Digital & IT functions and across the broader business teams as well as with a diverse set of 3rd party vendors

Desirable

Agile application development

Key behaviours

Pragmatic creative, agile, can do, option generator, energetic, self-motivated , sense of ownership
Communicates complex IT solutions & concepts in plain easy to understand language
Must have skill: with multiple-PODs potentially running, must have the ability to work across multiple design requirements
Able to juggle project priorities and stakeholders
Collaborative working, one team culture, supportive: no idea is a bad idea
Stay abreast of latest tech innovations
Think holistically to understand how our technology and solutions impact member/team member/club experience