Integrated Talent Strategies is hiring a Lead IT Application Architect for a hybrid position in Cleveland Ohio. The role will allow 3 days in the office and 2 days remote and provides a pension, 6% 401k match, stock equity, and health benefits in addition to base salary.
The Application Architect is a digital technology leader within the Paint Stores Group (PSG) IT Strategy group who defines and manages the high-level application architecture for the department.
The Application Architect's role is to plan, coordinate, architect, and supervise all activities related to the integration of software programs, applications, and third-party solutions as required to meet the business requirements of the organization. This individual is responsible for developing and maintaining an application reference architecture for PSG and will oversee testing of the interoperability of application modules under development by in-house software development teams, commercial off-the-shelf software deployed in the organization, and with external third parties as necessary.
Proven communication skills, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of integration best practices are critical to successful performance in this role.
The Lead Application Architect works in collaboration with the architecture community and technology leaders to map business needs to technical capabilities, services, and products so that they are aligned with the enterprise digital technology strategy and roadmap.
Essential Functions
Strategy & Planning
Provide leadership, direction, and accountability for strategic architecture plans, system design, and implementation standards.
Maintain the PSG IT application portfolio and manage the lifecycle of the applications within the portfolio.
Collaborates with programs, products, and projects to understand technology dependencies, risks, and opportunities.
Manage the current state and future state architectures for major applications and help to define a three-year roadmap
Provide consulting and technology recommendations to modernize technology, help mature existing capabilities, or enable new capabilities.
Develop and maintain application architecture blueprints
Work with solution architects and technical leads to ensure alignment with reference architectures on individual projects
Orchestrate integration projects and corresponding strategies between business units and development teams.
Plan, execute, and manage the integration of new application technology into the existing architecture environment.
Ensure that integration projects meet business requirements and goals, fulfill end-user requirements, and identify and resolve systems issues.
Ensure that integration planning and practices are aligned with strategic business goals and the company's overall strategic vision.
Facilitate the process of defining and publishing standards, best practices, capabilities, and roadmap synchronized with the overall enterprise future state architecture.
Partner with PSG IT and Digital Technology (DT) Innovation teams to collaborate on identifying opportunities to utilize emerging technologies to support the overall digital business strategy.
Acquisition & Deployment
Provide strategic consultation to peers in defining and designing capabilities, processes, functions, and organizational structures.
Research, enable and socialize new technology capabilities based on business priorities and focus areas.
Collaborate with clients to ideate, conceptualize, and define product vision for applications.
Research and make recommendations on integration products and services in support of procurement and development efforts.
Collaborate with analysts, designers, and system owners in the testing of newly integrated software programs and applications.
Liaise with software developers and engineers to address issues in program logic and the interoperability of new applications with existing systems software.
Build relationships with software development and engineering teams to gain an understanding of application architectures and required functionality.
Build relationships with vendors of application software deployed in the organization's IT environment to learn about and provide feedback on their technical integration capabilities.
Operational Management
Lead efforts to develop and maintain the architectural assets for the department.
Participate as a member of the Architectural Review Board that ensures that technology decisions are properly vetted.
Synchronization with other Architect roles through participation and collaboration with the Architecture Community is critical for the success of this role.
Provide regular, clear, and consistent communication (written and oral) on the status of projects, issues, and deliverables to representatives from the customer/vendor.
Ensure the collection and coherent interpretation of the various business processes affected by integration efforts.
Work diligently to enhance or improve business processes via integration or, as necessary, minimize the impact of integration on those processes.
Evaluate results of integration projects, then report and make recommendations based on findings.
Where necessary, provide guidance to junior members of the team.
Incidental Functions
Assist with other projects as may be required to contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the group and other business/technical entities.
Proven ability and initiative to learn and research new concepts, ideas, and technologies quickly.
Facilitate meetings and follow up with resulting action items.
Maintain current knowledge of the technology workspace in terms of current state, future possibilities, forthcoming technologies, and their relevance and impact.
Conduct research into new applications, tools, components, and frameworks.
Make presentations to management, clients, and peer groups as requested.
Train and share knowledge.
Participate in hiring activities and fulfilling affirmative action obligations and ensuring compliance with the equal employment opportunity policy.
Up to 10% travel as required (domestic and international).
Work hours outside the standard office 7.5-hour work day may be required.
Position Requirements
Formal Education & Certification
Bachelor's degree (or foreign equivalent) in a Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Information Technology field of study (e.G., Information Technology, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, Computer Systems Management, Mathematics) or equivalent experience. Master's degree in a related field is a plus.
Knowledge & Experience
12+ years of IT experience.
8+ years of architecture experience designing software and systems.
Experience assessing complex problems and breaking them down into simple solutions focused on key customer needs.
Experience working with business stakeholders to define a prioritized set of business outcomes and application work to accomplish those outcomes within the limitations of the application budget.
Understanding of modern technologies, platforms, and development practices to support digital transformation.
Understanding of core retail business processes
Familiarity with e-commerce platforms and technologies.
Experience with modern integration patterns, techniques, and technologies
Experience with cloud technology and platforms
Experience supporting and working with cross-functional teams in a dynamic environment
Comprehensive knowledge of facilitation and organization change management.
In-depth experience with driving technology transformation initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications and Skills
Familiarity with architecture frameworks and methods (ie. TOGAF, Zachmann, etc)
Personal Attributes
Clear and concise communication skills both written and oral
Ability to communicate, influence and persuade business and IT leaders as well as peers.
Ability to adapt to rapidly changing technology and apply to business needs.
Ability to establish and maintain a high level of customer trust and confidence.
Ability to learn and explore new domain specific technology concepts and industry trends.
Team player, organizationally savvy, facilitator and works well with others.
Display intellectual curiosity and integrity.
Motivated by long-term results and achieving target business outcomes.
Remains unbiased, specifics technology and vendor neutral more interested in results than personal preferences.
Strong commitment to inclusion and diversity
