Enterprise Architect Job

Are you ready to seize an opportunity to work with established and innovative enterprises in a long-term relationship? Looking to work closely with top Line of Business and IT Executives in large Enterprises, to accelerate the achievement of business objectives through a roadmap of pragmatic technology adoption? Can you do this in a heterogeneous IT environment involving multiple platforms and technologies? Want to connect the solutions you envision to the business and measure impact to the bottom line of your customer? Interested in leveraging your abstract thinking skills and employing strong architectural skills to create innovative solutions for the largest organizations in the world?
In this pivotal role within our Enterprise Strategy business, you’ll deliver advisory and planning services to Microsoft’s top enterprise customers. The Enterprise Architect enables customers to achieve their most challenging business and organizational goals whilst leveraging maximum value from their current and future investments in Microsoft technologies. Through a programmatic approach and objective assessment of the customer’s existing business imperatives and IT investments, the Enterprise Architect systematically plans, orchestrates, and contributes to the development and execution of their strategic technology initiatives so that they align with their broader business goals in an innovative fashion.
We know you are already well networked and, in addition to continuing to build your own network of contacts, you’ll be provided with an extensive network of colleagues with complementary competencies - you really will be joining a top performing team of passionate industry thought leaders who are the best in the business
The sections below identify the key areas and offer insight into the more common activities:
- Relationship-driven differentiation: As the primary delivery resource for the Enterprise Strategy business, what you provide is unique and available only from Microsoft. You’ll advocate on behalf of the customer back into the Microsoft organization and maximize the value delivered from the relationship. Core activities include:
o Arranging Executive Briefing Center visits and bi-directional connection with Microsoft Product Development Groups and many other teams and communities.
o Facilitating the Customer’s uptake of Technology Adoption Programs for early advantage from pre-released Microsoft Products.
o Harnessing insights from groups like Microsoft Research, one of the largest sponsored technology research organizations worldwide. You also have access to the ‘Library’, a catalog of reference architectures, blueprints, industry insights and benchmark data that adds unique value.
o Facilitating customer IT staff development.
- Architecture & Consulting. The role takes a principled approach first to understand the customer’s needs and then to develop roadmaps of change that realize value from their Microsoft investment across a heterogeneous IT environment. Activities include:
o Creating business case development and benefits management programs that define, track and report accrued value through the optimal application of IT to business challenges.
o Orchestrating and/or designing and architecting solutions that leverage both the investment made in the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement and the customer’s current heterogeneous IT environment in the best interests of the customer, driven through a program of orchestrated change and drawing from the collective know-how of Microsoft.
o Providing portfolio governance and oversight to drive lifecycle optimization and alignment across all Microsoft-related strategy and planning initiatives.
- Teaming to accelerate value: When a Microsoft customer invests in an Enterprise Agreement license with Microsoft, the Architect, Enterprise Architecture accelerates the time-to-value by aligning the technology deployment and business adoption plans with customer organizational objectives. Activities to support this objective include:
o Creating architectural and technology roadmaps that result in stronger business/IT alignment and that drive adoption and value from the Enterprise Agreement.
o Orchestrating the use of the Microsoft network of resources formally from within the Advisor’s individual engagement. This can range from formal Solution Architecture through to general technology consulting and beyond. Likewise an Advisor may be called on by colleagues to contribute from their area of specialization in other large engagements or to team with the support team around specific customer initiatives.
- Practice development: This role will contribute to the growth and maturity of the local and international communities provide mentorship, foster knowledge transfer, and lead by example. In addition, opportunities exist to drive IP development and reuse initiatives and drive best or proven practice in architecture, planning, and customer engagement.
- Business development: This role will be expected and have the opportunity to bring their years of experience and expertise to bear on local business development opportunities and contribute to thought leadership within and across both their local Microsoft business and more broadly across other Microsoft businesses.
In addition to the above activities, it is expected that the successful candidate will have significant experience in at least one specialization from the three categories below:
- Industry: The following are higher priorities: Public Sector; Banking; Telco; Manufacturing; Energy
- Microsoft Strategic priorities: Cloud/S+S; Enterprise level / Mission Critical Applications; Optimized Desktop; Unified Communications and Collaboration
- Architect, Enterprise Architecture Specializations:
o Business Value analysis and benefits management
o Enterprise-level Architecture
o Business Architecture
o Information Architecture
o IT Governance
o IT Portfolio Lifecycle Optimization
o Organizational Change Management
o Organizational Design
o IT-led Business Innovation
This role understands interoperability issues and the strengths and weaknesses of platforms and products, and is able to provide a trusted voice at the decision-making table. Typically with IT sponsorship, they develop relationships with key line-of-business executives, putting them in position to translate early business needs and insights into actionable IT strategy and assist IT in driving these initiatives to early results and business value. This work encompasses a solid understanding of business and IT strategy, a principled approach to broader architectural challenges and opportunities, and a great grasp of technology and solutions.
If you meet the above profile, we’d really like to talk with you.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Must have a combination of a degree (Computer Science, Social Science or Business), and equivalent work experience
- At least 8 - 10 years related IT experience
- Must have a proven record of delivering business value from Information Technology at an executive level
- Candidates must have a deep understanding of markets, industries, business, customers, and technology. Work experience should involve a mix of business and technology consulting across the lifecycle of Information Technology (examples may include assessment and analysis, design, business case development, architecture, envisioning, planning, deployment, benefits analysis, and management)
- The ability and background experience to provide leadership in the practice, and a demonstrated effectiveness in consulting and client management
- Executive-level interpersonal and writing skills
- Experience at forming and leading virtual teams
- Fluent In Spanish and English
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity. All applications for vacant positions will be welcomed and will be considered on the relative merits of the applicant against the role profile for the position regardless of colour, race, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, parental responsibilities, age, religion, or belief.