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SOLUTION ARCHITECT REQUIRED IN WELWYN GARDEN CITY Duration- 6 months Hybrid working 2 days a week office based. Rate: Competitive via Umbrella company My client is a blue chip FMCG and retail brand that serve millions of customers every week from all over the globe. With over 6,000 stores internationally my client is a well-known household name that offer several exciting opportunities. The Role - Solutions Architect - Enabling Functions (Property Technology) Whilst specific responsibilities will be dependent upon the changing needs of the business, the following provides an overview of the role's key responsibilities and measures: Works with the Solutions Enterprise Architect - Enabling Functions to define the end-to-end technology architecture and strategy for Property Technology Ensures adherence to company overall Technology standards. Manages the overall Property Technology estate by ensuring accurate records are kept up to date and ensuring exceptions against standards are actively managed. Collaborates with Product Owners to shape the product vision for individual technology products. Collaborates with Product Owners and Business stakeholders to define solutions that meet the desired business outcomes. Collaborates with Engineering and other Enterprise Architects to shape the overall Technology strategy. Supports short-, medium- and long-term planning within the Property Technology portfolio. Arbitrates and enables key decisions on technology to unblock teams. Engages with broader platform and technology teams supporting on infra, security topics and arbitrates on system responsible with technology teams. Defines data flow and system integration flows. You'll need to have demonstrated experience of: Must have experience operating in a similar role within Property Technology, specifically around Asset Lifecycle Management (within a property context), IOT connectivity and monitoring. Must be comfortable with domain modelling within the context of microservices based architecture. Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills - you must be able to articulate complex concepts to a diverse audience. Must be able to support decisions around build vs buy technology options. Must be able to also define short term tactical solutions if strategic solutions aren't feasible. Must have experience in designing and supporting legacy on-premises technology solutions to Cloud. Should be able to design modern architectures using the latest tech stack and patterns, such as micro-services and cloud-based technologies. Should have experience with property leasing technology. Should be able to articulate a complex as-is and to-be technology landscape (including any transition states) in non-technical terms driven by some robust business requirements and at the same time ensuring that technology standards are met. Should be thinking at a conceptual level across a number of platforms (web, mobile, tablet apps) but also being able to have detailed technical discussions with our Engineering colleagues. Should have experience managing external parties to ensure their work has been completed at the required level of standard. Should have experience in influencing without authority. Should have experience in using several technologies within Property. Should Experience in leadership role, managing, leading and mentoring a team of architect. Personal Flexibility, ability to plan and organise, responsiveness, creativity, self-starter. Able to build solid working relationships with peers and senior leadership. Ability to demonstrate strong written, verbal communication and presentation skills to all levels of seniority and disciplines within the organisation. The successful candidate will have a tenacious can-do, will-do mentality. The candidate should be curious and be able to self-learn. Whilst being personally robust and willing to challenge the status quo, you will work closely with other team members and must be able to bring people on a journey with you. Pontoon is an employment consultancy. We put expertise, energy, and passion into improving everyone's chance of being part of the workplace. We respect and appreciate people of all ethnicities, generations, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, gender identities, and more. We do this by showcasing their talents, skills, and unique experience in an all-encompassing environment that helps them thrive. Candidates will ideally show evidence of the above in their CV in order to be considered. Please be advised if you haven't heard from us within 48 hours then unfortunately your application has not been successful on this occasion, we may however keep your details on file for any suitable future vacancies and contact you accordingly. Pontoon is an employment consultancy and operates as an equal opportunity's employer. Please email me
We are currently recruiting for an Acting Head of Project Services. This role is responsible for managing the IT portfolio, you will deliver value by supporting and enabling the delivery of products, projects and programmes. You will ensure an effective framework and governance to successfully deliver the outcomes and goals. The Head of Project Services will also own the Enterprise Architecture and Project Delivery process to maximise business value whilst ensuring that the teams have the skills, tools, and processes to effectively manage the IT portfolio. This role is initially going to be a 12 month fixed term contract as cover for a secondment. This role can be done on a remote or hybrid basis (our Head Office is in Letchworth Garden City) but please be aware that occasional travel to the Head Office or other Willmott Dixon offices may be required dependent upon business needs. Within this role you will: Successfully deliver and control projects to agreed time, budget, and quality specifications. Lead and manage a team of project managers dedicated to the successful delivery of IT projects across Willmott Dixon Provide coaching and development opportunities to Enterprise Architect team. Manage the demand of work at feasibility stage working collaboratively with the Enterprise Architects on priorities. Support with reviewing and improving the architecture framework with Enterprise Architect team. Prepare and provide PMO reporting and quality metrics to relevant stakeholders. Manage escalations for projects within the portfolio and minimise uncontrolled escalations to Head of IT Manage the budget for the running of PMO function. Defining project budgets and ensuring that they are well controlled and managed for the accountable budget holder. Ensure the IT Portfolio is managed to meet agreed business needs in terms of priority, demand, and scope. Manage portfolio-wide risks, issues dependencies and escalations. Ensure adequate resourcing and funding processes are maintained for all PMO undertakings. Ensure that there is controlled closure, sign-off and authorisation for implemented projects and that they are handed over to the business owner on completion. Ensure that relevant PMO stage gates, controls and authorisations are implemented and enforced. Be responsible for maintaining an oversight of all projects being managed across the organisation providing status updates to the Group as appropriate. Maintain and improve the PMO assurance frameworks and to research and remain up to date on developments in project management methodologies and technologies. Essential Team leader (or similar) management experience Prince 2 certification Experience in managing projects/ programmes, within a relevant fast paced and challenging environment. Experience in assisting project managers and the IT Team in problem resolution and managing PMO service delivery and performance. Proactive approach with the energy and vision to drive the PMO team. Experience of facilitating team capacity through robust resource planning and scheduling Strong reporting skills Desirable ITIL certification MSP certification Experience in running a corporate / IT PMO function. Understanding of portfolio management Budget management Personal Qualities Personal effectiveness Objective and proactive in providing timely solutions to problems. Recognise my own strengths and limitations, play to my strengths and use strategies to minimise the impact of my limitations. Communicate effectively, take the time to listen and have the courage to tackle difficult conversations at the right time. Adaptable when dealing with people and managing relationships. Seeing the bigger picture and planning ahead. Identify performance management and manage business expectations. Working as part of a team. A good forward planner and excellent motivator. Enjoying the challenge of achieving a common goal. Identify and manage risk and opportunity. Actively embodies our IT Behaviours and is professional. A key decision-maker. Willingness to continually develop personal and technical effectiveness. Meet deadlines without the need for prompting. Leadership Effective leader and ensure my team comply with all our processes and procedures. Recognise when there are conflicts, acknowledge the feelings and views of all parties, and redirect people's energy towards a common goal. Set demanding but achievable objectives for yourself and others. Show integrity, fairness, and consistency in decision-making. Monitor the quality of work and take appropriate action where necessary. Attributes Strong communication, interpersonal skills, and stakeholder / customer relationship management expertise Confident and self-motivated with the ability to engage and influence effectively at senior management / director level. Strong oral and written communication, showing diligence with technical deliverables; able to provide clear explanations to non- IT specialists. Strong team leadership skills Excellent relationship and stakeholder management skills Good listener Resilient