Network Solution Architect

CONTEXT 

Working as part of the Group’s Technology Office, under Group CIO Division, the Network Architect is responsible for providing Network architecture, vision, governance, problem anticipation and solving for IT on an architectural level for the Network domain.

The Solution Architect’s role is to Contribute to AXA Services development by designing solutions to support business projects making sure they respect the group standards (security, technical product usage) in the context Group target Architecture (including Platform Architecture), and with the aim for AXA to become a Tech Led Company. 
He/she proposes the future architectures or support the ones that needs to be further developed and implemented to the entities and to the Group main stakeholders. To achieve this objective, he/she relies on his/her experience and expertise, providing market insights, and bringing concrete justifications and values of his/her propositions. 

The Network Solution architect has interactions with all the levels of the company in the IT area, from the execution and support engineers to the C-levels. He/she adapts his/her speech to the audience to make his statements understood and adopted by all. He/she is the reference in his/her domain.

MAIN ACTIVITIES 

The objective of Network architecture is to ensure that we build sustainable, robust and secured Network artefacts at the right cost and that bring business value to support the corporate business and lines of business strategies. 

The Network Solution Architect main activity is on the Datacenter/Cloud, LAN/WAN and IP services area to craft the Network Strategy of the Group and act as a change agent to implement this IT Strategy through the Target Architecture of the Group, and of individual countries within the Group. He/she may also be called upon to directly support PMs on some key projects.

The core activities of the Solution Architect include the following for his own area of responsibility:

· designs infrastructure-based solutions provided to meet the needs and requirements of Business applications and/or supporting solutions, applying relevant Group / AXA Services standards

·Build and maintain both worldwide Architecture Landscape and Architecture Maturity Model(s) 

·Contribute to Technology/Architecture CTO Community and Technology Governance of the Group covering global and local dimensions, which includes ensuring design and solution choices made in the entities are conform to Group Strategy in order to secure Group interests over the long-term

·Manage evaluation, development, and deployment of relevant technologies

· Propose a Reference Architecture for scalable and maintainable solutions , simplify implementation, facilitate convergence / reuse, ensure safety and reduce costs.

· Check compliance of all solutions with the rules and principles that has been defined by AXA. Participate actively in the architecture governance

· Lead discussions with technical coworkers from Group Operation and entities AND C-levels with AXA Group

·Provide support to all Group IT supporting functions, in particular for Procurement and Finance for large negotiations or assets.

Experience

·Strong experience in IT Strategy, and solution architecture (8+ years), especially in the Network area

·Experience on solutions architecture designs for very large projects/environments in particular in a specific specialist domain 

·Strong change management skills with practical experience of transformation in an international environment

·Financials (principles, business cases, budgeting, business-planning, savings)

·Strives for excellence with deliverables of high quality and ability to work in sometimes tight planning

·Demonstrates to be a strong team member with a collaborative mind-set.

Technical skills

·Expert knowledge in enterprise architecture and IT strategy, especially on Datacenter & Cloud Network, LAN/WAN and on IP services (DNS, DHCP, IPAM)

·Ability to execute evolution of the enterprise architecture through strategic thinking, in addition to possessing strong business, technical, and financial acumen.

·Expertise in the areas of analysis, critical thinking and decision making, information systems knowledge, innovation, knowledge of emerging technology, planning, risk management, systems thinking, application rationalization/TCO, IT Security and technical problem solving.

·Strong skills in influence, consultation, and negotiating ability

·Excellent knowledge of Market solutions, and similar companies infrastructure models

Soft skills

·Leadership – Exhibits strong results orientation, change leadership, adaptability and the ability to drive collaborative behavior. 

·Vision –Enterprise Architect demonstrates architectural vision and beliefs and is able to express them clearly, champion them, and debate his point of view in on-line forums or in-person workshops.

·Communication skills – Exhibits strong skills in listening, spoken and written communication, collaboration and the ability to work in a global team. Enterprise Architects are expected to have the ability to understand and discuss with both senior management and IT experts, and explain in clear language complicated architectural concepts and strategies.

·Openness and reaching out – Strong human relationship skills, exhibit curiosity and can see opportunities in situations, not just problems.

·International profile – A proven ability to work effectively in an international environment. In addition, exhibits a strong proficiency in English.

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