Director, Portfolio Architect Jobs

We are looking for a Director, Portfolio Architect, Group Customer Insurance and Wealth

Our Enterprise Architecture team is looking to hire a Portfolio Architect that will cover the areas of Business, Application, Information, and Technology Architecture for the Group Customer Insurance & Wealth portfolio.

Reporting to the AVP, Enterprise Architect, this role is an expert in the architecture of a large product group or ecosystem, proactively and holistically guiding its implementation and evolution. These solutions collectively enable the future-state business capabilities and drive the organization’s targeted business-outcomes and modernization.

Accountable for ensuring the future orientation of the ecosystem aligns with and informs the Line of Business Strategy and Enterprise Architecture, this role maintains the target state architecture and roadmap for the product group/ecosystem and guides the work of solution designers in its implementation.

The Portfolio Architect guides & approves designs developed by Solution Architects and brings forward architecturally significant decisions/solutions to the Architecture Review Council for approval. They understand the business strategy, the unit’s enterprise architecture strategy and translate both into system changes required for achievement.

Success in this role requires a strong partnership with the Enterprise Architect and senior business and IT leaders in the Line of Business, and for the incumbent to balance the need for strategic technology advancement with delivery pressures.

The successful candidate will provide technology leadership and innovation focused on the Group Customer Insurance and Wealth portfolio. This portfolio covers our group customer health & dental insurance and wealth management and other key applications. This is an enterprise level role that will be responsible for the technology strategy, solutioning oversight, and governance to architectural standards.

What You Will Do

• Drive a high-performance culture for practitioner Solution Architects and influence this culture within IT.
• Research and recommend opportunities to leverage technology and keep up with industry advancements.
• Directs application technology research and sponsors line of business (LOB) initiatives (early-stage development/prototype) in support of BU strategy.
• Ensure leaders, employees and vendors work together to drive performance and that high expectations are achieved within the values of the organization.
• Proactively identify areas and opportunities to use technology to modernize & enhance customer experience and/or organizational efficiency.
• Support development of business strategies through development of technology roadmaps and proposals to achieve business plans.
• Provides leadership in managing IT risk (e.g.: security, disaster recovery, technology solution quality, etc.) and control requirements.
• Accountable to ensure high quality delivery of leading-edge solutions, balancing time and cost requirements with enterprise architecture directions.

What You Will Bring

• Operational risk expertise related to working in complex shared environments.
• Demonstrate customer centric approach to problem solving, striving for service excellence and outward focus.
• 10+ years of demonstrated experience in modernizing IT environments with a preference for significant complexity, highly regulated, and/or financial services environments.
• 5+ years progressive leadership experience related to both projects and teams.
• Strong communication skills with technology and business teams.
• Deep understanding of financial services industry, preferably with insurance experience, a strong asset.
• Led or supported business process changes related to technology.
• Ability to challenge the status quo; understanding how to impact and influence.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships across multiple geographies, business functions, and levels of technical knowledge.
• Bachelor Computer Science/Software Engineering or equivalent degree.
• Experience motivating highly skilled groups of individuals toward teamwork and a common purpose; integrating efforts across units; monitoring and assessing results.

Assets:

• Experience with application modernization, system decomposition and rationalization.
• Experience delivering omni-channel experiences via cloud-native designs
• A general understanding of Business Architecture and Lean Six Sigma
• Experience in financial services industry or in a similar complex and regulated industry.
• Experience with open banking API standards, microservices, single page apps and integration to core/legacy platforms
• Understanding of continuous architecture and value stream approach to business solutions.
• Architectural experience using modelling tools like UML, TOGAF, Archimate etc., architecture practices and principles in Business, Information (data), Application, Technology, and Security architecture disciplines.

Given the size and scope of our organization, we have the flexibility for this position to be located in the following head office locations: Toronto, London, Winnipeg.

Be your best at Canada Life- Apply today!

Being a part of Canada Life means you have a voice. This is a place where your unique background, perspectives and talents are valued, and shape our future success.

You can be your best here. You’re part of a diverse and inclusive workplace where your career and well-being are championed. You’ll have the opportunity to excel in your way, finding new and better ways to deliver exceptional customer and advisor experiences.

Together, as part of a great team, you’ll deliver on our shared purpose to improve the well-being of Canadians. It’s our driving force. Become part of a strong and successful company that’s trusted by millions of Canadians to do the right thing.

Canada Life serves the financial security needs of more than 13 million people across Canada, with additional operations in Europe and the United States. As members of the Power Financial Corporation group of companies, we’re one of Canada’s leading insurers with interests in life insurance, health insurance, investment and retirement savings. We offer a broad portfolio of financial and benefit plan solutions for individuals, families, businesses and organizations.

We are committed to providing an inclusive, accessible environment, where all employees and customers feel valued, respected and supported. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we live, and to creating an environment where every employee  has the opportunity to  reach their potential.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Canada Life policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [email protected] .

Canada Life would like to thank all applicants, however only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted .