Solution Architect

Location: Slough / Flexible

Closing date: 05/07/2021

It matters to us that Team O2 is as diverse as the communities we serve.

We’re aware that we need more diversity in our senior leadership roles, so we welcome and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

Whoever you are, O2 has a place for you.

Come join us

About the team:

Each portfolio operates as a ‘mini IT organisation’ serving a discrete set of IT stakeholders. By shifting from a functional to a product-led model we want to split into smaller teams that build more detailed knowledge of the customers they serve and with the increase in Mode 2 (Agile & DevOps) ways of working it also enables end to end ownership from analysis through to delivery and operations.

Each Portfolio segment will consist of a semi-permanent and multi-skilled team with end to end accountability for delivering all IT change impacting their portfolio segment, and the technical products they own, working closely with other portfolio segment teams and stakeholders from across Operations and the Business.

About the role:

Reporting into a Senior Solution Architect within the Business & IoT Portfolio, the Solution Architect is responsible for designing and delivering high quality solutions whilst building and maintaining excellent stakeholder relationships.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide expert technical consultancy and design leadership, primarily within their Portfolio / segment, but also cross-portfolio at times.
• Working closely with the Enterprise Architecture team to ensure that all solutions align with IT and group architecture strategy, principles and design patterns.
• Build a knowledge of Technical Products, Applications & Platforms that support the business of the Portfolio / Segment.
• Propose solutions that outline products and services which provide a great Customer Experience
• Ensure deliverables are produced and maintained and that all artefacts are delivered to time, cost and quality
• Create designs that satisfy both the functional and non- functional requirements and include a full service wrap
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders and regularly review and playback solutions to seek and incorporate feedback to ensure they meet the business need and all requirements
• Develop a good understanding of Telefonica UK’s business and technology strategy
• Provide early engagement with the relevant IT delivery teams to ensure clarity on responsibilities, planning and resourcing, and provide indicative cost/time estimates
• Take ownership of any design related issues and manage the resolution with business and technical stakeholders
• Ensure there is E2E technical compliance across all deliverables and artefacts
• Develop a culture of continuous improvement and regularly attend project and team meetings as required
• Regularly report on progress and issues using standard tools provided
• Promote the services of the team within Operations and across the wider business
• Mentor and support junior members of the team

Key Skills:

• Lead activities with minimal supervision and demonstrates strong initiative
• Can manage conflict at a senior level
• Team player with strong interpersonal skills and ability to take a leadership role when necessary
• Provide expert advice and guidance to stakeholders with the ability to challenge/influence business thinking
• Experienced in creating solution options and making recommendations based on balancing business needs
• Demonstrates analytical and systematic approach to problem solving
• Able to rapidly absorb new techniques and apply them effectively
• Able to plan, schedule and monitor work activities in order to meet time and quality targets
• Strong technical background and understanding of the business value that technology can bring
• Excellent communication, influencing, negotiation and relationship-building skills; ability to build consensus within and across a diverse organisation
• Able to exercise independent judgment, and take the lead role on enterprise level projects/products with minimal direction
• Knowledge of industry trends, research and developments relating to the Architecture and Solution Design profession; particularly within Telecoms
• Awareness and understanding of Telefonica’s Business and Operations
• Experience in project lifecycle(s), e.g. Estimating, planning, identifying dependencies, both Agile and Waterfall methodologies
• TOGAF, ITIL (desirable)

Finally…

We’ll be sending you emails about the status of your application. To make sure you receive these, please add @O2.com and @telefonica.com to your Safe Senders list.

We’re looking to pay a great compensation package (depending on experience) for this position. We also offer plenty of extras to sweeten the deal, which could include things like bonuses, life assurance cover, health care and lots of flexible benefits.

Also, every employee has their personal development supported with a LinkedIn learning account; plus other role specific learning available through our award-winning digital learning platform - O2 Campus.

We also believe a great work-life balance is important, so we’re open to considering flexible working arrangements. Like to know more, feel free to raise it. Join us and we’ll encourage you to be bold every day. So take a deep breath, your career is about to go to exciting new places.

If you have any questions around the role then please email ResourceTUK@o2.com who will be happy to help.