Director, Portfolio Architecture - Business Automation

Permanent Full Time 

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Canada Life’s Enterprise Architecture team works collaboratively with our business and IT partners developing technology strategies and roadmaps enabling the successful delivery of strategic business and IT goals. 

Our team of experts work collaboratively across Canada Life, maintaining the Canada technology strategy and roadmap, developing, and managing target state architectures, and ensuring solution designs align with architectural directions and guardrails. Come join an organization committed to delivering innovative solutions. 

Description

Reporting to the Enterprise Architect, this is the 2nd most senior architecture role in a major line of business. An expert in the architecture of a large product group or ecosystem, the Portfolio Architect proactively and holistically guides its evolution and implementation.  These solutions collectively enable the future-state business capabilities and drive the organization’s targeted business-outcomes.

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 Architects guide & approve designs developed by Solution Architects and bring 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. 

This role collaborates with the Enterprise Architect and Line of Business leaders on the development of the Line of Business IT Strategy. 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 Business Automation portfolio. This portfolio develops and maintains the strategy and roadmap for delivering and evangelizing state of the art Automation capabilities that are critical to streamlining Business Operations. 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 

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

What you will bring 

• Bachelor Computer Science / Software Engineering or equivalent degree
• 10+ years of demonstrated experience in IT environments with a preference for significant complexity, highly regulated, and/or financial services
• 5+ progressive leadership experience related to both projects and teams in Business Automation domain
• Prior experience working in an Architect capacity and exposure to Architecture governance preferred, TOGAF certification is a plus
• Expertise in one or more of the following domains: Intelligent Document Processing (including Optical Character Recognition), Robotic Process Automation, Business Process Management (Workflow Management, Case Management), Decision Management, Content Management
• Experience with championing Business Automation using one or more of the following technologies: IBM CP4BA, UiPath, Appian, Hyperscience, Microsoft Power Platform, ServiceNow, Pega
• Familiarity with Process Modelling or Process Mapping in complex Enterprise environments
• Good understanding of use cases which are appropriate for various technical patterns e.g. API, ETL, RPA, Workflow Automation, Case Management, Business Rules Engine, Low Code
• Exposure to Strategy/Delivery and having a Product mindset desired
• Experience with Agile delivery methodologies and maintaining Architecture runways
• Enthusiasm for hands-on work to support innovative prototypes and guide development teams
• Knowledge of emerging technology trends (e.g. Intelligent Automation, Low Code Application Platforms) and best practices for improving operational efficiency
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships across multiple geographies and business functions
• Demonstrate customer centric approach to problem solving, ability to make decisions without escalating to senior leaders, striving for service excellence and outward focus
• Operational risk expertise related to working in complex shared environments
• Led or supported business process changes related to technology
• Experience motivating highly skilled groups of individuals toward teamwork and a common purpose; integrating efforts across units; monitoring and assessing results
• Deep understanding of financial services industry, preferably with insurance experience, a strong asset
• Strong communication skills with ability to engage independently with different levels of the organization and tailor communication based on audience (e.g. technology executive, business stakeholder, technical SME)
• Ability to challenge; understanding how to persuade and influence

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The base salary for this position is between  $89,800 - $166,300 annually.  This represents base salary only and does not represent other variable compensation components of our total compensation ( i.e. annual bonus, commission etc).  If you are selected to move forward in our recruitment process, your recruiter will be able to discuss additional details of our total rewards program with you.

For student opportunities only

For our student opportunities, the base salary will be dependent on the number of work terms you have completed along with other factors depending on your program. 

Career opportunities will be open a minimum of 5 business days from the date of posting, closing dates will vary depending on the search activity. All applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

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 talentacquisitioncanada@canadalife.com.

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

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