Senior Chapter Lead – Solution Architecture

More information about this job:Overview:FM Global is a leading property insurer of the world’s largest businesses, providing more than one-third of FORTUNE 1000-size companies with engineering-based risk management and property insurance solutions.

FM Global helps clients maintain continuity in their business operations by drawing upon state-of-the-art loss-prevention engineering and research; risk management skills and support services; tailored risk transfer capabilities; and superior financial strength.

To do so, we rely on a dynamic, culturally diverse group of employees, working in more than 100 countries, in a variety of challenging roles Responsibilities:The Senior Chapter Lead of Solution Architecture is responsible for the implementation and evolution of solution architecture practices within the organization.

This will include a deep focus on improving the delivery capability across teams and driving product evolution toward a desired architectural state.

This is done by ensuring solution architects take ownership for technical delivery, identifying and promoting the adoption of effective design and implementation patterns, and guiding technical implementation choices.

The Senior Chapter Lead of Architecture partners with Enterprise Architecture and other technology leaders to ensure alignment with and provide input to enterprise strategies.

Work with Senior Chapter Leads of Development to evolve and execute development best practices. The Senior Chapter Lead is responsible for ensuring Solution Architects address security as a primary concern in all solution implementations.

More generally, they evaluate and lead teams to remediate architectural health gaps.

They are responsible for working closely with Enterprise Architecture to both understand, influence and implement the architecture roadmap bringing into focus challenges and opportunities identified within teams. The Senior Chapter Lead is responsible for the hiring, development, and growth of their Chapter members.

They are responsible for optimizing the alignment of solution architects to best support product initiatives, for metrics associated with talent evolution, and for all other administrative responsibilities within the Chapter.

The Senior Chapter lead is a technologist who identifies relevant technology trends and tools that could improve skillsets within the Chapter and overall technology product delivery.

The Chapter Lead acts as practice leader who engages regularly with solution architects individually and as a group.

They will be working to help them support product initiative delivery. Technical Delivery: Coordinate solution architecture across multiple product areas with a focus on driving technical delivery success.

Identify and influence mitigation and management of risks and impediments including cross team dependencies.

Influence the minimization of technical debt accumulation across teams.

Ensure Solution Architects are leading teams to develop solutions in alignment with security standards and best practices. Talent: Maintain and refine the interview process to support hiring Solution Architects to meet current and emerging needs.

Onboard newly hired Solution Architects and implement a continuous development program focused on increasing technical capability and supporting career development.

Foster learning and knowledge-sharing activities related to Solution Architecture through group training sessions, guilds, and mentorship programs.

Actively coach and mentor Solution Architects.

Set targets for development and growth of Solution Architects.

Define, collect, and report metrics to track progress, and complete final assessment of Solution Architects in professional development. Target Architectures: In collaboration with Information Services, Data Analytics, Enterprise Architecture, and Development chapters, define, promote, and evolve target solution architectures that represent the strategic direction products should aim to evolve towards.

Target solution architectures will be designed in alignment with Enterprise Architecture roadmaps and will provide implementation patterns and guardrails for Solution Architects and teams to utilize and build upon.

Provide input into the Enterprise Architecture and software development roadmaps to support the evolution of standards and practices that will enable teams to successfully deliver business value. Team Optimization: Work in close partnership with Product to place Solution Architects with teams to optimize successful delivery in alignment with the highest priority Product initiatives. Architectural Reviews: Establish and conduct process to review product solution architectures.

This is to ensure visibility and transparency for key decisions related to architecturally significant items. Technical Health and Risk reporting: Define, collect, and report metrics to track the current and evolving architectural health of products against established targets. Enterprise Initiatives: Ensure Solution Architects are aligned with and actively support the delivery of technology-focused cross-team or enterprise initiatives. Technology Investment and Solution Assessment: Establish processes and provide oversight to support Solution Architects in their partnership with Product and Development Chapter Leads.

This is to identify, assess, and implement procured software solutions. Control Framework: Establish processes and provide oversight to support Solution Architects in their preparation for, response to, and mitigation of control framework related inquiries and findings related to security and material changes to software.Qualifications:10+ years of solid experience in application architecture and design.

With, a recognized reputation as a technical specialist able to effectively lead teams designing, planning, and delivering high quality, evolvable, business focused software.Experience working closely with business partners to bridge understanding between the business and user community and the technical implementation team.Experience establishing technical implementation plans in alignment with a variety of delivery methodologies that require varying degrees of delivery certainty.Experience managing the technical evolution of software products into alignment with organizational standards.Experience interviewing, recruiting, hiring, assessing, and retaining personnel.Experience coaching, mentoring, and developing highly motivated technical team leaders.SkillsStrong technical leader.Strong written and verbal communication skills to provide guidance and education on new concepts and practices to chapter members and to align diverse partner groups on technical decisions.Solid ability to influence and persuade product stakeholders to support proposed architectural changes.Ability to deliver clear and direct communication regarding performance and skill development.Demonstrated ability in coaching and mentoring chapter members in the area of performance, standards, and work methods.Demonstrable ability to resolve issues with and across teams, before they intensify (mediation skills).Able to evaluate the technical landscape with a critical eye, challenge current practices, and propose improvements.Able to work effectively to unblock architectural dependencies that affect different product initiatives.Able to build an atmosphere of trust and a comfortable and efficient work environment while maintaining high expectations for delivery.EducationBachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or equivalent is required.

Master’s Degree in Computer Science or Management of Information Systems is a plus! We offer our employees a wide range of benefits including career long learning opportunities, tuition reimbursement, 401 (k), pension, flexible schedules, rich health and well-being programs, generous time off allowances, volunteer days and so much more! FM Global is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to attracting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce. Please note that all FM Global visitors, including external candidates interviewing for open positions will be required to be vaccinated and should be prepared to provide proof of vaccination.