Portfolio Architect

Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them.

Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself.

The Portfolio Architect reports to the Enterprise Architect. An expert in the architecture of a large product group or ecosystem, the Portfolio Architect proactively and holistically oversees its evolution and implementation.

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 oversees the work of solution designers in its implementation.

The Portfolio Architects oversees designs developed by Solution Architects and bring forward architecturally significant 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.

Essential Functions:

- 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 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
- Support development of business strategies, including 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
- 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

Qualifications:

- 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
- Experience with developing and maintaining Cloud adoption and governance framework
- Experience with latest techniques in Cloud computing e.g. Container Orchestration, Serverless, Infrastructure as Code
- Experience with Agile delivery methodologies and maintaining Architecture runways
- Enthusiasm for hands-on work to support innovative prototypes and oversee development teams
- Knowledge of emerging technology trends 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, 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
- Relationship-building across multiple geographies, business functions, and degrees of technical knowledge
- Deep understanding of financial services industry, preferably with insurance experience, a strong asset
- Strong communication skills with technology and business teams
- Ability to challenge; understanding how to impact and influence

We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, religion, physical or mental disability, milit