Working hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Duration: Permanent 

Location: Gloucester

Job ref: 201433

About the role

We are looking for a Platform Architect to provide architectural leadership and direction in the specification, design, configuration and problem management of the Sapiens IDIT and other configuration platforms. To take consideration of the impact of all requirements on the existing solution to ensure the solution meets business requirements without compromising maintainability and data integrity.

Key responsibilities

• Accountable for the creation and continuation of the platform design principles for IDIT and share with other platforms that may also benefit.
• Accountable for the platform’s technical documentation – SDS’s, Setup books and Matrices.
• Accountable for the Design process, ensuring seamless handovers, and continually challenging for best ways of working to ensure quality solutions.
• Lead and manage the System Analysis team who are responsible for all systems analysis and design, and completing technical documentation to ensure the solution meets our needs and complies with our agreed architecture.
• Ensuring quality technical documentation from design teams and fit for purpose designs which are consistent with the programme deliverables.
• Act as escalation point for major design decisions in customer layer and work with solution providers to influence system roadmap. Actively participate into the Sapiens user group, learning from others and inputting into improvements of the core system.
• Work alongside 3^rd party solution providers to ensure an ongoing deep knowledge of the functionality and capability of the system, and continued training plan for System Analysis team.
• Ensure solutions delivered align to corporate goals and business strategy. Challenge requirements or solutions, especially those that are not utilising out of the box functionality or impact on the maintainability or data integrity of the system.
• Supporting BAU, though involvement in triage processes, managing the involvement of System Analysis team and supporting scrum teams by providing 4th line IDIT support.
• Manage and contribute to the active communication between the design teams through attendance of the IDIT user forums, change committee, engaging with user champions or training, to understanding needs and sharing best practice use of the system.
• Understands overall impact of changes to design and dependencies on other systems and challenge design where this cannot be achieved, to reduce our maintenance overhead.
• Act as a consultant to the business understanding new business initiatives and how the platform can be utilised without compromising stability, performance or an increase in maintenance.
• Understanding and interpret business requirements to establish an appropriate and cost-effective technical solution.
• Proactive and effective communication (verbal and written) with technical staff, with operational business staff and management, external suppliers and customers.
• Works within boundaries and controls of the change control and development lifecycle processes
• Accountable for the driving the team to continually build our knowledge wiki, for use in programme and BAU support.
• Positive influence on the team, and work to build a strong team culture with our 3^rd party suppliers.
• Naturally works in a team and shares ideas training and mentoring as required.
• Takes responsibility and seeks to resolve problems in new areas and identify solutions.

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Strong analytical skills with ability to see the big picture while maintaining attention to detail
• Ability to write or mentor others in writing business requirements and understand the impact on technical solution, test plans and development schedules
• Strong knowledge and experience of General Insurance, ideally CII qualified
• Experience of GDPR and other insurance related regulations.
• Strong facilitation skills, translating business strategy and goals into solutions
• Ability to model data to support system design
• Good working knowledge of complete development lifecycles – particularly waterfall and agile.
• Involvement on relevant large scale change programs
• Problem solving capabilities
• Strong verbal communication skills
• Confident communicator at all levels
• A clear appreciation of the need for exceptional standards of customer experience and evidence of a strong commitment to delivering improved standards

What we offer

• A competitive salary - Let's discuss it
• Flexible working 
• Competitive Group Personal Pension - up to 12% employer contribution
• Annual Bonus scheme up to 30%
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays 
• A holiday buy and sell scheme 
• An array of health and wellbeing benefits, including private healthcare, income protection and life assurance

About us

We are a unique financial services organisation, owned by a registered charity, Benefact Trust. We are a financially secure, professional and award-winning organisation. We pride ourselves in donating a significant proportion of our profits to good causes. To find out more about us and our fantastic achievements please visit https://benefactgroup.com/

Committed to making a difference

We think that people are looking for something worthwhile in a company beyond the workplace. Our employees are encouraged to take at least one day a year to help a charity of their choice, offering practical and professional support, as part of our MyGiving programme.

Our staff know how to work hard but also how to enjoy themselves! We pride ourselves on creating an appropriate work-life balance, valuing wellbeing, flexibility and being part of a team.