Purpose\:

The ACS Cloud solution architect provides strategic solutions and architectural designs supporting the delivery of customer solutions within the Oracle Red Stack (Infrastructure, Cloud (OCI/PaaS/SaaS), networking, Middleware, applications and Database) and contributes to the development and implementation of IT plans and roadmaps in line with the overall customers Business needs (SLA/SLO) and IT strategy. Working closely with the customers Programme Management and Architects to ensure alignment between business change, IT architecture,  technical solutions, business resources and processes.

Other than the “Cloud technical Delivery architect” (who is responsible for a technical pillar) the “Cloud delivery solution architect” is responsible for the whole solution (e.g. a full Disaster recovery concept covering all service layers).

 Key Responsibilities\:

·         Analyzes business needs to help ensure the Oracle cloud solution meets the customer’s objectives by combining industry best practices, product knowledge, and business acumen

·         Define, document, maintain, provide advice on, and be the Oracle cloud solution authority for, the customer’s cloud architecture to ensure\: that customers make informed decisions regarding scope to achieve beneficial solutions cost effectiveness, quality and reuse.

·         Providing technical guidance on cloud solutions to customer and other Oracle project team members to underpin successful project definition and delivery.

·         Produce high level designs including service, component, business rule, system and technical infrastructure definitions to underpin successful project definition and delivery.

·         Ensure that high level cloud designs meet customer’s architectural and technical strategy

·         Define, document, communicate, and maintain the target cloud architecture for the customers IT application, data and infrastructure including any transition architectures to ensure that the customers current and future needs will be met.

·         Undertake research, investigations and developments in Oracle cloud technology in an appropriate way, and communicate the findings to the relevant interested stakeholder groups to inform business decisions.

.       Working closely with the TAM/Project/programme manager to ensure that the individual work streams that form the overall cloud solution are technically managed and designs and plans are maintained to reflect the customers agreed solution

·         Ensure Oracle cloud technologies are leveraged appropriately, that customer impacts to people, processes and technology are understood; and to resolve issues that have cross project or system scope

.       Liaises with presales as to proposed solution, and ensures early ACS engagement.

Required Skills and knowledge\: 

·         Educated to degree level or equivalent with experience of architectural/design principals

·         Proven solution design skills in a large enterprise or service provider during design, implementation and service phases

·         Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate with technical and non-technical staff at all levels of the customer organization, and the ability to present complex information in a succinct and easily-digestible manner.

·         Ability to design and produce creative cloud architectural & design documentation to the highest quality

·         Strong knowledge of Oracle, cloud, software, hardware, server & network technologies

·         The ability to quickly grasp new or emerging Oracle technologies, and how they fit with the customer’s strategy.

·         In depth understanding of Oracle Cloud portfolio including ACS cloud Services

·         Ability to think creatively

.       Experience of interfacing with senior business and IT stakeholders

Preferred Skills and knowledge\:

·         Good technical knowledge across a broad range of none Oracle products

·         Knowledge of the IT system installation lifecycle

·         Experienced in standard architectural approaches, techniques, tools and frameworks such as TOGAF

·         Knowledge of Project Management principals such as PRINCE

·         Certified in IT service management such as ITSM, ITIL;

Business Awareness

•     Minimizes risk exposure to Oracle and understands commercial implications of actions/words

•     Acts always with Oracle best interests at heart, but within the customer's agenda

•     Understands business impact of decisions on both Oracle and the customer

•     Identifies and promotes opportunities for sales of Oracle products and services

•     Understands to whom s/he is accountable both within customer organizations and within Oracle and keeps them informed of progress/issues

•     Knows when to escalate potential issues and concerns and acts promptly to minimize political damage or customer dissatisfaction

•     Understands Contractual and commercial processes.

 Communication

•     Communicates openly and often

•     Uses appropriate medium for communication

•     Recognizes when something needs higher level visibility and informs the appropriate people

•     Understands the importance of listening in order to understand customers' point of view/requirements, and checks understanding with customer (cognitive empathy)

•   Is aware of underlying issues in a situation and possible causes/reasons

•     Produces documents which are well structured, concise and grammatically correct

•     Is confident and able to present at all levels

 Customer Focus

•     Acts in customers' best interests at all times; works within and strives to meet customer deadlines

•     Instills confidence in the customer and engenders a high degree of trust that their requirements will be met

•     Displays a professional image in front of the customer

•     Is careful not to raise or create false expectations; ensures that the correct expectations are set with the customer

•     Keeps customer regularly informed; discusses issues and checks customers' understanding

•     Checks regularly with key players that progress/output is in line with customer expectations and requirements

•      Acquires a reputation for reliability and delivers consistently on time.

•     Develops service improvement activities and executes them.

Delivering Results

•     Proactively works towards objectives and goals, delivering expected and agreed results within given deadlines

•     Checks progress of work against targets and takes appropriate action to keep on course

•     Follows up on things promised and delivers on commitments

•     Shows concern for the quality, standards and accuracy of own work

•     Plans a detailed course of action to meet targets and objectives

•     Ensures start and end points and milestones are clearly defined to reduce uncertainty

Developing Solutions

•     Thinks through the implications of taking a certain course of action and acts to minimize negative effects on processes and relationships

•     Persists in acquiring necessary information even when met with resistance

•     Is able to look at a problem/solution/process and identify missing or erroneous links

•      Tries to understand the situation in depth by probing all areas and acquiring information from several sources before proposing a solution

•     Translates high level business problems to people/process solutions

•     Breaks down complex problems/issues to determine suitability and makes appropriate assessments and recommendations

•     Thinks through detailed implementation in a live customer environment

•     Thinks outside the box and is creative with solutions

•     Is able to balance theory with practical application/customer expectations and requirements

•     Challenges existing assumptions/paradigms within customer organization

Influence and Persuasion

•     Able to persuade customers and others to own point of view

•     Is able to make point of view heard when necessary and get view across to others including customer 

•     Is able to influence and persuade in a non-confrontational manner

•     Is principled, fair, firm and effective in negotiations with colleagues and customers

•     Facilitates and overcomes politics within own and customer organization via behind the scenes negotiating and influencing

Leadership

•     Proactively takes ownership of tasks and challenges and sees them through

•      Asserts authority when occasion/situation demands

•     Proactively takes ownership of tasks and challenges and sees them through

•     Asserts authority when occasion/situation demands

•     Coaches team members in relevant skills.

•     Delegates tasks and monitors progress.