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Infrastructure Solution Architect

Reference Number
ADV1720

Infrastructure Solution Architect

Closing date for applications
17 January 2014
Country
United Kingdom
City
Reading
Function/Discipline
Global IT
Employment Category
This is a permanent role
This role is offered on local conditions
Working Hours
Standard hours apply
Full/Part-Time
Full Time
Number of Roles Available
1
Salary
Competitive

The Organisation

BG Advance is one of the major business divisions of BG Group providing the functional and technical excellence that supports all of our activities. BG Advance encompasses the following key areas: Exploration, Petroleum Engineering and Developments, Engineering Projects, Operations and Well Engineering, Commercial and Assurance, Strategy and Portfolio Development, Global IT and HSSE. Coupled with the co-ordination and development of BG Group strategy and the longer-term planning and development of technical and commercial capabilities, BG Advances focus is on developing best practice and improved standards and capabilities.

Position Summary

The Infrastructure Solution Architect provides architecture services to groups within Global IT, to outsourcing partners and to business stakeholders. The Infrastructure Solution Architect guides and supports the design and delivery of enterprise-wide technology platforms across the Group.

The Infrastructure Solution Architect will produce and re-use key architectural designs, artefacts and controls. Taking these architectural materials, the Infrastructure Solution Architect will then work closely with customers, stakeholders and peers to provide input to solution selection and designs so that all business solutions developed within Global IT or sourced externally benefit from and comply with the Global IT architecture artefacts, policies and standards.

As a member of Global IT the Infrastructure Solution Architect collaborates with peers to deliver the programme of work and expected service levels as agreed with the business, while demonstrating commitment to the BG behaviours.

Key Accountabilities

The position is accountable for the creation and maintenance of the architectures, designs and service definitions to meet the evolving requirements of business domains. Core accountabilities include:
  • Acting as a strategic advisor to the customer group (IT or other functions and Assets), working with peers to establish technology direction and communicating the impact of solution design options
  • Identifying, creating and ensuring usage of the most appropriate architecture controls such as re-usable solution building blocks, design patterns, frameworks, target-architectures for the infrastructure domain
  • Acting as the authority for infrastructure architecture, providing authoritative recommendations in solution and IT service design
  • Providing oversight of the infrastructure architecture for IT projects, providing the most appropriate architectures and challenging solution design and direction as appropriate
  • Seeking to drive efficiencies through technology simplification, focusing on ensuring technology roadmap alignment and cost-effectiveness
  • Championing the adoption of service catalogue entries and reducing the demand for complex bespoke technology solutions
  • Staying abreast of technology product developments in the infrastructure domain, supporting pilots of new technology and advising on introducing new and enhanced capabilities and services
  • Every individual has a duty to both themselves and those around them to ensure that safe practice is adhered to at all times. In addition to any specific accountabilities for HSSE, all employees are accountable for ensuring that they take care of themselves and adopt exemplary safe behaviours.

Unique Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Attribute

Candidates should have the following experience:
  • Experience in the definition and delivery of architectures for infrastructure solutions in the Oil and Gas industry
  • Experience of delivering infrastructure solutions into an operational environment
  • Experience of the four key infrastructure domains:
    • Networking (including WAN, LAN, Optimisation)
    • Datacentres (including Storage, Servers, Operating Systems, Virtualisation)
    • Workplace (including end-user, voice, messaging)
    • Infrastructure software (including Exchange, Citrix, AV, back-ups, database)
  • Experience of working in a highly outsourced environment
  • Experience of working with multiple third-party vendors
Required education:
  • Professional knowledge in IT Infrastructure Architecture, supported by professional accreditation. TOGAF certification is preferred 
  • Education to degree level or equivalent in an appropriate subject is preferred
Candidates should have the following specific key skills for this position: 
  • Understanding of industry best-practice for Solution Architecture
  • Understanding of key technology relevant to the infrastructure domain and the ability to evaluate new technology relevant to other architecture domains
  • Strong relationship and stakeholder management skills
  • Candidates should have the following important skills for this position: 
  • Strong global teaming and remote collaboration
  • Thinks strategically and conceptually
  • Strong skills and experience in negotiation and influencing 
  • Skilled in risk / return analysis
  • Flexibility to adapt and compromise
  • Demonstrates objectivity and impartiality, particularly with regard to technology and vendor choices 
  • Strong planning, prioritisation, communication and presentation skills
  • Skill and experience in evaluating new technologies
  • Balances strategic goals with pragmatic solutions

Additional Information for External Candidates

BG Group values diversity and is committed to equal opportunities; applications are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates.
 
Please note that after the closing date you will no longer be able to apply for the vacancy. The specific time of closing is midnight UK time on the date displayed. BG Group also reserves the right to close vacancies before the advertised closing date without prior notice.