Lead Architect I

The Role

Subject matter expert in information technology architecture with focus on inusrance industry

Influences Asia and regional leaders to ensure success of enterprise-level programs in the context of technology solutions.

Drives to maximize efficiency in both application development , security, and infrastructure.

Assures that architecture solution is to deliver business values, aligned to MetLife IT strategic roadmap and standards in order to maximize synergies and enterprise leverage

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist MetLife Asia departmental executives to develop, monitor and continually update long term information technology architecture, roadmaps and annual plans.
• Identify gaps or deficiencies in the existing portfolio of IT solutions, management information systems and reporting, technology landscape and processes.
• Provide leadership over MetLife Asia IT architects in 8 countries (China, Korea, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Australia and Vietnam) in addition to matrix management of departmental architects and technical leaders as required.

Facilitate an effective MetLife Asia key initiatives, including the coordination of an appropriately balanced pursuit of business objectives, IT strategic alignment, technical and solution per architecture viewpoints;

• Simplify the IT landscape by reducing complexity, diversity of solution and establishing consistency of approach within IT, covering IT applications, security , and Infrastructure architecture.
• Manage the identification and analysis of business drivers to business capabilities, information, technical and solution architecture requirements; including analysing industry trends, technology to determine their potential impacts on the MetLife Asia architecture landscape.
• Illustrate a deep understanding of how both current and future technology can be used to drive business transformation.

Identify organizational requirements for the resources, structures and cultural changes necessary to support the Enterprise Architecture.

• Advise and collaborate locally and regionally with all levels of financial, non-financial, technical and executive audiences to develop strategies and ensure integrity of the architecture program.
• Drive the development of enterprise standards and strategic target states and ensure alignment across MetLife technology departments and business functions.
• Cultivate an environment of innovation, thought leadership, and partnership.
• Facilitate recurring MetLife Asia internal architecture, roadmap and standards meetings and assure action plans are fully developed and assigned to the appropriate departmental executives.
• Liaise with external vendors and technology partners such as Microsoft, Oracle, IBM etc.

Key Relationships:

Reports to:

Direct reports/team

Key Stakeholders

Candidate Qualifications:

Essential Business Experience and Technical Skills:

• Must have minimun 8 years working experience in IT architecture solution design preferably in the life insurance or financial services industries
• Must demonstrate experience and knowledge in information technology architecture practice , standards and plans in the financial industry. Life insurance experience will be a plus.
• Must possess Data Architecture experience. Knowledge of medallion architecture and data mesh architecture would be beneficial.
• Must have experience in Data Warehousing and BI architecture such as the ETL process, dimensional modeling, OLAP, and data analytics. Additionally, experience with tools such as DataBricks and Azure Synapse Analytics would be a plus.
• Knowledgeable about data governance, including security, privacy and compliance.
• Possess wide technical knowledges and architecture design experience on SOA architecture, API/microservices, cloud service and so on. Having experience such as Kubernetes, Openshift or Azure will be a plus.
• Must have a good understanding of the financial services business and be able to discuss the business implications of technology decisions, as well as the technology implications of business decisions, particularly in terms of costs and implementation roadmaps
• Must have minimun 3 years experience in IT Architecuture Governance and demonstrate strong capability in communication and negotiation
• Must demonstrate expertise and implementation experience in Enterprise Architecture frameworks such as TOGAF, Zachman and other associated frameworks.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of financial, non-financial, technical and executive audiences.
• Must have the ability to develop strategic relationships with their client groups and vendor partners
• Strong leadership skills required to restructure and continually refine organizational goals and direction
• Ability to direct multiple teams activities; ability to direct, motivate and develop project staff in an evolving environment.
• Strong interpersonal, conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of executive and non-executive audiences.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Other languages will be a plus

Leadership Competencies:

Thinks Strategically

Motivates People

Creates Partnerships

Seizes Opportunity

Grows Talent

Models our Values

Focuses on Customers

Drives Results