Working hours:35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Duration:Permanent

Location:Gloucester

Job Ref: 203531

About the role

Benefact Group, are looking for aPlatform Architectto join ourGloucester office.

A Platform Architect provides architectural leadership and direction in the specification, design, configuration and problem management of our Internal General Insurance Platform, and 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.

The Platform Architect acts as the internal technical authority for the Platform, and will work closely with the Group Technology Solutions Architects, Product Owners and Platform Analysts in the team to drive the development standards, practices, and processes across the development lifecycle for the Platform.
 

Key responsibilities

• Architectural Solutions:Understanding the needs and goals of the organization to design suitable solutions to meet roadmap and business requirements
• Designing and Architecting Platforms:Working with the Enterprise, Solution and Technical Architecture community and Product Owners on the various architecture and product roadmaps that support business requirements, and future growth as well as and carrying out work on new and existing product design and Continuous Improvement changes
• Collaborating with Teams:Working closely with architecture, delivery, development, testing and operations teams to ensure the platform meets the needs of the Ecosystem going forward
• Ensuring Scalability and Security:Making sure the platform can handle future expansion and maintainability, and adheres to best practices in relation to non-functional requirements
• Documenting Architecture:Creating detailed technical documentation (SDS’s, set-up books and matrices) of the platform's design for future reference and development
• Staying Updated with Technology Trends:Have a good understanding of the market and have knowledge of best practices to challenge 3rd party vendors, and the team regarding functionality and approach to our Ways of Working. Understanding of SaaS, Kubernetes/Docker is desirable

• Escalation: Act as escalation point for major design decisions in customer layer and work with solution providers to influence system roadmap

• External vendors: Work alongside 3rdparty vendors to ensure an ongoing deep knowledge of the functionality and capability of the system, and holding then to account when required on the quality of design and changes they make to the Platform
• Support:Supporting BAU, though involvement in triage processes, managing the involvement of Platform Analysis team and supporting scrum teams by providing 3rd line support to Developers and Testers when required

Knowledge, skills and experience

• Technical Expertise:Proficiency in Software development methodologies
• System Design and Architecture:Ability to design scalable, robust, and efficient systems that meet business requirements
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills:Strong analytical skills to identify issues and develop effective solutions
• Security Knowledge:Understanding of best practices for data protection and cybersecurity
• Collaboration and Communication:Excellent communication skills to work effectively with development teams, stakeholders, and other departments
• Adaptability:Staying updated with the latest technology trends and incorporating new tools and techniques into the platform
• Scrum:Good working knowledge of complete development lifecycles – particularly the Agile methodology and Scrum Framework

What we offer

• A competitive salary - let's discuss it
• Hybrid working 
• Group Personal Pension - up to 12% employer contribution
  
• Generous annual bonus scheme up to 30%
  
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and a holiday buy and sell scheme
  
• A range of health and wellbeing benefits, including private healthcare, income protection and life assurance
  
• Up to £400 annual personal grant to a charity of your choice
  
• Encouraged to take at least one volunteering day per year
  
• Employee Assistance Programme
  
• Full study support to gain professional qualifications
• Access to virtual GP
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

About us

Benefact Groupis a unique international financial services Group made up of over 30 businesses. We are owned by a charity and are currently the UK’s 3rd largest corporate donor, having given away £200 million since 2016. We have ambitious plans to become the UK’s number one corporate donor, with strategic objectives in place to double the Group’s size.

We believe it’s essential to attract, empower, grow and reward talented people, offering fantastic opportunities for career and personal development. Our giving ethos, 135-year history and the diversity of what we do, has enabled us to build a culture of kindness, great ambition, and of passionate people driven to do better and be better.  

At Benefact Group, we are committed to creating aninclusive culture and building an environment where each and every one of usfeels valued and respected. We are a community made up of people with arange of different backgrounds, abilities, perspectives, beliefs and interestsand we value the strength this brings to us as a Group. We welcome applicationsfrom everyone.

If you need any additional support during therecruitment process, then please let us know.