Enterprise Cloud Architect

JOB DESCRIPTION

The purpose of an enterprise architect is to align Santam’s business strategy and objectives with its information technology infrastructure. Being involved in the complete Santam landscape, the enterprise architect ensures that Santam’s systems, processes, and resources are effectively designed, implemented, and managed to support the overall business goals. 

In effect, the enterprise architect bridges the gap between business and technology, allowing Santam to achieve its long-term goals by leveraging appropriate technology strategies and solutions.

CAREER OPPORUNITY

A great career opportunity exists in Santam’s Technology Services team (STS ) in Cape Town or Gauteng for an Enterprise Cloud Architect.

PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES INCLUDE:

Architecture functions

• Analyse Santam business strategy and translate it into an IT strategy that supports the business vision.
• Design and develop enterprise-wide technology architectures that encompass various aspects, including business processes, applications, infrastructure, and security, but with a focus on cloud solutions.
• These architectures provide a blueprint for Santam’s cloud strategy and IT systems, ensuring coherence, integration, and scalability.
• Establish and enforce architecture and design governance processes, principles and standards to ensure consistency, interoperability, and compliance across IT projects and systems.
• Oversee the alignment of IT initiatives with the enterprise architecture and facilitate decision-making regarding technology investments.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, including business leaders, project managers, developers, and other architects, to understand their requirements and constraints.
• Enterprise architects communicate the architectural vision and plans effectively, ensuring buy-in and understanding from all involved parties.
• Understands how the business requirements can be met using the available cloud solutions or defines what additional solutions is needed.
• Evaluate cloud solutions, emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices to inform decision-making regarding technology adoption, modernization, and retirement.
• Assessment of the impact of new cloud business solutions on the information technology landscape. Includes execution of technical due diligence across all dimensions of IT.
• Work as a team member with Development Managers and other technical staff, to ensure the application is implemented according to requirements.
• Identification of potential risks / issues and give input into risk plan.
• Active engagement with technology partners to deliver an integrated solution across platforms and across cloud solution partners.

Generic functions

• Ensure that solution implementations are coherent and consistent with technology strategies, governance and architecture.
• Provide advice and consultancy across the Santam Group on the enterprise architecture matters.
• Participate in reviews and provide guidance to teams to ensure that the principles, architecture and strategies are followed.
• Establish and participate in design reviews, regular architectural reviews and technical issue management meetings.
• Ensure that design is optimised for use on the specific cloud infrastructure.
• Provide support to other members of the development team and members of the business management team as required.
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of the workings of cloud architectures, solutions and packages
• Work effectively in a team with other Enterprise Architects, Solution Architects, Business Architects and Lead developers to consider design alternatives and agree on appropriate design decisions in support of business requirements

PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES INCLUDE:

Cloud functions

• Establish and maintain Santam Group cloud architecture principles.
• Develop and maintain specific cloud architectures for each of the major cloud providers – AWS, Azure and any other future providers.
• Calculate total cost of ownership options and advise on best and most cost-effective implementations.
• Accountable to establish and maintain Santam Group Logical cloud architecture.
• Accountable to establish and maintain Santam Group Cloud Platform architecture.
• Maintain and mature the architecture capability as per the Zachman framework

 Quality Assurance

• Ensuring the alignment of initiatives to the target cloud architecture and standards with Santam and the Sanlam Group
• Design and improve the Santam BITS Enterprise Architecture Governance framework
• Accountable to regulate and enforce adherence to the above framework, with a specific focus on cloud aspects, in the Santam Solution Design Forum, Sanlam Saser, and other forums.
• Review agreed implementation, to ensure correct interpretation of the requirements and architecture and strategies
• Facilitate and lead the quality assurance processes for design and development to ensure the ongoing integrity of the end-to-end systems landscape

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 10 years of experience in technology roles
• 5 years in enterprise architecture, solution architecture, systems design, operating at enterprise level.
• 5 years of experience in the application of IT architecture governance principles
• 3 years of experience in cloud architecture, cloud designs, and cloud implementation on AWS (preferred), Azure, or both.
• Experience in cloud security concepts such as virtual private cloud, subnets, routing, firewalls, VPN connections, identity and access management.
• Experience in cloud concepts such as infrastructure as code, continuous integration and continuous deployment, containers, and serverless computing.
• Experiences with and having worked in a hybrid- and multi-cloud environment.
• Experience in providing cost estimates for cloud solutions, and in calculating and designing alternative solutions in the event of cloud cost increases.Understanding of Santam systems and specifically software development experience a benefit. 

COMPETENCIES

• Client Focus
• Collaboration
• Flexible and adaptable
• Cultivates Innovation
• Building and maintaining relationships
• Strategic alignment
• Cloud Architecture Development
• Systems Architecture Development
• Data Security
• IT Policies, standards, industry regulations and best practices
• Technologies
• Reporting and Administration
• Business Requirements Definition

ABOUT SANTAM

Santam is the market leader in the general insurance industry in Southern Africa. As a large, diversified, and expanding company, we are committed to transformation and growth. While our headquarters are in South Africa, we are rapidly extending our presence into emerging markets across Africa and Asia.

With a client base of over 1 million policyholders, Santam serves individuals, commercial enterprises, specialist business owners, and institutions—including 80 of the Top 100 companies listed on the JSE. Our commitment to Insurance, Good and Proper goes beyond just providing cover—we offer peace of mind, ensuring our clients can focus on living in the moment, not worrying about the unexpected. Because at Santam, we believe the freedom to seize every day is worth protecting.

People drive our business, and we are committed to attracting the best talent, whether for permanent roles or short-term opportunities. 

Santam is committed to diversity, inclusion, and belonging. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including persons with disabilities. We are dedicated to neuro-inclusivity and fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive. 

Take the next step in your career—apply now and be part of a company that’s shaping the future of insurance. This is Freedom!