Solutions Architect – (Modernization)

The Emery Company, LLC; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Emery Company, LLC is seeking a Solution Architect to lead modernization and IT transformation initiatives in a complex government-adjacent environment. The role focuses on defining modernization models, assessing current landscapes, and delivering an architectural roadmap aligned with mission goals.

You will collaborate with directors and IT leaders to ensure cost-effective, secure, and agile services.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience leading large complex projects supporting Transformation and modernization goals and objectives.
• PMP/PMI Certification that is current.
• Minimum 10 years of experience with information technology or application support, design or analysis and/or project management.
• Experience with complex environments with many stakeholders across infrastructure, applications, databases and toolsets with ambiguous requirements.
• Minimum 3 years in public service industry, especially state and local government within the past 7 years.
• CJIS experience is desired.
• Strong verbal communication and ability to present to high-level stakeholders.
• Proven customer service and client relationships abilities.
• Capacity for quickly understanding new concepts, workflows and systems.
• Organized work style, independent or team-based in fast-paced, changing environments.
• Strong leadership and strategic planning skills for cross-functional projects.
• Knowledge of ITIL and IT Service Management is desired.
• Experience managing shared services teams.
• Ability to influence across organizations to balance needs.

Responsibilities

• Define, build and align modernization models and strategy/tools with industry practices.
• Complete initial assessments of current landscape to support modernization.
• Develop an architectural roadmap and prioritize initiatives.
• Propose on-premise and cloud designs for hybrid multi-cloud models.
• Serve as trusted advisor to IT leaders and executives, aligning architecture with enterprise needs.
• Understand DR plans and backup strategies; align with DR governance.
• Ensure compliance with Technology Information Security standards and governance processes.
• Conduct workshops and document work products for knowledge transfer.

Skills

Modernization

Hybrid multi-cloud

Stakeholder leadership

Disaster recovery planning

Governance

Knowledge management

ITIL knowledge

Public sector experience

Communication skills

Leadership

Tools

TOGAF

ITIL

CJIS

PMP/PMI

Job description

Solution Architect – (Modernization/ IT Transformation Project)

• Modernization: Define, build and align modernization models and strategy/tools with industry best practice such as 6 R’s (Rehost, Re-platform, Replace, Retire etc), Viewpoints: Architecture -Monolith/SOA/Microservice, Physical Servers layer – VMs/Cloud, Delivery-Waterfall/Agile/DevOps
• Assessments: Complete initial assessments to understand and document current landscape to support the supporting applications and infrastructure. Identify any in-flight projects; Assess change readiness levels
• Strategy/Vision/Prioritization: Develop an architectural roadmap related to the modernization and migration efforts around Application and Infrastructure solutions; Developing an overall strategy that aligns with mission and vision. Identify short-term and longer-term initiatives and priorities
• Hybrid Multi-cloud: Propose on-premise and cloud related design and compare/contrast on on-premise Hybrid cloud models and how they enhance the stance around innovation, security posture, benefits, and speed to value. Government cloud focuses on Microsoft Azure, AWS clouds.
• Collaboration/Partnership and Stakeholder Leadership: Acts as a trusted advisor and builds and maintains relationships with the director and other IT leaders and executives to develop a clear understanding of enterprise needs; ensures cost-effective delivery of IT services to meet those needs and can respond with agility to changing industry and organization priorities. As such, the Architect will communicate and coordinate with all areas of the Information Systems department, including infrastructure, applications, database administrators, business owners and vendors; also work with customers, partners, and other critical stakeholders to develop and align architecture roadmaps
• Disaster Recovery Strategy/Approach: May need to work closely with IT and business teams to understand current state of organization’s application and infrastructure solutions and DR plans, including any hot, warm or cold DR sites, templates, documentation, and related technology assets and tools. It is desired (not required) candidate is able to get clear understanding of the current backup strategy, designs, processes, and tools.
• Compliance/Standard and Governance: Ensure compliance according to Technology Information Security standards and best practices. Establish governance processes related to modernization and transformation initiatives aligned with the county standards, processes, plans, tools, and measures
• Knowledge Management and Enablement: Conduct workshops to provide and get input around important concepts and decisions. Document and align work products with key stakeholders as necessary. Ensure a process that enables knowledge transfer and support for less senior employees.

Work Experience/Qualification

• Minimum 10 years of experience leading large complex projects supporting Transformation and modernization goals and objectives
• PMP/PMI Certification that is current
• Minimum 10 years of experience with information technology or application support, design or analysis and/or project management
• Experience working in a complex environment with significant numbers of stakeholders across infrastructure, applications, databased and technology toolset with ambiguous or unclear requirements
• Minimum 3 years of experience working in public service industry, especially state and local government within the past 7 years, supporting cross-functional teams influencing senior-level management and key stakeholders effectively across the organization and within complex contexts
• Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) experience is desired
• Strong verbal communication skills, including the ability to present verbally to high-level stakeholders.
• Proven ability to provide excellent customer service and maintain client/professional relationships/partnerships.
• Capacity for quickly understanding new and different concepts/approaches, workflows, and systems.
• Works in a highly organized manner, independently or within a team, in a fast-paced, innovative, and continuously changing environment with minimal supervision.
• Strong leadership and strategic planning skills, with the ability to drive cross-functional projects and initiatives.
• Knowledge of ITIL and IT Service Management is desired.
• Demonstrated skills in managing shared services teams
• Demonstrated ability to constructively influence other people and organizations to drive and achieve objectives, goals and balance competing needs

Education (Required):

Certification (Required):

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Formal Architecture Training (such as TOGAF or similar industry certification) required

Information Technology Infrastructure Library ITIL