Head Of Solutions & Services Architecture & Implementations

Be Different Recruitment; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 900 000 - 1 100 000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment firm in solutions architecture seeks an expert in IT solutions architecture to operationalize technology roadmaps and implement best practices. The candidate should have deep expertise in enterprise architecture frameworks, AIOps solutions, and various cloud technologies. Responsibilities include governance of vendor relationships, ensuring compliance with standards like ITIL and ISO, and driving innovation through AI-driven solutions. This role demands a strategic thinker with strong management skills, prepared to lead and optimize complex IT service environments.

Qualifications

• Certifications: TOGAF 9, ITIL v4, AWS/Azure.
• Minimum 10 years' experience in IT solutions architecture.
• Proficiency in AIOps frameworks and cloud technologies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement technology strategies aligning with architecture principles.
• Optimize enterprise solution architectures for cloud/hybrid environments.
• Govern technology selections ensuring compliance with ITIL and ISO standards.

Skills

TOGAF 9 Certification

Solutions Development Life Cycles

Deep technical expertise in AIOps frameworks

Proven expertise managing large-scale enterprise architecture

Governance frameworks (COBIT, ISO)

Service Management (ITIL 4, SIAM)

Cloud technologies (AWS/Azure)

Education

Certifications in ITIL v4, CISSP, PMP or PRINCE2

Minimum of 10 years experience

Tools

ScienceLogic SL1

ServiceNow

OpenTelemetry

Job description

Qualifications and Experience Requirements

• TOGAF 9 Certification
• Solutions Development Life Cycles
• Solutions Development Architecture
• ITIL v4 Expert Certification
• AWS / Azure Cloud Certifications
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) – desirable
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or PRINCE2 – desirable
• Minimum of 10 years' experience in IT solutions architecture, service implementation and operational delivery
• Proven expertise managing large‑scale enterprise architecture implementations and multi‑vendor integrations
• Deep technical expertise in AIOps frameworks, cloud technologies, observability platforms and IT automation
• Demonstrated proficiency in solution design and delivery leveraging platforms such as ScienceLogic SL1, ServiceNow and OpenTelemetry

Frameworks & Methodologies

• Enterprise Architecture: TOGAF, Zachman
• Service Management: ITIL 4, SIAM
• Governance: COBIT, ISO

Duties & Responsibilities

• Solutions & Services Architecture Strategy: Operationalize strategic technology roadmaps and solution blueprints developed by the CTO's Eco System Development team; implement solution architecture principles and best practices ensuring operational consistency and scalability; manage technology governance forums to oversee solution architecture decisions and ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
• IT and AIOps Solutions Design: Develop detailed enterprise solution architectures for cloud, hybrid IT and on‑premise environments based on CTO guidelines; integrate and optimize technology platforms such as ScienceLogic SL1, ServiceNow, PagerDuty and similar AIOps tools; design and implement advanced observability and monitoring frameworks leveraging OpenTelemetry, Prometheus and other AI‑driven solutions.
• Service Architecture & Design Alignment: Align solution implementations closely with IT Service Management (ITSM) and operational service delivery frameworks; enforce Service Integration and Management (SIAM) standards ensuring multi‑vendor service architectures are cohesive and operationally efficient; develop detailed service blueprints guiding standardized implementation practices across all service projects.
• Technology Implementation Governance: Oversee technology selection and vendor evaluations consistent with strategic architecture frameworks set by the CTO; ensure solution implementations strictly comply with ITIL, ISO, NIST, GDPR, POPIA and data sovereignty requirements; guide and manage transition processes to integrate new solutions seamlessly into operational support frameworks.
• Solutions Implementation & Delivery Oversight: Ensure timely, within‑budget delivery of customer‑specific IT and AIOps solutions aligned with architectural standards; establish and enforce robust DevOps, CI/CD and automation practices; manage complex multi‑cloud deployments ensuring high availability, fault tolerance, and robust disaster recovery strategies.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Drive the adoption of AI‑driven automation, advanced analytics and next‑generation observability within operational services; evaluate emerging technologies for practical application in service implementations, ensuring agility and resilience; facilitate AIOps maturity advancement through structured adoption phases (Discover, Integrate, Optimize, Align, Innovate and Future Proof).
• Risk & Compliance Management: Ensure implemented solutions adhere to compliance standards including ISO, NIST, GDPR, POPIA and data sovereignty requirements; implement comprehensive security measures based on Zero Trust models and disaster recovery best practices; proactively identify and manage risks associated with solution architectures, infrastructure, cloud deployments and vendor dependencies.
• Vendor and Partner Management: Manage operational relationships with OEM and technology partners, ensuring solutions align with contractual commitments and SLAs; enforce strict architecture integration requirements and performance standards across all vendor‑provided solutions; negotiate and manage vendor agreements in alignment with defined solution architectures and operational deliverables.
• Performance Measurement & Reporting: Develop and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) specific to solution performance, delivery quality and operational adoption; regularly provide comprehensive performance reports and architecture health dashboards to senior leadership and governance forums; utilize operational analytics to continuously enhance solution performance, optimize costs and elevate service quality.