The Wills Group | Dash In Hiring for Senior Solutions Architect (Hybrid) Job at La Plata, MD Full Time

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Job Purpose and Function The Senior Solutions Architect proactively and holistically leads and partners with various business teams to guide the development and management of a portfolio of solutions. This individual is accountable to align Information and Technology teams to the concepts and understanding of the business goals, objectives and business outcomes, business capabilities, value-streams, and business processes and their importance in the overall enterprise application landscape. The Senior Solutions Architect provides the necessary leadership, analysis and design tasks related to support the development of technology solutions to ensure that solutions meet business needs and align with architectural governance and standards. They create deliverables for managing the organization’s portfolio of “to be” and “as is” solutions — including systems (applications, processes, information and technology), shared infrastructure services, and shared application services and components to enable and drive targeted business outcomes.

How You’ll Make an Impact (Key Accountabilities) Interpret Business Needs • Translates business requirements into technical requirements to achieve business objectives and documents all solution design and analysis work. This includes but is not limited to design documents, process flows, requirements, specifications, test plans and roadmaps. • Partner with the business stakeholders to align resources and plan out activities to ensure the delivery of the technical solution that meets the business needs. • Understands business drivers and business capabilities (future and current state) and determines corresponding enterprise solution designs and change requirements to drive the organization’s targeted business outcomes • Understand technical options, limitations, costs, and risks.

Communicate tradeoffs to business partners and work with them to shape requirements accordingly. Assess Technology • Monitors the current-state solution portfolio to identify deficiencies through aging of the technologies used by the application, or misalignment / changes with business requirements • Supports management and presents recommendations for end-of-life product decisions to maintain, refresh or retire services, or systems • Understands emerging technology trends and disruptions and their practical application to enable new and evolving business and operating models • Analyzes the business-IT environment to detect critical deficiencies, legacy, and technical debt, and recommends solutions for improvement • Facilitates the evaluation and selection of software product standards and services, as well as the design of standard and custom software configurations • Consults across the organization to identify when it is necessary to modify designs to accommodate the new and evolving solutions that have direct or indirect impact on the portfolio. This includes but is not limited to current state documentation analysis against proposed solution, vendor assessment for RFP, contribution to cost/benefit analysis, contributions to proof-of-concept implementation • Create and maintain a Solution Scorecard that assesses the solution fit, alignment to current technology standards, alignment to future strategies and overall “health” of the applications and solutions within the portfolio • At least annually, analyzes the technology industry, competitors, and market trends, and determines their potential implications for a given solution and presents their findings and recommendations to both business and IT stakeholders during the Solution Scorecard review process Apply Technology • Serve as a liaison between business and IT teams by facilitating communication and determining software objectives that align with stated and unstated business needs. • Leads evaluation, design, and analysis for the implementation of a solutions across a group of specific business applications or technologies based on enterprise business strategy, business capabilities, value-streams, business requirements and enterprise standards.

• Develops a roadmap for the evolution of the enterprise solution portfolio from current to future state. • Acts as a consultant on a broad range of technologies, platforms, and vendor offerings to drive targeted business outcomes. • Creates designs to guide and contextualize solution development across products, services, projects, and systems, including applications, technologies, processes, and information/data. • Will perform the duties of a Project Manager on small projects and enhancements • Partners with Project Manager(s) on large scale initiatives to ensure the execution of plans corresponds with what is being promised throughout the project or product lifecycle.
• Provides consulting support to other Solutions Analysts to ensure the project or product is aligned with the overall enterprise architecture and strategies. • Maintain clear documentation on the solution architecture of their individual portfolio and partner with other Solution Analysts to complete a full view of the enterprise solution architecture. • As required, perform the support duties on Tier 3/4 escalation for supported portfolio. What We’re Looking For (Required Qualifications and Experience) • Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, information systems, project management, or general business management (or a related field).

Alternatively, equivalent progressive IT experience. Project management training and certification are preferred. • Minimum of 5 years of experience in at least two IT solution development disciplines. • Minimum of 3 years in IT Management – Manager, Project Manager, Program Manager, Scrum Master, etc.

• Exposure to multiple, diverse technologies, platforms, and processing environments. • Understanding of strategic and emerging technology trends, and the practical application of existing and emerging technologies to new and evolving business and operating models. • Understanding of product management, agile principles and development methodologies and capability of supporting agile teams by providing advice and guidance on opportunities, impact, and risks, taking account of technical and architectural debt. • Experience working in a relevant industry preferred.
• Experience developing architecture blueprints, strategies, and roadmaps. • Experience delivering presentations to senior-level executives and technical audiences. • Experience in leading a team by influence and indirect management. • Understanding of IT standards and controls.
• Excellent understanding of application development methodologies and infrastructure and network architecture. • Excellent analytical, planning, organizational and technical and skills. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. • Ability to work with developers in an outsourced environment.

An ideal candidate will also have: • Ability to navigate organizational politics and competing agendas. • Ability to guide and facilitate decision making with peers and stakeholders. • Ability to articulate new ideas and concepts to technical and nontechnical audiences. • Ability to understand and balance the long-term and short-term goals.

• Ability to translate future-state business capabilities and requirements into solution requirements. • Ability to propose and estimate the financial impact of solution alternatives. • Ability to work creatively and analytically to solve business problems and propose solutions. • Ability to quickly comprehend the functions and capabilities of new technologies.
• Exceptional collaboration and teamwork skills. • Strong sense of urgency and ability to prioritize competing priorities. Competencies • Adapting and responding to change. • Working with people.
• Delivering results and meeting customer expectations. • Analyzing. • Applying expertise and technology. • Leading and supervising.
• Creating and innovating. Why You Should Join Wills Group We are a $1.5 billion company headquartered in La Plata, Maryland (an easy 45-minute reverse commute from DC) with nearly 300 retail locations across the Mid-Atlantic region, including Dash In, Splash In ECO Car Wash, and SMO Motor Fuels. A family-owned company since 1926, our passion areas are in convenience retailing, fuels marketing, and commercial real estate and we pride ourselves on keeping our customers’, employees’ and communities’ Lives in Motion. Our Wills Group employees come to work for more than just a paycheck, but rather they come to learn, make contributions, make an impact, and feel valued as a part of our family-friendly culture.

We have a work-hard, play-hard mentality that makes us a progressive company and we thrive on giving back to our community. That is what is core to our DNA. Benefits and Perks Are you interested in joining a certified Great Place to Work™ that invests in your development, future, and well-being? Are you looking for more than the “daily grind” where your day-to-day work makes an impact not only for the organization but for your community and your future?

Then The Wills Group is the right fit for you. We take pride in investing in our people’s well-being, that’s why we back our words with competitive total rewards packages. • Financial Wellbeing –Employer 401 (k) match (currently at 7%), health savings plan, and financial planning • Physical Wellbeing – comprehensive health, vision, and dental plans that meet the needs of our people • Paid Time Off – Vacation, Sick, Personal, and Community Engagement, Parental Leave for new Moms and Dads Work/Life • Balance – Hybrid and Flexible work environment, Employee Assistance Program, Travel Assistance, Family Life Planning • Education and Development Opportunities – 100% Tuition reimbursement to support our people’s education goals, robust development programs, and certificate program assistance (up to 100% employer-paid) • Competitive Salary – competitive pay matched to DC Metro area • Bonus Opportunity – 15% annually #HP123 Wills Group is an equal opportunity at will employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, color, disability, sex, sexual orientation or national origin. Wills Group strives to maintain a COVID-free workplace.

While being vaccinated is not a requirement, we offer a $150 COVID vaccination incentive payout in the paycheck following submission of proof of vaccination. Further details and instructions will be provided during onboarding.