Job Description:

IT Solutions Architect – WDM Iowa

We are looking to add a Solutions Architect to join our Information Technology team in West Des Moines, Iowa. Offering a forward-thinking, innovative, and vibrant company culture, along with the opportunity to share your unique potential, there really is no place like Holmes!

Essential Responsibilities:

• Architect new applications, services, integrations, and technology solutions that align with business needs, architectural standards, and technology strategy.
• Translate solution architecture and technical direction for key initiatives to development and implementation teams and serve as an architectural stakeholder throughout project delivery.
• Support the adoption of established technology standards, architectural patterns, and strategic technology direction through solution architecture, project engagement, and technical leadership.
• Research emerging technologies, including insurance industry technologies (InsurTech), AI-enabled solutions, automation tools, and cloud platforms, and recommend opportunities to improve the company's technology landscape and architecture.
• Collaborate with IT Business Partner, business stakeholders and IT delivery teams to understand business needs and translate them into solution architectures and technical recommendations.
• Review and provide architectural guidance on application, integration, and data designs to ensure alignment with architectural standards, security requirements, and technology strategy.
• Collaborate with development and delivery teams to provide technical guidance, remove architectural roadblocks, and remain informed of upcoming projects, enhancements, and emerging technologies.
• Identify opportunities to reduce technical debt and improve application maintainability, scalability, and operational efficiency.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Assist the Chief Technology Architect in evaluating, refining, and advancing technical strategies and architecture roadmaps.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of architecture standards, reference architectures, and best practices.
• Participate in architecture review activities, technology evaluations, and proof-of-concept initiatives.
• Mentor software developers and technical team members to promote adherence to architectural standards, best practices, and solution design principles.
• Perform special projects and other duties as requested.

Competencies:

In addition to the responsibilities, knowledge, skills, and abilities outlined in this job description, the Company also assesses and develops employees based on core and technical competencies through a performance management process. Competencies applicable to this role include:

Core Competencies

• Trust: Build trust through honest and caring actions and consistently do the right thing.
• Communication: Seek understanding to convey messages and information to others in a caring and constructive manner.
• Client Focus: Establish meaningful relationships with clients (internal and external) by supporting their unique potential and delivering an impactful experience.
• Teamwork: Contributes to the success of the organization by effectively influencing others and uplifting their experiences and unique strengths.

Technical Competencies

• Business & Technology Knowledge: Understands business needs, makes informed decisions, and effectively delivers technology solutions, including related processes and procedures.
• Problem Solving: Ability to efficiently identify problem(s), leverage resources to determine root cause(s) and propose and implement solutions or make improvements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience designing enterprise application and integration solutions.
• Knowledge of architectural patterns, system design principles, and cloud-based technologies.
• Ability to evaluate technology tradeoffs and communicate recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience creating solution architecture diagrams, technical documentation, and implementation roadmaps.
• Experience facilitating solution design discussions and driving consensus among business and technical stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and business acumen skills.
• Self-starter who can handle several work items independently.
• Strong experience in software engineering, application architecture, or solution design. Experience with Salesforce or similar enterprise platforms is preferred.
• Experience developing integrations. DataFactory and LogicApps experience is a plus.
• Experience leveraging ETL, automation, analytics, and AI-enabled technologies to support business objectives.
• Knowledge and experience with business intelligence platforms.
• Results-driven and detail-oriented.
• Excellent professional written and oral communications.
• Ability to be available for work on a daily basis and extended hours as necessary.
• Ability and willingness to consistently participate in internal and external educational opportunities to enhance knowledge of current insurance topics or relevant system improvements.
• Ability and willingness to pursue relevant designations and/or certifications, as appropriate.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull objects.
• Must be knowledgeable of and comply with HMA's Client Privacy Policy, HIPAA regulations and E&O procedures and policies.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, engineering, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Experience: 8-12 years of information technology experience, with 3+ years of experience leading solution design and architecture activities.
• Experience designing application integrations and enterprise software solutions required.
• Experience partnering with business stakeholders and technical teams to deliver technology solutions highly preferred.
• Experience in cloud technologies, enterprise applications, and data integration platforms preferred.

Here’s a little bit about us:

In addition to being great at what you do, we place a high emphasis on building a best-in-class culture.  We do this through empowering employees to build trust through honest and caring actions, ensuring clear and constructive communication, establishing meaningful client relationships that support their unique potential, and contributing to the organization's success by effectively influencing and uplifting team members. 

Benefits:  In addition to core benefits like health, dental and vision, also enjoy benefits such as:

·       Paid Parental Leave and supportive New Parent Benefits — We know being a working parent is hard, and we want to support our employees in this journey!

·       Company paid continuing Education & Tuition Reimbursement — We support those who want to develop and grow.

·       401k Profit Sharing — Each year, Holmes Murphy makes a lump sum contribution to every full-time employee’s 401k. This means, even if you’re not in a position to set money aside for the future at any point in time, Holmes Murphy will do it on your behalf! We are forward-thinking and want to be sure your future is cared for.

·       Generous time off practices in addition to paid holidays — Yes, we actually encourage employees to use their time off, and they do. After all, you can’t be at your best for our clients if you’re not at your best for yourself first.

·       Supportive of community efforts with paid Volunteer time off and employee matching gifts to charities that are important to you — Through our Holmes Murphy Foundation, we offer several vehicles where you can make an impact and care for those around you.

• Inclusion & Belonging Programs — Holmes Murphy is committed to celebrating every employee’s unique potential. Through inclusion and belonging initiatives, titled Uniquely United, not only do we offer employees a paid Diversity Day time-off option, but we also have a Uniquely United Committee, Employee Resource Groups, and development programs to advance our culture of belonging. We encourage employees to engage in ways that are meaningful to them to enhance their overall experience! 
• Consistent merit increase and promotion opportunities — Employees are reviewed annually for merit increases and promotion opportunities because we believe growth is important — not only with your financial wellbeing, but also your career wellbeing.
• Discretionary bonus opportunity — Yes, there is an annual opportunity to make more money. Who doesn’t love that?!

At this time, we are not considering candidates who require any type of immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes candidates whose current work authorization is temporary or set to expire and who would require employer participation in any renewal, extension, or new authorization process to continue employment.

Holmes Murphy & Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer.