Senior Cloud Solution Architect, Information and Communications Technology

at  University of Saskatchewan

SENIOR CLOUD SOLUTION ARCHITECT, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

Information and Communications Technology (ICT), as strategic partners to the University, enables courageous curiosity by empowering students, staff, and faculty to do more than thought possible with technology that boosts productivity, strengthens security, and enhances research outcomes.
The university offers flexible work arrangements; access to the university’s recreation services; ongoing professional development; and a comprehensive benefits and pension program.
Primary Purpose: The Senior Solution Architect is a strategic position that will significantly influence the direction for new cloud service paradigms to enable research, teaching, administration, and IT infrastructure across the entire service lifecycle. The architect will be responsible for designing, implementing, and managing the technology services for varied, innovative stakeholders who require help with challenging, complex problems. In partnership with other support units, they will develop architectural and governance patterns that will harmonize the common needs for most USask programs while also developing more specialized approaches to enable programs with additional requirements.
Nature of Work: The Senior Solution Architect is responsible for analyzing and translating business and technical requirements into a long-term architectural blueprint for cloud solutions and integrations primarily in AWS. To achieve the intended outcomes, collaboration with research, network, infrastructure, security, and integration teams will be necessary. Realizing long term benefits will also require ongoing analysis of the architecture to identify weaknesses and develop opportunities for continuous improvement. The Senior Solution Architect will also be tasked with bridging activity including proposal development, design, project execution, provisioning, governance, skills development, and resource planning.
This position will be based in-person at the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The position may be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask’s Alternative Workspace Guidelines.

Specialized expertise and experience include:

• Architectural design, service provisioning, and organizational governance for AWS cloud services
• AWS cloud services to implement and deliver technical solutions including FaaS/Serverless, IaaS, and PaaS in AW

Additional cloud services experience would also be valuable:

• Performance and cost optimization for resilient and secure cloud services
• Monitoring and notifications for cloud services
• Migration and modernization of on-premises workloads into cloud services
• Cybersecurity and/or data security
• Vendor management, security compliance, and training development for cloud service

Additional post-secondary research support experience would also be valuable:

• Research data management
• Research IT tools (e.g., scientific software, qualitative research software)
• Post-secondary research methodology
• Research Ethics processe

• Works with stakeholders, ICT leadership, and operations teams to analyze the technical environment and identify areas of opportunity for improvement and solution development;
• Manages and tracks the technology plan for cloud services including:
• Developing the technology plan and managing expectations to implement leadership-defined service offerings;
• Stakeholder coordination, consultation, and facilitation;
• Issue management, risk management, and reporting for the portfolio;
• Communications and change management;
• Documenting and maintaining solution architecture artefacts, encouraging the development and use of a knowledge library.
• Implements cloud services within the portfolio including:
• Consulting with and advising various stakeholders to map business needs into effective and efficient cloud service architectures;
• Provisioning services and developing orchestration for both pilot and production implementations;
• Participating in financial controls, vendor management, security and compliance related to cloud services;
• Establishing system requirements and designs for critical cloud and research-cloud deliverables;
• Driving implementations towards technology standards, industry trends, and industry best practices in support of university goals;
• Participating in service governance as a key contributor.
• Aids in planning projects in detail, clearly identifying project scope, budget, and schedule as well as project risks;
• Performs other duties/responsibilities as assigned.Education & Experience: We appreciate that non-traditional career paths may have developed a candidate’s competency, and alternate combinations of education and experience may be considered.A diploma, certificate or degree in a related discipline is required (e.g., computer science, engineering, etc.). A graduate degree would be an asset. The successful candidate will possess experience demonstrating progression through increasingly responsible, substantive positions involving cloud services, solution architecture, research, cybersecurity, and/or information technology.A proven track record of applied experience in AWS cloud services is essential for this role. While not required, an Associate certification as an AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate is an asset and an AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional is a significant asset.Skills:
• Success in this position will depend on the ability to think strategically, weigh risks, and apply sound judgment to decision making, including possessing excellent problem solving skills;
• Long term success in this role will depend on effective interpersonal, communication, and organizational abilities in both team and client settings with a proven ability to develop exceptional stakeholder rapport;
• To be successful, a candidate must work effectively both independently and as a member of a distributed and cross-functional team spanning several university units.

Specialized expertise and experience include:

• Architectural design, service provisioning, and organizational governance for AWS cloud services
• AWS cloud services to implement and deliver technical solutions including FaaS/Serverless, IaaS, and PaaS in AWS

Additional cloud services experience would also be valuable:

• Performance and cost optimization for resilient and secure cloud services
• Monitoring and notifications for cloud services
• Migration and modernization of on-premises workloads into cloud services
• Cybersecurity and/or data security
• Vendor management, security compliance, and training development for cloud services

Additional post-secondary research support experience would also be valuable:

• Research data management
• Research IT tools (e.g., scientific software, qualitative research software)
• Post-secondary research methodology
• Research Ethics processes

Post-secondary research and associated methods
Department: ICT EnterpriseArch&DataMgmt
Status: Term 2 years with the possibility of extension or becoming permanent
Employment Group: ASPA
Full Time Equivalent (FTE): 1.0
Salary: The salary range, based on 1.0 FTE, is $85,555.00 - 142,503.00 per annum. The starting salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
Salary Family (if applicable): Information Technology
Salary Phase/Band: Phase 3
Posted Date: 9/3/2024
Closing Date: 9/30/2024 at 6:00 pm CST
Number of Openings: 1
Work Location: May be eligible for hybrid work under the terms of USask’s Alternative Workspace Guidelines
The successful applicant will be required to provide the following current verification(s) where ‘Yes’ is indicated below. Further information is available at: https://careers.usask.ca/tips-for-applying.php
Criminal Record Check: Yes
Driver’s License and Abstract Check: Not Applicable
Education/Credential Verification: Not Applicable
Vulnerable Sector Check: Not Applicable
The University is committed to employment equity, diversity, and inclusion, and are proud to support career opportunities for Indigenous peoples to reflect the community we serve. We are dedicated to recruiting individuals who will enrich our work and learning environments. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. We are committed to providing accommodations to those with a disability or medical necessity. If you require an accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please notify us and we will work together on the accommodation request. We continue to grow our partnerships with Indigenous communities across the province, nationally, and internationally and value the unique perspective that Indigenous employees provide to strengthen these relationships. Verification of Indigenous Membership/Citizenship at the University of Saskatchewan is led and determined by the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy and Standing Committee in accordance with the processes developed to enact the policy. Successful candidates that assert Indigenous membership/citizenship will be asked to complete the verification process of Indigenous membership/citizenship with documentation. The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. Together, we are uplifting Indigenization to a place of prominence at the University of Saskatchewan