Corporate Services Systems Application Portfolio

Application Solutions Architect (ASA)

Level 7

Job Description

The Corporate Services Systems Application Portfolio, within the SCS Technology Organization (TO), provides support for 160+ application solutions for 20+ different functional and departmental Business Partner entities, across the enterprise. The Application Solutions Architect (ASA) position will function as a key role within the Portfolio team, providing expert technical leadership and consultation, in support of the unique and evolving business imperatives – and associated technology needs -- of the Portfolio’s supported Business Partners.

The ASA will be responsible for providing architecture direction and supporting technology governance for all application solutions within the Portfolio, and throughout all stages of an application solution’s lifecycle. This position will drive informed application solution decision-making within the Portfolio specific to strategic technology planning and roadmap development; new application solution evaluation and implementation; existing application solution support; and overall application solution lifecycle planning, management, and execution.

The ASA will combine business and TO acumen with cross-functional leadership skills, to collaborate and innovate with key TO and Business Partner stakeholders, to facilitate and execute a range of diverse, line-of-business projects to achieve maximum business value and exceptional customer service/satisfaction through the appropriate use of technology.

Job Responsibilities

• Identify and communicate the strategic implications of emerging application solution technologies/capabilities, evaluate how they can align to Business Partners’ needs, and identify impact to existing Portfolio application solutions.

• Collaborate with the broader TO organization and other Architects to ascertain and communicate emerging/evolving technologies and technology strategies with the Portfolio.

• Provide oversight and technical leadership for all phases of application solution lifecycle management, for all Portfolio application solutions, in relation to SCS TO enterprise strategies/standards, roadmaps, and best practices.

• Manage the convergence of existing Portfolio application solutions with new, emerging capabilities and ensure compliance with SCS TO enterprise strategies/standards, roadmaps, and best practices.

• Investigate and develop proof-of-concept opportunities, in partnership with Portfolio and Business Partner resources, on innovative approaches to leveraging technology.

• Lead development and maintenance of short- and long-term architecture/design planning for the Portfolio’s application solutions, in collaboration with key stakeholders.

• Provide technical leadership, guidance, and direction to the Portfolio team – Developers, Analysts, Contractors, and Vendor resources.

• Partner with Technology Planning Analysts to facilitate required Technology Validation Process (TVP) and Architectural Review Board (ARB) vetting procedures for the Portfolio’s application solutions.

• Ensure adherence with all applicable regulatory and compliance requirements, as well as with requisite SCS TO policies, procedures, and standards.

• Partner and collaborate with the Portfolio Manager, Technology Planning Analysts, and Application Development Supervisor to explore technology governance and strategic technology planning opportunities for supported Business Partners, to drive development of requisite technology roadmaps to provide a prioritized pipeline of required technology projects/initiatives for implementation, in support of business imperatives.

• Partner and collaborate with Business Partners to understand their respective business processes and identify opportunities to drive efficiencies through application solutions; advance business capabilities and solve business needs; maximize the value of existing application solution investments.

• Actively engage with new application solution requests/projects to drive out and define the needed application solution capability -- solution research, evaluation, design/architecture, recommendation.

• Contribute to implementation/cost proposal development.

• Consult and assist – as needed – with development, testing, training, implementation, and support.

• Serve as a technical leader and consultant to Portfolio Developers and Analysts for production/operational issue troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, problem solving, and resolution.

• Contribute to Portfolio process improvement efforts.

• Production/operational support issue-tracking and resolution.

• Knowledge management and collaboration.

• Other duties or special projects as assigned by leadership.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, engineering, business, or a related field is required.

• Five (5) years or more of recent experience:

• Working with application development methodologies/processes and technologies.

• Working with application architecture for both on-premises and vendor/cloud-hosted solutions.

• Creating technical documentation, including system architecture/design documents, system integration/interface designs, system operation/user manuals, business impact assessments, and business continuity/disaster recovery plans.

• Experience with custom application development and delivery, as well as third-party/vendor application solution evaluation, selection, procurement, integration, and delivery.

• Experience implementing/supporting/maintaining both department-level and enterprise-level applications.

• Experience optimizing system performance and scalability.

• Experience with security best practices and secure coding principles.

• Experience identifying Business Partner application solution needs, communicating expectations, validating quality, and managing delivery timeline.

• Experience planning and managing application solution projects (schedules, resource allocations, costs)

• Managing multiple assignments and conflicting priorities.

• Prioritizing and executing tasks independently.

• Exhibiting flexibility, adaptability, and innovation – as well as prioritizing shifting workloads – in a dynamic environment.

• Planning work, coordinating/leading teams, and training personnel.

• Meeting tight schedules/deadlines and delivering on commitments.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Expert knowledge of computing infrastructure and architectural design concepts, and their application to strategic and tactical architecture decisions.

• Ability to define and articulate the “big picture,” long-term vision for application solutions, and progressive plans to achieve it.

• Ability to understand emerging technologies and concepts involved in the multiple, different Business Partner areas supported, and to determine if/how they can be applied to meet business imperatives.

• Ability to envision, define, and shape innovative concepts and application solutions around evolving requirements, technologies, and market capabilities to support Business Partner imperatives.

• Expert analytical, diagnostic/troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills – ability to analyze information from multiple sources for complex problem/issue resolution.

• Effective consulting skills, with the ability to negotiate, build consensus, and influence others.

• Ability to collaborate with Business Partners to elicit and translate requirements into the design/architecture of innovative application solutions.

• Comprehensive leadership skills, recognizable by others.

• Comprehensive customer service skills – ability to consistently deliver on commitments.

• Excellent communication (both oral and written) and presentation skills, with the ability to relate and connect with a variety of audiences – staff and all levels of management, within both the TO and Business Partner organizations, as well as with vendors, industry experts, and other internal/external groups.

• Ability to simplify complex subject-matter and present ideas in a manner that can be easily understood by less technical audiences.

• Strong interpersonal skills – ability to build, nurture, and influence relationships across, and at all levels of, the organization with a focus on cooperation and teamwork.

Behavioral Attributes

• Demonstrates behaviors consistent with the Company’s Values - Safety First, Intentional Inclusion, Act with Integrity, and Superior Performance.

• Result oriented – can act with speed and decisiveness; takes initiative and appropriate measures to meet commitments.

• Assesses impact and quantifies risk to ensure appropriate business decisions are made.

• Strong focus on quality, reliability, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of application solutions.

• Strategic thinker that can embrace, influence, communicate, and lead change.

• Continuous learner with a high level of interest in, and capacity for, learning and applying new technologies and concepts.

• Commitment to being a student of the business.

• Self-motivated, takes initiative, is proactive, and habitually removes obstacles for success.

• Strong work ethic.

• Curious and creative, always questioning, and never satisfied by the status quo.

Other

• Must be able to pass Insider Threat Program (ITP) screenings.

• Occasional night and weekend work may be necessary.

• Occasional travel may be necessary.

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million residential and commercial customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company with national capabilities, a fiber optics network, and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience, and sustainability, we are taking action to meet our customers’ and communities’ needs while advancing our commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have earned the company national awards and recognition from numerous organizations, including Forbes, Military Times, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, J.D. Power, Fortune, Human Rights Campaign and more. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.

Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.

Job Identification: 6439

Job Category: Information Technology

Job Schedule: Full time

Company: Southern Company Services