Enterprise Architect - Legal Services

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Overview of the Function

The legal sector is transforming rapidly and Freshfields needs to transform its technology capability to retain its position as a market leader and to leverage new opportunities. The Enterprise Architecture team plays a pivotal role driving the change agenda; working proactively with key stakeholders to deeply understand Client and Firm ?needs in order to identify, design and deliver responsive, reliable and fit-for-purpose technology solutions.? We ensure our clients and colleagues, globally, have the right technology capabilities ?to achieve or exceed their objectives, deliver the Firm's growth and reduce risk.

Role summary/purpose of job

The Enterprise Architect is accountable for the success of all Architecture deliverables and outcomes within the scope of their domain. This requires building excellent working relationships with senior executive stakeholders and providing technical leadership across GT&I and business functions. The Enterprise Architect will successfully plan, architect, design and drive the implementation of technology projects that deliver the required business benefits.

The role is within a function and business and is matrix in structure and operates systems 24/7/365, hence requiring some flexibility regards travel, working style and working hours to achieve outstanding results.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

Accountable for delivering architecture artefacts and outcomes for the Legal Services domain

Acquires and maintain specialist knowledge of the technologies and vendors within their architecture domain

Accountable for the delivery of and / or creates working prototypes of new solutions in order to de-risk delivery and prove that technology solution will meet the Firms' requirements

Analyses the current architecture and operational data in order to identify opportunities for improvement

Horizon scanning to develop their experience and find new opportunities to positively impact the Firm's strategy

Provide effective leadership of Domain Architects

Provide mentorship and coaching to direct team and other colleagues

Resource planning and estimation to ensure all the deliverables and projects within their scope are delivered on-time to a high quality

Proactively manages the risks and issues for their area of scope

Leads Architects and SMEs to create a compelling vision, target architecture, roadmaps and solution designs

Proactive senior stakeholder management (Inc. Senior Leadership Team, Senior Directors and the wider partnership)

Builds strong relationships with business stakeholders in order to proactively understand requirements and ensure these are cascaded through the organisation

Communicates architectures and designs using a variety of approaches to ensure all stakeholders understand solutions

Creating Architecture communications (i.e. for Around-The-Firm comms, blogs, LinkedIn, etc) that effectively communicate the impacts and benefits of technology in an accessible way

Proactively works with suppliers and project managers to agree optimum delivery approaches for projects

Seeks opportunities for continuous improvement in both the Architecture team and elsewhere in the business, and drives the delivery of these initiatives

Key requirements (Communication/skills/experience)

Essential

The ability to confidently lead, communicate and influence at all levels

An avid interest and extensive experience in a wide range of technologies

Senior technical leadership roles on transformational projects / programmes

Wide exposure to suppliers of IT products and services, with significant experience of RFI, ITT and supplier/product selection, and experience of supplier contract negotiation

Exceptional communication skills

Strong influencing skills at a senior level with exposure to board level

Significant experience of setting the vision and strategy for major technology delivery programmes

Extensive successful track record of driving the technical aspects of complex projects

Exposure to implementation methods across the full development lifecycle (requirements though to BAU operation)

Financial and commercial experience

Desirable

Experience with Legal Services or Professional Services technology vendors, such as Litera, Thomson Reuters, iManage and similar technologies

Personal Qualities

Innovator. Seeks and finds better / leaner / quicker ways to build systems.

Hands on. Sees for themselves, takes part.

Leader. Sets direction and successfully brings teams with them.

Committed to Quality. Strives for excellence in execution, deals with the issues.

Value. Focused on realising value for the business.

Communicator. Gets the message across clearly and unambiguously.

Influencer. Can change the direction of action and thought.

Learning. Seeks and values learning from many sources (academic, industry, suppliers).

Team Player. Delivers through others and maximises team potential.

Coach. Creates a legacy of excellence.

Overview of the firm

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.

Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams. Our culture is a product of the combined mindsets and behaviours of our people which is through the Being Freshfields principles, outlined below:

we show respect to everyone

we are there for one another

we are open with each other

we are positive role models

We think and work globally - we don't just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work isn't just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.

We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.

The Freshfields Global Centre provides both business and legal services to the firm. Our services are delivered in a way which supports the global nature of our firm and our clients, enables our fee earners to deliver exceptional service to our clients and to do that in a way which is efficient and effective.

Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (e.g. the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.