The Applications Architect is accountable for the design of software development and application lifecycle principles, frameworks, governance, and technology ecosystem. Assist with the design, delivery, and lifecycle of the application landscape in line with the organisations strategy. Application Architect is reporting to Chief Enterprise Architect, drive and deliver Application Architecture across COJ Core and 13 municipal entities. Participate in the development and execution of Enterprise Architect strategies and tactical plans aligned with the corporate strategy. Plan and implement an Applications Architect Strategy, principles, framework, policies, and domain processes. Deliver a roadmap aligned with market, industry, business and application trends. Assess the application landscape against current and future business requirements, strategic goals, and development requirements. Examine market trends and leading best practices in automation and digitisation to drive ICT transformation. Research and develop new solutions in support of continuous improvement. Maintain the latest methodologies for software development, including AI and machine learning tools for improving coding quality and reducing testing and debugging time. Planning & Organisation: Collaborate with business to define and compile business application requirements. Compile and implement application development plans for new or existing applications. Develop, document, make recommendations, and communicate plans for investing in application infrastructure, including analysis of cost reduction opportunities. Together with the business, identify and recommend critical success factors for measuring performance. Define technical requirements, assist with functional requirements, develop standards that govern system development and implementation, design and develop architectural systems. Identify, review, and recommend new software applications or innovations, considering their design, integration, and technical fit with other systems. Execute Analysis and Design Activities: Assess the current application landscape for adequacy of resiliency controls and end-to-end systems design and implementation. Develop innovative and sustainable application architecture designs that are future proof with risk management and controls. Support business and Development teams throughout the project lifecycle to help understand designs and refine them as necessary. Technical implementation within own area: Demonstrate application prototypes and integrate user feedback. Perform application integration, maintenance, upgrades, and migration. Document application development processes, procedures, and standards. Integrate trends in application architecture in application development projects. Ensure that uniform enterprise-wide application design standards are maintained. Risk Management: Analyse risks and threats associated with applications and systems and determine the appropriate action to control and/or minimise those risks or threats. Manage the application of software security principles during the development, integration and testing of a program or project. Keep up to date with the latest data protection and security threats within own area to safeguard the systems and applications. Reporting: Provide weekly, and monthly management and status reports in accordance with the AS-IS and TO-BE application architecture requirements. Develop business cases that outline alternative solutions to existing applications and assist the business in making the right choice. Facilitate communication across Business Units, identify change management interventions and timelines from the projects perspective. Stakeholder and Customer Engagement: Work with internal and external stakeholders to understand the needs for the various software applications. Coordinate with Enterprise and Application Architecture to ensure a broader understanding and define the architectural components for application design. Engage with business intelligence (BI), Data and Applications Teams in designing and delivering development approaches. Provide technical guidance and support to Project and Programme Managers to ensure smooth interfacing between vendors, internal designers, and business units Enhance stakeholder engagement to address issues, improve relations, and provide information on the project status. Lead as an Ambassador and Executor of Change: Provide continuity during times of change by serving as a change management architect. Manage the integration of development into a seamless end-to-end customer experience. Communicate and embed new processes and procedures effectively, addressing, or escalating concerns to Business owners. Communicate consistently and accurately across ones area by facilitating presentations, workshops, or forums. Drive the organisation culture: Inspire confidence and generate excitement, enthusiasm, and commitment to the departments values. Lead employees to the creation of a winning culture and a high morale environment in the organisation. 7 years of architecture experience in the development, application design and build. Extensive experience in aligning application development with business needs. Experience in a solutions architecture role across a variety of technologies and business spaces Familiarity with industry standard architecture frameworks Added advantage, if any experience with Architecture Tools like ArchiMate, Mega, SAP LeanIX