Head of Solution Architecture

**Overview**:
The **Head of Solution Architecture** in a banking environment is responsible for leading the design, implementation, and optimization of technology solutions that drive the bank’s digital transformation. This role is crucial in ensuring that the bank’s technology infrastructure is secure, scalable, efficient, and aligned with business objectives. The Head of Solution Architecture will oversee the architectural direction for the bank’s core systems, fintech integrations, digital banking platforms, and cloud infrastructure, ensuring that solutions meet regulatory compliance, security, and performance standards.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- **Strategic Leadership**:
- Lead and manage the solution architecture function for the bank, driving innovation and delivering secure and compliant technology solutions.
- Collaborate with senior leadership and business stakeholders to align technology solutions with the bank’s strategic goals, customer needs, and regulatory requirements.
- Develop and execute an architecture strategy that supports the bank’s vision for digital banking, including mobile banking, online platforms, and fintech partnerships.
- Act as a trusted advisor to the executive team on technology investments, guiding key decisions around architecture, platform choices, and system integrations.
- **Solution Design & Implementation**:
- Ensure that architecture solutions meet key criteria including performance, scalability, security, regulatory compliance, and cost-effectiveness.
- Design architecture solutions that integrate with both legacy banking systems and emerging technologies, including fintech innovations, AI, blockchain, and cloud services.
- Oversee the design and implementation of APIs for integrating with third-party providers, partners, and regulators.
- **Risk Management & Compliance**:
- Ensure that all technology solutions comply with banking regulations, including data privacy (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), financial regulations (e.g., PSD2, AML), and security standards (e.g., PCI-DSS).
- Define and enforce security standards and protocols to safeguard sensitive financial data and ensure regulatory compliance.
- Lead efforts to perform risk assessments and ensure business continuity planning for all critical banking systems.
- **Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement**:
- Work closely with business leaders, product managers, and engineering teams to ensure alignment of technology solutions with business needs and customer expectations.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements, prioritize initiatives, and deliver banking solutions that enhance the customer experience.
- Manage vendor relationships and evaluate third-party software solutions, ensuring they meet the bank’s security, compliance, and integration needs.
- **Governance & Standards**:
- Establish and enforce architecture principles, standards, and guidelines that ensure consistency and best practices across the bank’s technology landscape.
- Implement governance structures to ensure that all solution architectures are aligned with the bank’s enterprise architecture strategy.
- Oversee the review and approval of architecture designs and ensure adherence to best practices in terms of design, implementation, and documentation.
- **Innovation & Continuous Improvement**:
- Stay at the forefront of emerging technologies (e.g., blockchain, machine learning, AI, and cloud computing) and identify opportunities to integrate these technologies into the bank’s systems.
- Lead digital transformation efforts by designing next-generation banking solutions, leveraging cloud infrastructure, and enabling modern banking features such as open banking and digital wallets.
- Encourage a culture of innovation, automation, and process improvement within the architecture team.
- **Team Development & Leadership**:
- Lead, mentor, and develop the solution architecture team, ensuring that team members have the necessary skills and knowledge to design and implement complex banking solutions.
- Provide ongoing coaching and professional development opportunities for architects to stay ahead of industry trends and technologies.
- Foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing across IT, security, compliance, and business teams.

**Skills & Qualifications**:

- **Education**: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. Industry certifications such as TOGAF, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, or relevant certifications in banking technology are a plus.
- **Experience**:
- At least 10 years of experience in solution architecture, with a focus on financial services or banking technology.
- Proven track record of successfully leading and delivering complex technology solutions in the banking sector.
- Deep understanding of banking operations, core banking systems, payments systems, digital banking, and regulatory frameworks.
- Extensive experience in designing solutions involvi