Sr .Net Information Architect

Sr .Net Information Architect position for Travelers Insurance –Hartford, Connecticut

SUMMARY:

The primary function of this position is to provide architectural guidance, technological recommendations and transition strategies that support the development and implementation of initiatives based on Common Delivery, Services Based Architecture, and Agility for complex and/or multiple projects.  Focus is on the development of an end to end information architecture strategy, playing a lead role on projects by providing the appropriate data architecture and ensuring alignment with the overall data management strategies.

PRIMARY DUTIES:

-Provide strategic thinking, solutions and roadmaps while driving architectural recommendations

-Adopt and communicate new concepts, ideas, techniques, best practices and technology assistance

-Serve as an expert resource on matters of data architecture to business and IT staff in all phases of data warehouse and data mart development, implementation and support.

-Provide guidance to development application areas by applying knowledge of data warehouse design, extract-transform-load (ETL) design and development.

-Create/maintain the data architecture to increase the robustness, performance, and scalability of systems.

-Establish an architecture roadmap covering transactional, operational and business intelligence.

-Contribute substantially to the software architecture, and provide direction for the design and development of the data layer.

-Responsible for the development of logical data models and physical data base designs applied across multiple computing environments (e.g., host based, client server, distributed, and warehouse environments).

-Perform product evaluations, and Proof of Concepts.

-Research and document information architecture standards and best practices.

-Work with various customers and prospects, understand and translate business use cases and/or requirements into data models, analytics reports and scenario models.

-Ensure that data dictionaries are maintained holistically by partnering with Data Management.

-Participate in data definition and data management reviews.

-Provide leadership, guidance and mentoring.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

-Extensive experience in creating and maintaining end to end data architectures.

-Extensive experience in logical, access, and physical data modeling.

-Extensive hands-on technical experience using data warehouse, business intelligence and analytics products.

-Extensive experience with normalized and dimensional data modeling.

-Experience in data analysis and mapping.

-Expertise in the creation and usage of metadata.

-Working knowledge of modeling tools (e.g., Computer Associates (CA) AllFusion: ERWIN Model Manager, IBM Rational Suite, Rational (RSA & RDA).

-Excellent communication and facilitation skills.

-Team oriented with excellent collaboration skills.

-Attention to detail, and a commitment to quality work.

-Exhibits leadership qualities

-Minimum of 3 years experience in people, product and/or project management.

-Experience working in a matrixed organization.

-Experience in Property Casualty insurance, especially Claims a plus.

OTHER:

Technical Knowledge

Possess a solid working knowledge of capabilities and direction of technology, coupled with an in-depth knowledge of the technology required and the needs of business environment necessary to support assigned projects. Develop solutions to meet business needs that reflect a clear understanding of the objectives, practices, and procedures of the corporation, department and business unit.

Problem Solving & Decision Making

Demonstrate sound analytical and diagnostic skills dealing with issues that are not readily defined and/or conflict with available information. Knows where to obtain information needed to make the appropriate decisions. Ability to break a problem down to manageable pieces and implement effective, timely solutions.   Strong ability to identify the problem versus the symptom.  Deal increasingly with problems that require involvement of others to solve.  Has the ability to reach sound decisions quickly. Carefully evaluates alternative risks and solutions before taking action.  Optimize the use of all available resources.

Team Orientation

Maintains partnerships across the organization, and is able to influence senior management, peers and staff through an inclusive style and recognition of their abilities to achieve results.  The success of the team is above own interest.

Self-Management

Manages functional objectives and priorities supporting multiple assigned business units. Responsibilities are assigned with latitude for setting priorities and decision-making using generally accepted guidelines. Results are reviewed with next level manager for clarification according to predefined objectives.

Commitment to Quality Result

Creates an atmosphere where business partner’s issues are dealt with professionally, and in a timely manner.  Suggests solutions that make sense and are in line with future technology direction.  Communicates openly and effectively in a manner consistent with the audience. Demonstrates an adaptive style that is flexible and effective in gaining cooperation of others.  Anticipates and responds to management requests for information with timely, accurate findings.

Planning and Project Management

Develops operational plans and provides resource estimation for task planning.  Proposes plans of action that are timely, realistic and positive.  Sets appropriate goals for projects, and monitors progress against the plan.

If interested in this position, please write back with your availability to interview and to start, the reason you are leaving your present situation OR the reason for leaving your last position, along with either your current salary or your minimum BASE salary figure (not counting annual bonus or other benefits)and  the status of your eligibility to work in the United States?

** Where do you live and are you open to paying your own expenses for relocation to Hartford, Connecticut

Also, write back with the number of years of experience and a brief explanation of that specific experience in each of the following:

•Experience working for an insurance company (which ones? How long?)

•Specific experience with Insurance Claims

•Ab Initio

•AJAX

•Application Integration

•Application security architect

•Business Intelligence

•Business Objects

•Cognos 8 business intelligence tools

•Component Based Design

•CORBA

•Data / UML modeling tools

•Data warehouse, business intelligence /analytics products (how long? Specifics?)

•Data Warehousing

•Datastage

•Document Composition and Forms technologies

•Document, Imaging/ Web Content Management

•EAI/ESB using Java CAPS

•Enterprise Business Intelligence tools (which ones? How long?)

•ETL (which ones? How long?)

•Experience as a Manager of Business Analysts (how many? Where?)

•Experience as Project Manager

•Experience in creating and maintaining end to end data architectures (how long? What kind?)

•Impromptu

•Informatica

•Java technologies including front end architectures

•J2EE

•JEE

•JBoss ESB

•JSP

•Logical, access, and physical data modeling

•Metadata repositories

•Methodologies

•Microstrategy

•Middle tier (EJB Architecture)

•Middleware technologies

•Modeling tools (e.g., Computer Associates (CA) AllFusion: ERWIN Model Manager, IBM Rational Suite, Rational (RSA & RDA). [which ones?how long?]

•NET Web services

•Normalized and dimensional data modeling.

•Office/Productivity Suites (which ones? How long?)

•OOD

•Oracle, SQL Server, DB2 and othe DBMS

•Performance Engineering

•RDBMS

•SAS

•Servlets

•Six Sigma experience

•Size of your largest transaction databases and where

•SQL

•STRUTS (J2EE Framework)

•SUN (Web, Application Server, Portal, and Identity Manager/Access Control)

•Sun Certified J2EE Enterprise Architect

•Swing (GUI)

•Teradata

•Transaction design (OLTP, Batch, etc.)

•UML within SUN Solaris platforms mixed Unix/Linux and Windows

•User and B2B Interfaces

•WEB 2.0

•Web Services (SOA)

•WEB Technologies

•WebLogic

•WebSphere Application Servers

•Windows, Linux, Solaris or other UNIX environment

In addition to an exciting environment, we offer:

*Competitive base salary with additional opportunities for variable pay through recognition programs and incentive awards

* 401(k) with company match

* Comprehensive health plans that include coverage for same sex/domestic partners

* Strong work/family and employee assistance programs

* Tuition reimbursement

* Vacation Purchase Plan

* Training/Development opportunities 

Committed.  Competitive.  Constructing our Future.

That’s Travelers.  We are one of the leading insurance companies in the United States.  Our superior financial strength and consistent record of strong operating returns mean security for our customers - and opportunities for our employees.  You will find Travelers to be full of energy, and a workplace in which you truly can make a difference.

Send resume and answers to questions to

Ruthie Powell, Senior Sourcing Specialist for  Travelers Insurance