1 Context and Purpose of the Role

Within the context of the strategic roadmap and the digital transformation of the Federal Pension Service, we are seeking a Solutions Architect Infrastructure, Platforms & Cloud Excellence. In this key position, you are responsible for defining architectures to optimize the current IT infrastructure (mainly on premise) as well as developing and implementing a future-oriented infrastructure and cloud architecture that ensures innovation, continuity, and integrity of the IT services. You make an essential contribution to the development of an integrated platform landscape and guide the organization through its cloud journey. This is always done in synergy with the other OISZ and the G-Cloud, taking into account the framework of the federal government, where tactical reuse of already existing solutions plays a major role.

2 Role Description

As Solutions Architect Infrastructure & Cloud Excellence, you take the lead in designing, deploying, and monitoring the infrastructure and cloud architectures. You are the point of contact for strategic and technical choices, ensure alignment with the Enterprise Architecture, and work closely with the Architectural Board, project teams, and other stakeholders including your colleagues from the OISZ and the G-Cloud. Your focus is on realizing a robust, scalable, and secure IT infrastructure that aligns with the objectives of the organization and the federal government and contributes to operational excellence.

3 Core Responsibilities

• Mapping the As Is, proposing improvements, simplifications and optimizations, and defining the resulting projects

• Leading and realizing the cloud journey and further development of the platform landscape as an enabler for business and IT innovation, in collaboration with federal initiatives

• Developing, maintaining, and optimizing the infrastructure and cloud architecture, including drafting architecture deliverables and ensuring consistency between projects and domains

• Ensuring the architectural quality and consistency of IT solutions, in collaboration with other architects, project teams, and the Architectural Board

• Performing impact analyses, scenario evaluations, and supporting strategic decision-making

• Guiding the phase-out of legacy infrastructure and facilitating migrations to modern cloud and platform services, taking into account agreements within the OISZ and the G-Cloud

• Defining and monitoring architecture standards, governance processes, and reference models, taking into account internal transformation projects

• Supporting and coaching other IT roles (architects, project managers, analysts, developers) in applying architecture principles

• Stimulating cooperation within and outside the organization, including in the context of federal initiatives such as G-Cloud and Cloud Centre of Excellence

4 Technical and Generic Competencies

• In-depth knowledge of infrastructure architecture (hypervisors, VMs, Kubernetes, storage solutions, automation, IaC, PKI, etc.) (10 years)

• Cloud platforms, containerization (Kubernetes, Openshift) (5 years)

• Network architecture and security, in a cloud context (3 years)

• Cloud services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud or others) (3 years)

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills: you can understand complex problems, develop scenarios, and clearly substantiate them

• Expertise in guiding transformations and change management (5 years)

• Communication and leadership skills, focused on collaboration and engaging various stakeholders in governance and decision-making

• Autonomy, result-orientation, and a strong focus on quality

5 Profile and Selection Criteria

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or equivalent through experience

• Relevant experience in infrastructure and cloud architecture, including demonstrable project realizations (10 years)

• Certification or in-depth demonstrable knowledge of IT architecture at the enterprise level is a must (5 years)

• Experience with Agile/Scrum, DevOps (5 years)

• At least passive knowledge of the second national language

Plus points: Experience in the public sector, knowledge of pensions and the Belgian social security system.

The place of employment is Brussels. We offer the possibility to telework part-time.

6 Additional Requirements

Please add, in addition to your CV, a brief slidedeck with a high-level description of what infrastructure and cloud governance entails and how the SFPD can approach this transformation in the coming years.