DWS Platforms Architect

Job Description

DWS Platforms Architect

Description

About Pearson:

Pearson is a global education company that helps people around the world to make progress in their lives through learning. With a rich heritage that combines 150 years of experience in publishing with the latest learning technology and digital services, we help people to learn whatever, wherever and however they choose. We are now transforming Pearson to accelerate our activity in digital learning, education services and emerging markets. This will enable us to make a lasting impact in helping to solve some of the most important challenges in global education.

We believe education is a vital force that can empower people, help them to reach their potential and contribute to more connected communities, all around the world. Our strength comes from our outstanding people; our strong relationships in the education world; our expertise in using technology to help people learn; our global footprint and local reach; and our position as a profitable, global company with a unifying sense of purpose.

We're investing in our technology and infrastructure. By working at Pearson, you have a unique chance to make a real difference to the lives of people all over the world.

About DWS:

The Pearson Digital Workplace Services [DWS] team is simplifying how Pearson employees work, engage and collaborate using a broad range of technology, initiatives and transformation activities introducing new, globally consistent platforms and services primarily based on Microsoft products: with Office 365 (replacing Google G-Suite) being a key delivery over the next 18 months.

Pearson DWS is helping to unite employees around the world, enabling us to operate as a truly global organisation, and ensure that Pearson is fit for the future.

About you:

We are searching for passionate delivery focused solution architects that can understand, articulate and drive value from our technology. You are already a seasoned veteran leading the Modern Workplace ecosystem across different sized enterprises and sectors, a subject matter expert with a broad lens on Workplace technology: a true ‘T’ shaped individual ... are you ready to be a catalyst for change and innovate with Pearson?

You will use your proven track record of cultivating professional relationships across key stakeholders and be working tirelessly with our global business units, technology, engineering and security teams to distill and deliver Pearson’s requirements and be responsible for strategies leading Pearson to adapt to changing and emerging technologies for and impacting our platforms.

You will lead the service design and are critical to the service transition into our operations. You have a creative approach to devising new solutions and enhancements, are the key to managing the technical roadmap, driving technology adoption, meeting business and security demands.

As a key member of our team, you bring your proven history of managing strong relationships with Microsoft have insight to future changes, roadmaps and direction, and will be Pearson’s advocate influencing our Modern Workplace and other peers and partners towards our business requirements.

Above all this is an exciting time to work at Pearson: we are evolving the way we deliver the latest Microsoft workplace and security products in new and agile ways of operating meshing automation, CI/CD and agile practices that will be both challenging and rewarding as we rotate into a true Digital Workplace Service.

Role purpose:

The Platforms Architect provides end to end technology ownership for Microsoft modern workplace services to support Pearson’s global businesses spanning Windows 10, Mac OS, physical / virtual desktop delivery, device and peripheral hardware, applications, physical space technology, cloud print services and end point protection across different end points and use cases.

The role is responsible for the strategic architecture, design, automation, engineering, product lifecycle and development of all in scope Microsoft and related platform services. Additional responsibilities include driving Workplace Experience vision, usability and interfaces across the DWS technology portfolio: how we use our tools, how we interact and collaborate with colleagues and customers and bringing to life the vision of our ecosystem.

To realize these goals and objectives the position must balance core Microsoft technology skills, product vision and with a delivery focused pragmatism. The role also encompasses wider awareness of the Microsoft Modern Workplace tools and platforms working as cross region in a strong multi-disciplined architecture group embracing agile ways of working.

Key responsibilities

As a direct report to the Director of DWS Platforms within the Digital Workplace Services group, the candidate will be responsible for:

• Developing short and long-term strategic Microsoft technology roadmaps, backed by pragmatic designs that support our enterprise technology roadmaps and key business objectives
• Participate and contribute to the running of a cross region Architecture function that will drive and govern the Digital Workplace Services and provide deep technology leadership and vision
• Building plans and policies for DWS desktop and product portfolio and associated ancillary services, strategies and technologies
• Working with our colleagues to design and build modern workplace solutions using our Microsoft products
• Establishing a consistent and progressive strategy and architecture for the desktop experience exploiting new market opportunities as appropriate.
• Strategically plan, develop and drive implementation of new initiatives to enhance the global business. This includes projects related to investments and improvements
• Embrace, sponsor and coach agile ways of working with a view to fully automating the configuration and management of our Microsoft services
• Ensuring that required metrics are understood and available. These metrics make certain the platform remains operational, optimized and available to business end users
• Ensuring that key platform product life cycles are understood, tracked, and communicated with appropriate remediation when required
• Coordinating design team support for future M&A activities. This support includes initial impact assessments, planning through to design, and implementation of the technical integration aspects of the merger as they relate to workplace platforms and services.

Deliverables and outcomes (Within 12 months)

• Support the delivery of the myWorkplace and SUP Programme and ensure timely transition of project-to-service and partner with the programme to achieve strategic objectives.
• Deliver DWS Desktop and Device strategic blueprint, working with the Director of DWS Platforms.
• Deliver the vision for Secure Virtual Desktops with a technology blueprint and associated solution design leveraging Desktop as a Service where possible
• Deliver subsequent product High Level Designs and governance processes to support the blueprint ready for engineering delivery
• Accountability for the usage patterns and technology solutions aligned to the strategic objectives identified
• Accountable for maintaining the workplace technology change ‘evergreen’ roadmap as part of the oversight and notification service to ensure that Pearson can efficiently manage the service according to Microsoft published changes
• Support the emerging engineering and operations functions for Windows 10 for both physical and virtual desktops
• Workplace experience will be a priority with constant focus and awareness of user experience and requirements.
• Continual service improvement to minimize the number of self-imposed outages – drive high quality change and release management through automation practices

Pearson is an equal opportunities employer. We do not discriminate against employees or job applicants and select the best person for each job based on relevant skills and experience.

We are also committed to building an accurate picture of the make-up of the workforce and encouraging equality and diversity.

The information you provide will stay confidential, and be stored securely. It will not be seen by those involved in making decisions as part of the recruitment process.

Qualifications

Experience and culture:

• Architect ‘SME’ level experience in Windows 10, Mac, deployment and management technologies, end point protection / Windows security stack and virtual desktop and application presentation
• Modern Workplace technology position
• Enterprise global estates of 15,000 seats and above
• Experienced in working with large geographically dispersed teams
• Deep level of understanding of Workplace Experience and the role devices and working environments contribute to the Modern Workplace
• Experience developing business orientated self-service deployment and management solutions
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Deep knowledge of Citrix and/or VMWare View, Windows OS, Mac OS, End point security with Win10 stack, SCCM, Jamf, PAWS, application virtualization and presentation, desktop monitoring and remediation tooling, Windows Update for Business, Application lifecycle management, Intune configuration and GPO management
• Specific experience in managing and deploying the Evergreen change across the Windows desktop ecosystem with Windows 10: ring deployment, testing, evaluation, Autopilot, comms and governance
• Being a key sponsor for technology development, management and governance
• Leads by example and encourages the team to maintain excellent visibility of industry wide trends and emerging technologies/vendors and ensures that the team understands and utilize developments to the benefit of Pearson
• An open collaborator that shares and coaches their colleagues and works proactively inside their immediate and peer teams
• Strong communication and influencing skills.

Skills and qualifications:

• ITIL operational awareness and understanding
• Relevant Microsoft skills and certification: Windows 10, Security and Azure
• Vendor skills such as VMWare, Citrix, Appsense, Systrack, 1E, Symantec
• Desired experience for Modern Engineering components such as Terraform and Packer
• Strong PowerShell skills, preferential secondary skills in JSON
• Agile methodology: Scrum, SaFE or equivalent

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Primary Location: GB-GB-London

Other Locations US-CO-Centennial, US-NJ-Hoboken, US-NC-Durham

Work Locations: GB-London-80 Strand 80 Strand London WC2R 0RL

Job: Technology

Organization: Technology & Operations

Employee Status: Regular Employee

Job Type: Standard

Shift: Day Job

Job Posting: Nov 14, 2019

Job Unposting: Dec 17, 2019

Schedule: Full-time Regular

Req ID: 1914880

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.