IT Expert (Enterprise Network and Infrastructure Architect), Frankfurt, Germany

• Organization: ECB - European Central Bank
• Country: Germany
• City: Frankfurt
• Office: ECB Frankfurt

European Central Bank (ECB)
Kaiserstra�e 29
60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tel: +49 69 13440

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Closing date: Wednesday, 2 December 2015

IT Expert (Enterprise Network and Infrastructure Architect)
F/G
The selection committee may place suitable candidates on a reserve list, from which candidates may be appointed to similar positions in the same or another business area. It may also be decided to fill the position(s) advertised in this vacancy notice with a suitable candidate or candidates from the reserve list resulting from a recruitment procedure for a similar position. Candidates will be informed accordingly if this happens
The European Central Bank (ECB) is seeking a candidate for the position of Enterprise Network and Infrastructure Architect, carrying the official job title of IT Expert, in the Security and Architecture Division of its Directorate General Information Systems (DG/IS). DG/IS provides the information and communication systems of the ECB and develops and supports the IT systems necessary for carrying out the tasks of the Eurosystem and the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), as well as banking supervision tasks in the framework of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM). DG-IS is divided into six Divisions: the Infrastructure and Operations Division, the Security and Architecture Division and the IT Governance and Business Relations Division, and three Business Applications Divisions which are organised according to application domain (enterprise, executional and analytical). The Security and Architecture Division develops, implements and maintains IS security and architecture policies, frameworks, blueprints and methodologies, and provides IS security and architecture services for ECB/ESCB projects and operations. The successful applicant will be assigned to the Architecture unit, one of three units (alongside Operational Security and IS Security Governance) in the Division. The Architecture unit develops and supports the Enterprise and IT architecture standards, frameworks and strategies underpinning the information systems and related services of the ECB, the ESCB and the SSM. The unit's experts define requirements, principles, target state models and roadmaps, and thereby facilitate decision-making on all types of change, be it of a strategic, tactical or operational nature. A substantial part of their contribution consists of supporting project teams in the design and development of specific solutions aligned to the frameworks. The successful applicant will be entrusted with the following main tasks: Enterprise architecture:

• as a member of the Enterprise Architecture team, participating in the development and maintenance of the enterprise architecture framework and other key models and foundational documents;

• contributing proactively to the establishment and consolidation of the enterprise architecture function, discipline and methods used in a number of organisational processes.

Network and infrastructure architecture:

• developing and maintaining integrated and coherent network and infrastructure architecture strategies and roadmaps embedded in the overall enterprise architecture framework and strategy, with a primary focus on network, storage and technical infrastructure architecture;
• developing and maintaining technology requirements, principles, target state models and roadmaps in the context of strategic architecture development assignments;
• collaborating proactively with other enterprise and solution architects, IT security experts and other technical specialists to assess and advise on innovative and promising technologies for addressing strategic and tactical business requirements;
• driving and influencing the implementation and evolution of horizontal technical services and middleware in crucial areas such as data centre, networking, storage, telephony, video-conferencing, disaster recovery, IT operations and client computing;
• supporting the Architecture Steering Board by representing the network and infrastructure architecture viewpoint.

Project support:

• supporting projects by identifying and designing the most suitable technical solutions for meeting functional and non-functional requirements, taking into account architecture principles and tactical and strategic enterprise architecture goals and directions;
• writing project-specific solution architecture deliverables;
• reviewing and endorsing architecture-relevant project documentation;
• acting as a solution architect in an advisory role and drawing on the expertise of the entire Enterprise Architecture team, going beyond technical aspects if necessary;
• providing technical requirements and guidance for procurement procedures and technology selection activities.

Three-year fixed-term contract, with possible conversion to a contract of indefinite duration subject to individual performance and organisational needs. To further enhance the diversity of its workforce, the ECB particularly encourages applications from female candidates.
Applicants must have the following knowledge and competencies:

• a master's degree, preferably in information technology or a related discipline;
• eight or more years of professional experience in information technology or other relevant field, acquired preferably after completing university education;
• at least three years of experience as an enterprise network and infrastructure architect, working within an enterprise or IT architecture team or as a consultant;
• knowledge of, and experience with, enterprise architecture methodologies, frameworks and industry best practices;
• a mastery of generally accepted technical architecture principles, methods, modelling techniques, reference frameworks and patterns;
• knowledge of (and, preferably, experience with) all relevant aspects of the following areas:
• infrastructure architecture concepts, principles and patterns;
• IP networks design, concepts and technologies;
• fibre channel networks design, concepts and technologies;
• data centre technologies and design;
• storage technologies;
• server and client computing hardware;
• operating systems management, optimisation and hardening (focus on MS Windows);
• VoIP technologies;
• video-conferencing technologies;
• backup and restore solutions;
• high availability solutions;
• server virtualisation technologies;
• network security technologies;
• disaster recovery/multiple site solutions;
• desktop virtualisation technologies (focus on Citrix).

The following would be considered an asset:

• knowledge of and experience in: PKI; mobile devices and mobile device management platforms; monitoring and logging solutions; high-performance computing architectures;
• a working knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks (such as TOGAF 9) and modelling methodologies (e.g. ArchiMate);
• experience with one or more enterprise architecture tools;
• a valid industry certification in a relevant professional discipline;
• work experience in the public and private sectors ‒ the latter involving financial services.

General technical competencies:

• an advanced command of English with proven experience in the high-quality drafting of documents for both decision-makers and technical audiences;
• an intermediate command of at least one other official language of the European Union;
• proficiency in the use of MS Office, in particular Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Visio.

The successful candidate will have the following behavioural competencies:

• thinks strategically and assesses all relevant aspects of a problem (both of a technical and non-technical nature), while not losing sight of the broad picture;
• possesses good analytical skills and is able to conceptualise complex, multidimensional problems in ways that facilitate the identification of possible solutions;
• produces high-quality deliverables tailored to the needs of the target audience and which are effective from the point of view of communication;
• communicates effectively at all levels with management and all relevant stakeholders (technical and non-technical), both within and outside the organisation;
• exerts influence both directly and indirectly to communicate ideas and implement the most suitable approach;
• can negotiate skilfully in difficult situations involving both internal and external parties to establish mutually agreeable solutions;
• operates with a fair degree of autonomy, managing his/her own workload independently, providing status updates, liaising with others and escalating issues as appropriate;
• is conscious of deadlines and the expectations of others and strives to meet them, raising any issues in a timely fashion and proposing practical solutions;
• takes the initiative, gathering necessary knowledge and information independently, and is able to remain motivated even during challenging assignments.

Applications are to be made in English and submitted using our online application form. An "Applicants' Guide" can be downloaded from our recruitment pages.
The recruitment process may include a pre-screening exercise, a written exercise, a presentation and interviews.
Further information on the ECB's conditions of employment for fixed-term positions can be found at http://www.ecb.europa.eu/careers/newcomers/fixed-term/html/index.en.html.
Applications are accepted from nationals of Member States of the European Union.
The requirements laid down in the vacancy notice must be met by the closing date for applications.
This vacancy notice may be used to fill the same position again, or similar positions, within 12 months of the selection decision.