Business Architect

The Business Architect is responsible for supporting the Business Architecture Lead in formulating, directing, and the delivery of Business Architecture projects undertaken by the EPR Programme across the Nuclear New Builds in the UK (currently HPC and SZC). They work in partnership with Senior Managers deploying expert business analysis skill, broad business knowledge and specialist expertise to create solutions that deliver an effective and efficient business operating model. They remain engaged throughout development and implementation to manage requirements change, validate the solution, and prepare the business for implementation.

Operating Environment

The EPR Programme has been initiated to deliver a variety of shared services to all New Nuclear Build programmes across the UK (currently HPC and SZC).

The Business Architecture function is one of the 6 functions reporting into the CIO and is delivering a range of architecture services to both HPC and SZC. Within this context, the Business Architect will focus on diagnosing, scoping, delivering the pipeline of work in their assigned area, keeping the Business Architecture Lead aware of progress and activities.

Framework & Boundaries

The Business Architect is given Business Architecture delivery services ownership by the Business Architecture Lead. They may work autonomously or as part of a team on projects.

They may have a particular specialism either in Process, IT or Management Information. However, they will be expected to have a good awareness and working knowledge of the other disciplines to be able to identify interdependencies between activities and to be able to seek out the relevant expertise from within the team to support a piece of work within their area of responsibility.

The Business Architect will develop Project Mandates and lead the initial phase of projects working closely with NNB Architects and 3rd party delivery partners to identify potential solutions to business problems and opportunities. As part of this phase the Business Architect will structure and plan the work, manage its execution, and lead presentation of proposals to project boards. Towards the end of this phase the Business Architect will work with the EPR Digital Portfolio Delivery teams to plan the next phase of the project in detail based on the agreed scope. Through the project lifecycle they will oversee the activities of 3rd party Business Architects, quality assuring relevant deliverables.

The boundaries of the role are typically defined by the EPR Programme’s governance structure including policies and procedures related to data management, technology procurement, and project management. The Business Architect operates within these boundaries to ensure that their function aligns with regulatory requirements and industry standards.

Principal Accountabilities

• Engage with relevant stakeholders as the key contact to develop the initial project concept, elaborating the primary business objectives, clarifying the scope and impacts of the proposed change and identifying the initial risks, issues, assumptions and dependencies that affect the successful outcome of the project
• Consult with senior management and other key stakeholders to capture, evaluate, challenge and prioritise business requirements and success measures
• Collaborate with 3rd party delivery partners to identify the best solution options including structured evaluation and appraisal of options that ensure user-friendly and efficient solutions
• Develop robust mandates and investment cases for business architecture projects. Challenge suggested benefits, translate intangible benefits into tangible benefits and identify additional benefits to maximise the extracted value of the proposed change
• Act as custodian for the business requirements through the project lifecycle to ensure consistency with the defined solution and delivery of the identified business outcomes
• Use knowledge of current and emerging trends to enable continuous business improvement that employ the latest best practice methods and best in breed technical solutions
• Support business acceptance of developed solutions, including process and system walkthrough and business acceptance testing
• Manage the projects adherence to core delivery assurance principles

Dimensions

• The Business Architect is reporting into one of the Business Architecture Lead and collaborating with the wider Business Architects network of circa 12 Architects.
• They will work aligned to projects within a delivery function (e.g., Engineering, Construction, Project Delivery and Business Services), led by a Business Architecture Lead who holds accountability for the entire pipeline of work within the function

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Relevant qualifications and experience in one or more of the Business Architecture disciplines of process management, business analysis, data and management information or IT system development.
• ONR licence conditions, ONR (CNS) requirements and implications for Business Architecture IT Services.
• Experience delivering Business Architecture solutions that eliminate duplication and improve efficiency of business operations.
• Experience of formal project management techniques, such as Prince2 (EDF Energy Project Way), plus associated tools and processes, including planning and estimating.
• Experience of Request For Information (RFI) and Invitation To Tender (ITT) activities, including the creation and use of an evaluation score card. Excellent communication, presentation, and written skills, with relevant experience of influencing decision making of senior executives, business managers and third parties at a strategic level.
• Experience of developing business cases for large complex business change programmes, including financial and numerical modelling and appraisal skills.

Desirable

• Prior experience working in Nuclear, asset intensive and/or Safety Critical industries.

Key Competencies

• Identify interfaces between organisational departments and functions and integrate / align procedures and systems across functions.
• Drive collaborative working between departments to identify the integrated and best solution.
• Translate plans into meaningful objectives for people, ensuring activities are aligned and people are clear about how they personally contribute.
• Address issues that prevent effective team working. Ensures teams are working effectively and efficiently.
• Set clear objectives for others and monitors progress to ensure delivery with effective results.
• Adopt a questioning mindset and encourages constructive challenge to status quo; seeks and enables new ideas and continuous improvements.
• Maintain a good knowledge of customer needs, goals, and issues; seeks to deliver beyond initial expectations and gain their trust.
• Think clearly, objectively and remains focussed under pressure; has the courage to have difficult conversations.
• Identify ways to improve performance; considers all decisions and actions in commercial context. Keeps aware of external affairs that impact EDF Energy.
• Integrate data from a variety of sources, investigating all the facts; can make difficult decisions and anticipates the impact of these.

• Behavioural Competences

• Respect differences in people, and their personal styles. Adapts own style and behaviour for a positive impact. Involves others in activities.
• Actively listen and adapt style to enhance impact; communicates regularly, using best methods for the message and intended audience.
• Lead others in an encouraging manner, providing the guidance, clarity and recognition that generates high performance.
• Address behaviours that conflict with our values and safety; Admits to mistakes and learns from these. Builds trust within the team.