Lead Information Architect - Technology

Why USAA?

The Opportunity

As a skilled Information Architect Lead within the Enterprise Architecture group, you will play a pivotal role in shaping data strategies for the Technology Portfolio (i.e., application management, business continuity, IT Infrastructure, and IT operations and services) directly influencing critical business outcomes. Acting as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert, you will guide and implement best practices in data design, taxonomies, data management, and data governance within your designated data domain. This position offers an exciting opportunity to drive meaningful impact, as USAA advances its Enterprise Architecture organization and strengthens the foundation of its future-ready data ecosystem.

We offer a flexible work environment that requires an individual to be in the office 4 days per week. This position can be based in one of the following locations: San Antonio, TX, Plano, TX, Phoenix, AZ. Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

What you'll do:

• Guide peers using expert knowledge on application of all Data Governance policy and standard, while enforcing those specific to Information Architecture as it relates to data structures, data movement, risks, and controls.
• Leads efforts to define the information architecture practice mission, goals, strategy, critical success factors, principles, and policies and standards, and the overall Information Strategy and Architecture (IS&A) plans.
• Lead efforts to identify, define, document, and communicate information and data requirements to enable information capabilities within USAA's information architecture tools and metadata repository/catalog. Influences direction for metadata storage and entity relationships in metadata repository/catalog and data modeling tools.
• Guides and influences stakeholders by leveraging the knowledge of end-to-end data lineage impacts within operational and analytical assets (i.e., databases and reports).
• Educates stakeholders on the value and practice of IS&A; demonstrates the development and nurturing of healthy stakeholder relationships; creating effective models to convey complex concepts; leads stakeholders to recognize, explore, and state information needs.
• Oversees complex information and data development activities that align to the USAA Enterprise Information Model (UEIM) for to ensure that the CoSA is following the appropriate CoSA and Enterprise IS&A direction, respectively. Cultivate and influence Business Partners, other Practitioners and Mentees on the value and practice of IS&A program.
• Drive integration of the Measurement Framework and utilization of industry reference models that combine to help shape and influence business outcomes.
• Leads and consults with other architectural disciplines to influence information disciplines, direction, technical and data flow, and solution agnostic design decisions. Guides peers in developing information architecture skills while maturing and nurturing healthy peer and mentee relationships.
• Leads effort to help stakeholders shape business cases and secure approval/funding when data and analytic needs requirements arise.  
• Sets the direction regarding appropriate data sources to be used in solution development and delivery as it relates to Fit for Purpose and Authoritative Data Source.
• Leads the performance of regular assessments of the health and maturity of information capabilities for a given domain.
• Develops, approves, and governs artifacts to include statements of direction, conceptual models, decision matrices, information capabilities, information categories, business entities and others identified by need.
• Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.

What you have:

• Bachelor’s degree in information architecture, Information Management, Information and Data Science, Information Studies, or a related technical field; OR 4 years of related experience in information management (in addition to the minimum years of experience required) may be substituted in lieu of degree.
• 8 years of experience in information and/or data architecture to include strategy, planning, and delivery oversight
• OR If Advanced degree, 6 years of experience in information or data architecture.
• 3 years of direct and/or indirect management experience.
• Direct hands-on experience with modern data architecture environments (Cloud, Hadoop, NoSQL, etc.).
• Proven ability to embrace new technologies of the future and operationalize these to deliver value (Data Virtualization, Cloud).
• Extensive experience working with data analysis tools and leveraging reporting and data analysis that molds the way user experiences are designed.
• In-depth knowledge of architectural principles and extensive experience applying principles to business solutions.
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to communicate appropriately at all levels of the organization; this includes written and verbal communications as well as visualizations.

What sets you apart:

• Extensive experience in various IT functions to include platforms and applications management, infrastructure management, and IT services and operations.
• Proven track record with modernization programs to include integration of new and existing technologies, solutions, and migration strategies.
• Demonstrated expertise in data ingestion and consumption patterns, with the ability to design, optimize, and implement scalable solutions for efficient data flow systems. 
• Strong understanding of best practices in data integration, transformation, and retrieval to support real-time and batch processing needs.
• Strong knowledge of data management and data governance best practices including master data, reference data & meta-data management and data taxonomies.
• Strong knowledge and experience with data modeling concepts
• Understanding of advanced analytic (AI / ML) concepts and architectures

The above description reflects the details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job and should not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be performed in the job.

What we offer:

Compensation: USAA has an effective process for assessing market data and establishing ranges to ensure we remain competitive. You are paid within the salary range based on your experience and market data of the position. The actual salary for this role may vary by location. The salary range for this position is: $138,230.00 - $264,200.00.

Employees may be eligible for pay incentives based on overall corporate and individual performance and at the discretion of the USAA Board of Directors.

Benefits: At USAA our employees enjoy best-in-class benefits to support their physical, financial, and emotional wellness. These benefits include comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, 401(k), pension, life insurance, parental benefits, adoption assistance, paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours, and various wellness programs. Additionally, our career path planning and continuing education assists employees with their professional goals.

For more details on our outstanding benefits, please visit our benefits page on USAAjobs.com.

Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis, this posting will remain open until the position is filled. Thus, interested candidates are encouraged to apply the same day they view this posting.

USAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.