WebSphere Portal Architect

Elizabeth Arden, the first name in prestige cosmetics and fragrances worldwide, has an exciting opportunity for a WebSphere Portal Architect in our Information Technology Group.

 

WebSphere Portal Architect

Information Technology

Stamford

 Summary

A principle and significant function in a JD Edwards EnterpriseOne implementation is that of the role of the Middleware Architect. The role of Middleware Architect is to provide integration capabilities between disparate systems. The Middleware Architect will control and implement the many integrations between JD Edwards and other applications within the Elizabeth Arden environments (such as JBA, Manugistics, etc). The Middleware Architect will be solely responsible for managing the Enterprise Service Bus (the vehicle used to move data or execute published services).

 

The integration of JBA and JDE throughout the various phases of the project is critical to success, not only of the JDE implementation, but to the business in general. In Phase I, we will be storing and selling SKU’s from JBA whilst recording Financial entries for these activities in JDE; therefore it is imperative that the integrations between the 2 systems have the up most integrity, whilst at the same time are not so heavily coupled such that problems in one environment would have an adverse knock on effect to the other environment. This is where the Middleware architect provides the integrity necessary to succeed.

 

Integrations between software packages are required and essential in order to provide for an architecture that supports modern day business processes. The Middleware software and the architects employed to use it lend themselves to a more Service Oriented Architecture and a lower cost of development and ownership. 

 

The incumbent will be responsible for the configuration and maintenance of the Middleware environment as well as the development of integration standards and best practices with emphasis on technical infrastructure and technical mentoring to team members. The position will be the gatekeeper of all integration to and from JD Edwards. All integrations to and from JD Edwards will require the Middleware Architects approval prior to being implemented.

 

The position must be performed with a minimum amount of supervision.

 

Job Duties and assignments will include:

 

The Architect will lead the analysis and design phase of integration projects and accurately define tasks, milestones, deliverable dates, and resource needs relative to the requirements at hand. They will factor in key architecture considerations inherent in enterprise architecture and application architecture.



The position, Middleware Architect, is responsible for supporting and maintaining the Middleware environment (Websphere Application Server or Oracle Application Server and the Enterprise Service Bus). This position will be involved and control installation, upgrades, updates, change management, system administration, security, performance tuning, integration build and deployment and over-all middleware architecture. This position will liaise with the CNC Administrator team as well as the distributed Global IT Application and Information Delivery organisation to ensure that all technology elements in regards to application changes that require integration to JD Edwards effectively integrate with the JD Edwards environment.  This position will also work closely with the production support team to assist in problem resolution and proactive maintenance.

 

This position will design and deploy comprehensive Best Practices systems management practices to ensure the reliability, controllability, and security of the environments in full compliance with Sarbanes Oxley.

 

This position is responsible for Level-3 issue resolution and escalation to Level-4.

 

SUPERVISION:

This position reports to the IT Systems Manager.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES:


Primary Job Functions:

· Provide Middleware architecture implementation and administration support

· Lead all integration development and deployment as it pertains to JD Edwards integrations

· Work with JDE technical team on knowledge transfer and training

· Meeting project timelines and deliverables

· Participate in project status meetings

· Provide support through go-live
 
Leadership

· Lead the efforts of the Integration team with respect to Integrations in and out of JD Edwards

· Direct the daily activities of less experienced staff

· Coordinate tuning of the Middleware architecture across the local and wide area networks

· Assist in the coordination of Disaster Recovery activities for the EnterpriseOne landscape

· Provide regular status reports to senior management

· Coordinate 3rd party Infrastructure services such as Offsite Tape Storage, Disaster Recovery, and 3rd level vendor support.

· Coordinate with the CNC, EnterpriseOne Integration changes with other teams (e.g. Development, Application Support, Change Management, Security)

· Coordinate project tasks with BSM’s

· Maintains technology currency and liaises with the external environment to identify opportunities to leverage technology to the benefit of the business

· Liaises with the global IT Application and Information Delivery teams to ensure that developments are consistent with the Technology Architecture, to ensure achievement of service level objectives, and to identify opportunities to leverage technology to the benefit of the business

· Adhere to Problem management service level agreements

· Operates according to Elizabeth Arden approved Methodologies and Polices

· Ensures the environment operates at the highest level of compliance with Sarbanes Oxley requirements, including, but not limited to Change Management and Security

· Maintains appropriate documentation around the Middleware  environment

· Supports project teams, globally, in the execution of projects and to enable the leverage of proven technologies

 

Strategic

· Help develop capacity planning recommendations on a quarterly basis

· Identify technological improvements and assist in project proposal preparation for senor management

· Communicate progress and plans to other areas of the business and IT as appropriate

· Document a standard Middleware and Infrastructure Problem Escalation Process

· Prepare project plans for assigned major tasks

· Prepare staffing requirements for assigned major tasks

· Continuously work towards improving the architecture of the Middleware and JD Edwards environments and the Integration thereof

· Make recommendations for changes to the Middleware and EnterpriseOne environment landscape

· Prepare technical plans for the application of Middleware Service Packs, Electronic Software Updates.

 

Tactical

· Perform daily administration of the Middleware servers

· Perform daily administration of the Middleware Integration activities

· Administer and support the Middleware environment landscape

· Resolve Middleware technical and business issues within the standard problem escalation process

· Perform on-going tuning of the Middleware landscape.

· Coordinate problem resolution through the help desk

· Review regularly the Middleware providers Knowledgebase for fixes or enhancements that would benefit the implementation of the Middleware or EnterpriseOne

· Prepare and deliver regular reports on system status, availability and performance

 

 

 

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

· Support and Development of technology architecture in support of the Middleware and JD Edwards services

· Adherence to Technology Standards and Policies

· Technology currency

· Technology selection

· Liaison within Global IT

· Liaison with external environment

· Project Management

· Service Level Management

· Performance Management

· Problem Management

· Systems Management Practices

· Sarbanes Oxley compliance

· Personnel Management

 

 

REQUIRED SKILLS:

· Four-year college degree in Computer Science, Business, or related fields.  Experience and/or other training will be considered in lieu of a degree. An advance degree is a decided plus.

· 4+ years and command of J2EE Application Architecture and Web Portal.

· 2+ years of Websphere Application Server and Enterprise Service Bus

· 2+ year of Websphere Registry and Repository

· Experience with multiple host platforms and Oracle RDBMS systems.

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills

· JD Edwards EnterpriseOne ERP 8.0 minimum (8.11+experience a plus)

· 2+ years Project Management

· Complimentary product skills such as BI Publisher, Identity Management, JDeveloper, Object Management Workbench, BEPL, BAM, Enterprise Manager, Portal 9i+ a plus 

·  Experience with DataMirror a plus

·  Strong technical skills in client server infrastructure

·  Strong Windows server experience

·  Strong Unix experience

·  Strong ODBC and JDBC expertise

·  Strong interpersonal skills

·  Strong teaming skills

·  Excellent problem solving skills

·  Strong decision making skills

·  Experience with Websphere Application Server and Enterprise Service Bus and JDE EnterpriseOne implementation

·  Thorough understanding of the technical architecture of Websphere Application Server and Enterprise Service Bus

· Broad technology currency

· Technology Architecture development and management

· Technology Planning

· Technology Evaluation

· Performance Management

· Capital Asset Management

· Liaison skills

· Personnel Management

· Ability to work within a matrixed, global team structure.

· A high sense of the importance of business urgencies.

· High level of intelligence, solid quantitative and analytical skills, and

  good business judgment.