Director, Solutions Architect

If you're passionate about innovation and love working in an environment where you can constantly improve and adopt new technologies to drive business results, then Nationwide's Information Technology team could be the place for you At Nationwide, "on your side" goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we're looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

This role does not qualify for employer-sponsored work authorization. Nationwide does not participate in the Stem OPT Extension program.

What you'll own Technology strategies, blueprints, and application target states for domains aligned to Digital Workplace, PC Services, and Technology Service Desk with strong emphasis on decision clarity, timelines, and stakeholder readiness. Additionally, you will manage the variable capacity architect pool for CTWS Architecture.

• Connector and data governance for AI/search platforms (e.g., Glean, MS Power Platform) in partnership with Security Architecture, IAM, IRM, and data owners—defining evaluation criteria, risk posture, and enable/disable decisions for connectors and data sources.
• Unified desktop/experience and contact center architecture (e.g., ServiceNow vs. Genesys) decision documents and milestone plans that support product and platform timelines.
• PC Services and endpoint architecture stewardship ensuring current‑state/target‑state, standards, and systems documentation are produced and maintained.
• Microsoft platform governance: including Azure, M365, Power Platform, Copilot/Copilot Studio, endpoint management, enterprise integrations, governance and cost controls.
• No‑code/low‑code agentic guidance (e.g., M365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, Glean) and contribution to guardrails for agent building, monitoring, and security.
• Architecture reviews and decision governance (ARB): raise and resolve risks, drive building codes/guardrails, harvest reusable patterns, and ensure alignment with standards.
• People leadership and talent development for an architecture team, including coaching, performance, hiring, and workforce planning to match demand and priority programs.
• Key outcomes (12–18 months) deliver 18–24-month roadmaps for prioritized areas (e.g., contact center tech, unified experience, endpoint services) with decision records and dependency maps tied to platform timelines.
• Establish connector/data governance and measurably reduced risk for AI/search platforms; published allow/deny determinations and operating procedures for new connectors/data sources.
• Produce authoritative current‑state/target‑state documentation and a living architecture knowledge base for PC Services/endpoint capabilities and supporting platforms.
• Define and roll out agentic (no‑code/low‑code) guidance and adoption patterns for high‑value scenarios with security, observability, and human accountability guardrails.

Day‑to‑day responsibilities apply secure software and systems engineering practices across delivery lifecycle; anticipate threats and vulnerabilities and design mitigations.

• Lead architecture/design reviews; create and enforce building codes and guardrails; ensure compliance with technology standards.
• Drive governance for AI/search connectors and platform decisions (use cases, access scope, read/write capabilities, cost/consumption, and compliance) with cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Build and manage decision documents and Architecture Standards for key choices (e.g., buy vs. build, platform selections, experience consolidation) with options and clear recommendations.
• Partner with product, delivery, and operations leaders to contribute target state and technical debt into roadmaps, track outcomes, and remove impediments; oversee execution for programs and projects in scope.
• Harvest reusable assets and reference designs; share through communities of practice and contribute to profession standards.
• Provide executive‑ready communication and regular readouts to CTWS leadership; maintain transparent status on decisions, risks, and dependencies.

Qualifications:

• Education: Undergraduate studies in Computer Science, MIS, or related field preferred.
• Experience: 10+ years in technology with demonstrated strength across multiple architecture domains and technologies; 5+ years leading planning/roadmaps; 4+ years people leadership preferred; web and cloud experience required.

Skills:

• Executive‑level communication, facilitation, and influence; strong presence with ability to negotiate priorities and drive decisions.
• Enterprise/solution architecture, reference design creation, and governance through ARB and standards processes.
• Microsoft platform: Azure; M365 (Entra ID, Teams, SharePoint, Exchange, Graph); Power Platform; Copilot/Copilot Studio; identity and security (RBAC, Conditional Access, PIM, Purview, Defender); endpoint management (Windows 11, Intune/Autopilot); enterprise integrations; governance and cost controls.
• Platform and data governance for AI/search connectors; collaboration with Security Architecture, IAM, IRM, and data owners.
• Contact center and unified desktop/experience evaluation experience (e.g., ServiceNow, Genesys) with decision frameworks and runway planning.
• Endpoint and PC Services architecture familiarity; ability to drive creation of authoritative diagrams and documentation with operations teams.
• No‑code/low‑code agentic patterns (M365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, Glean) and associated guardrails for monitoring, security, and accountability.
• Values: Regularly demonstrates Nationwide's values and profession standards; insurance/financial services experience a plus.

Job Description Summary

If you're enthusiastic about delivering secure technology solutions to support a company providing extraordinary care to its customers, then Nationwide Technology is the place for you. Nationwide's industry-leading technology workforce embraces an agile work environment and a collaborative culture to deliver outstanding solutions and results. If that sounds like something you aspire to, we want to hear from you

As a Solution Architect Leader you will be responsible for the technical quality, integrity and evolution of the application portfolio supporting a product domain, a business solution area or the technology portfolio supporting a line of business or infrastructure domain.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for applying secure software and systems engineering practices throughout the delivery lifecycle to ensure our data and technology solutions are protected from threats and vulnerabilities.
• Responsible for the management of associates including but not limited to performance management, salary planning, training, development, workforce planning, hiring, and disciplinary actions; and attracts, hires, engages and develops the team through impactful recruitment, coaching and feedback.
• Leads the development and maintenance of technology strategies, blueprints and application roadmaps for a product domain, a business solution area or business/technology roadmaps for a given infrastructure domain.
• Identifies technical risk, currency and depth of product/applications supporting a business solution area or leads the technologies supporting a given infrastructure domain.
• Oversees the delivery of programs and projects driven by the solution area, product domain or infrastructure domain.
• Implements reusable technology solutions that uses shared assets.
• Harvests intellectual capital that contributes to increased delivery capabilities.
• Leads technical quality through architecture and design reviews.
• Top specialist in the generation of new solutions and designs in support of the needs of the product domain, business area or infrastructure domain.
• Assists business solution area leadership team with estimating costs and technical resource planning for new solutions, technology upgrades and maintenance of product/application platforms.
• Establishes building codes and guardrails for the business solution area and carries out compliance with technology and architecture standards.
• Active profession participant through communities of practice, industry involvement and/or standards organizations.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to Technology AVP or above; responsible for 4-8 directs and in-directs.

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: Undergraduate studies in computer science, management information systems, or a related field is preferred.

License/Certification/Designation: Technology certifications or designation are not required but encouraged.

Experience: More than ten years of experience in a Technology. Shown strength in multiple architectural domains and various technologies. Awareness of and experience with Web and Cloud technologies. Five years leading planning and roadmap development and four years of management experience is preferred.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Superb communication and facilitation skills. Ability to make decisions and recommendations on technology strategies while considering various options and business needs. Aptitude to influence, build relationships, negotiate and set priorities needed. Strong executive presence. Insurance/financial services industry knowledge a plus.

Other criteria, including leadership or technical skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager's leader and HR Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Exempt (Not Eligible)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Some travel maybe required.

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:

We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.