We have an exciting opportunity for a Dynamics Architect to join our growing IT team based in the A&O Shearman Belfast office.
The core of the global technology department’s mission is to provide stable, reliable, and secure platforms and services to our partners, staff and clients and fulfil our regulatory obligations across 30+ countries. To ensure that a consistent and standardised IT service is delivered to all offices, IT is managed and led as a global function, enabling all offices to benefit from complete systems integration and economies of scale. We have around 400 technologists based predominantly in the UK, Singapore and increasingly in the US.
The Team - Enterprise Technology Platforms
The Enterprise Technology Platforms team is responsible for shaping the strategic direction and roadmap of the firm’s core technology platforms. These platforms act as the foundational ‘building blocks’ that enable the delivery of strategic business outcomes. The team ensures that platform services are continuously improved, aligned with business needs, and prioritised effectively. By designing, building and managing these platforms, the team simplifies and enhances the firm’s technology landscape—making it more efficient, scalable and fit for purpose.
Reporting to the Power Platform and Co-Pilot Architect, this role owns the target architecture and engineering for the Dynamics product. The role is responsible for directing internal developers and external third-party service providers.
The role is accountable for the design and delivery of the target architecture for the Dynamics product and connected technologies. This includes defining the architecture roadmap and blueprint. Then overseeing the engineering of solutions, ensuring that they are fit for purpose, scalable, resilient and secure. The role will also develop and direct strategic suppliers to provide expertise and capacity where required. The role will develop proof of concepts for new functionality. It will also design and develop tooling to improve the development and support of Dynamics and Power Platform solutions across the firm.
What you will do
1. Design and deliver the target architecture and engineering for the firm’s Dynamics products. Working with Enterprise Architecture and other Platform Architects to ensure end-to-end alignment.
2. Develop customer relationships with fee earners and business teams to align expectations, promote capabilities, and develop roadmaps to develop the product.
3. Oversee the delivery and engineering of Dynamics products, providing technical guidance and ensuring that designs are in line with enterprise strategies, standards and policies. Help to run the Power Platform Delegated Authority to ensure Dynamics and Power Platform developed solutions are governed correctly and the platform is managed well.
4. Work with Platform Owners and Technology Delivery to scope, plan and schedule product releases. This includes completing formal design submissions to be presented at the relevant Design Authority.
5. Work with stakeholders from Technology Services, Data Governance and Information Security to ensure that the Dynamics product is available, performant, compliant and secure.
6. Support the Enterprise Platforms leadership team to collectively define, implement and operate the firm’s Dynamics product.
7. Act as the focal point for matters related to Dynamics, providing expert guidance to other teams when required.
8. Manage service provider reviews to assess performance against service targets, drive innovation and ensure any remediation activities are being delivered.
9. Contribute to the management of the Dynamics product budget and benefits delivery, developing estimates and tracking performance against plans.
10. Understand the vendor roadmap and wider industry trends to identify and pursue opportunities for continuous improvement in Dynamics architecture.
What you will have
11. Direct or related experience in Microsoft Dynamics architecture, preferably within the legal or professional services sector.
12. Deep knowledge and understanding of Microsoft dynamics solutions. Include best practices for design, configuration and operational management.
13. Applied knowledge of IT strategic planning, design, and operations processes.
14. Proven project management capabilities.
15. Experience of enterprise architecture frameworks and Agile delivery methods. In-depth knowledge of architecture processes and deliverables.
16. Knowledge of current IT and data market trends and technology innovations.
17. Proven track record of managing virtual teams and third-party suppliers.
18. At least 10 years background in the IT industry, with 5 years' experience managing Dynamics or Power Platform architectures.
19. Proven stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
20. Proven business acumen and ability to understand how they add value to the function, firm or clients.
21. Ability to lead and develop team members.
22. Promotes the firm's values at all times and is comfortable working with a wide range of people and departments.
A&O Shearman is a global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 28 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.
We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world’s leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.
Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development; we are committed to an inclusive environment, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimize your wellbeing.