Solutions Architect

The Role:

Agria Pet Insurance are a fast growing business with big ambitions and we’re looking for a Solutions Architect to join us!

You’ll be responsible for the technical delivery of projects and changes from inception all the way through to delivery for all changes surrounding product, pricing and terms & conditions, working alongside the wider team to deliver complete solutions.

Working with internal teams and senior management to gather requirements and draft solution specifications, you’ll then work with other internal teams, external vendors and partners to deliver the end solution.

Experienced in .NET technologies, MSSQL database design and TSQL for advanced data queries, you’ll be a seasoned Architect with a leadership mindset looking for a new challenge!

We work to a hybrid model here at Agria Pet, where we all attend our Aylesbury office, once a week on a Wednesday.

What you’ll be doing:

Solutions Architect

• Own the end to end technical solution for a project from discovery to implementation
• Help to drive the requirements gathering for projects from technical perspective, ensuring all business area needs are captured, clear and understood.
• Creation of detailed specifications (both technical and functional) for use internally and by third party vendors. Ensuring the specifications are fully understood.
• Implementation/configuration of product solutions
• Support the build and test cycle teams wherever necessary to ensure timelines are adhered to and output is of high quality.
• Host end of sprint demo’s for stakeholders and subject matter experts.
• Aid in managing change and scope creep within the project. 
• Ensure acceptance into service processes are followed, following the release of a project into production.
• Run or support project closedown and lesson learned activities.

Day to Day

• Manage small/medium changes through to completion, working with a scaled down project framework model.
• Some helpdesk support may be required to triage tickets and assign them to appropriate resolver groups.
• Some technical development may be required to support in house applications.
• Some Research and Development may be required to explore new technologies and solutions.

What we’re looking for:

• A Technical Architect already working in a similar role or experience of working in a senior IT leadership position
• Proven experience of being involved in complex technical projects, preferably from a software development background.
• An advanced understanding of modern website architecture & web API’s
• Experience in MSSQL database design and use of TSQL for advanced data queries essential
• Experience in Microsoft .Net technologies
• Experience in automation/AI technologies
• Ability to understand complex technical processes and create pragmatic solutions is critical to success in this position
• Proven track record of managing project (Prince2 accreditation or equivilant desirable)
• ITL 4 accreditation desirable
• A great communicator with the ability to communicate complex technical solutions and concepts to peers and management level colleagues.
• Strong interpersonal skills enabling the ability to comfortably communicate with senior business leaders, external 3rd party vendors and the wider internal team.
• Proactive and enthusiastic in learning and seeking out new technologies.
• Experience working within the full end to end project life cycle.

Why choose Agria Pet:

Agria Pet Insurance is one of the UK's leading specialist pet insurance providers. We only provide lifetime insurance for animals, so truly understand and care about our customers and their beloved pets - especially as most of our team are pet parents, and we're all animal-lovers. Our passion for pets means that we are trusted by The Royal Kennel Club and many other significant affinity partners to provide lifetime pet insurance in their names. 

 Working closely with animal welfare organisations, vets and breeders, gives us deep insight on what's best for pets. And we give back too - including supporting hundreds of animal rescues, protecting over 100,000 rescued animals, and through donations of over £2m to animal charities. 

 We are a strong, growing business, having doubled our GWP in the last 5 years, with a supportive ethos and family feel. We became one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ in 2023 and again in 2024, were awarded Most Trusted Pet Insurer in 2021, we have the top 4 slots on Which? Best Buy pet insurance and we are extremely proud to be the only carbon positive pet insurer in the UK.

What we offer:

• 25 days annual leave which increases with service, plus bank holidays
• Opportunity to buy/sell up to 5 days annual leave per calendar year
• Pension and Life Assurance scheme
• Access to 25% off insuring your pet with Agria. Friends and family are also entitled to a discount too
• We aim to support the health and wellbeing of all our colleagues so you’ll have access to a Health Cash Plan, mental health support and health and wellbeing platforms, including Headspace