Solution Architect II - Virtual North America

Our story

At Alight, we believe a company's success starts with its people. At our core, we Champion People, help our colleagues Grow with Purpose and true to our name we encourage colleagues to "Be Alight."

It's why we're so driven to connect passion with purpose. Our team's expertise in human insights and cloud technology, gives companies and employees around the world the ability to power confident decisions, for life.

With a comprehensive total rewards package, continuing education and training, and tremendous potential with a growing global organization, Alight is the perfect place to put your passion to work.

Join our team if you Champion People, want to Grow with Purpose through acting with integrity and if you embody the meaning of Be Alight.

Learn more at careers.alight.com.

Job Summary

The Solutions Architect will be primarily responsible for engaging with our most strategic prospective and existing clients and supporting the most complex sales activities by bringing deep domain, product, solution area and industry expertise and an understanding of client priorities to create compelling solutions that bring our value proposition to life and increase our win and renewal rate during a sales process.

The Solutions Architect is client-facing and partners with Sales Executives (SE) through all stages of the sales process - from introductory meetings to requests for proposals (RFP), finalist meetings, contracting and hand-off to the implementation team. In addition, the Solutions Architect is responsible for staying current on competitors, market and industry trends, product developments and Alight capabilities. Solution Architects are also an important source of market feedback working closely with Alight product owners to inform our roadmap.

The Solutions Architect possesses a broad understanding of cross-functional Finance touchpoints and their impacts within the Workday system and Alight's delivery model as well as strong business knowledge within the Finance space. They work independently to develop solutions to complex problems and client needs across multiple domains. The Solutions Senior Architect will also facilitate client sales meetings as Subject Matter Expert as well as partner with Workday and Alight sales executives and delivery leads on client sales activity.

Key Responsibilities

Sales process

• Assists SE in the development of prospect sales strategy - have a point of view.
• Provides input to strategic questions related to defining the opportunity.
• Performs discovery and scoping (e.g., identify complexity drivers).
• Articulate the client/project need and coordinate with Delivery Team SME for deep dive on complex or unique technical solutions to approve the estimates and assumptions can be met.
• Crafts proposal and works to develop estimate and Statement of Work.
• Navigates the discussions with business, sales, and clients to ensure an accurate and appropriate solution is achieved in a cost-effective manner.
• Complete solution estimate and coordinate with SE on deal model.
• Tailors materials based on solution, client need and competitive landscape. Creates new materials where needed.
• Plays a key role in sales meetings, with ability to engage other experts and leaders at the client and internally.
• Document concisely and clear throughout, ensuring maximum transparency and knowledge transfer across Delivery.

RFP support

• Reviews, updates, and provides input on RFP responses after initial draft is provided by the enablement team and Solutions Consultant.
• Creates responses for domain-related RFP questions where needed.
• Updates scope-related RFP response documents to ensure they match the deal model.
• Creates client-specific delivery model.

Domain/Product expertise

• Maintains expertise in domain products (i.e. Workday) and services and Alight's overall capabilities. Articulates and communicates Alight's value proposition and key differentiators.
• Collaborates with Delivery Leaders to stay connected to operations and delivery practices and share market insights.
• Keeps SE current on solutions, trends, and legislative and industry changes.
• Maintain Workday Certifications.

Product development

• Provides input to product owners - insights and feedback from prospects and Third-Party Evaluators to inform priorities and enhancements.
• Coordinates with business leaders and product owners on scope items that may require special development or staffing.
• Coordinate with product owners to ensure that latest solution developments are reflected in sales materials and assist with building expertise in these areas.
• Understand the competitive landscape and customer needs to position the Delivery organization effectively.

Other Projects

• Participates in Solutions and other business initiatives as assigned.
• Represents Alight in ecosystem events and discussions.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in business, technical or financial discipline or relevant field of study
• HR/Payroll/Finance administration and sales knowledge preferred
• Excellent client communication and consulting skills - able to lead engaging conversations, adapt on the fly, negotiate as needed and have a point-of-view
• Demonstrated track record applying domain expertise in client delivery or sales
• Proven ability to thrive and excel in a lean, fast-paced, dynamic environment with high-performance expectations
• Able to multi- task, work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Focused on attention to detail and accuracy and have strong analytic/diagnostic skills
• Flexible within the role and displays a willingness to get involved in appropriate tasks as requested from time to time
• Able to demonstrate customer management / service skills
• Self-driven and resourceful to achieve goals independently as well as work well in groups
• Proven experience in building and developing senior client relationships
• Minimum of 7 years of work experience
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a similar role
• Analytics and diagnostic experience related to crafting client software solutions
• Technical experience with Workday; minimum of two end to end Workday deployments preferred, including Workday certification
• Sales Support experience preferred
• Industry knowledge in Public Sector, a plus

Workday Professional Services

• Workday certification(s) at the time of hire as well as an on-going maintenance of certification

By applying for a position with Alight, you understand that, should you be made an offer, it will be contingent on your undergoing and successfully completing a background check consistent with Alight's employment policies. Background checks may include some or all the following based on the nature of the position: SSN/SIN validation, education verification, employment verification, and criminal check, search against global sanctions and government watch lists, credit check, and/or drug test. You will be notified during the hiring process which checks are required by the position.

Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Alight believes diversity should be visible, valued, and sustained throughout the organization. And we're committed to enabling an inclusive culture of belonging that engages all colleagues and grows the diversity of our talent to proudly represent the clients and communities we serve.

As an affirmative action employer, we adhere to the principles of equal employment opportunity in the workplace as defined in our diversity policy statement.

Diversity Policy Statement

Alight does not discriminate against anyone based on sex, gender, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics or conduct covered by federal, state or local law. In addition, we take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified minorities, women, disabled persons, disabled veterans and other covered veterans.

Alight provides reasonable accommodations to the known limitations of otherwise qualified employees and applicants for employment with disabilities and sincerely held religious beliefs, practices and observances, unless doing so would result in undue hardship. Applicants for employment may request a reasonableaccommodation/modificationby contacting his/her recruiter.

Authorization to work in the Employing Country

Applicants for employment in the country in which they are applying (Employing Country) must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the Employing Country and with Alight.

Note, this job description does not restrict management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities of this job to other entities; including but not limited to subsidiaries, partners, or purchasers of Alight business units.

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We offer you a competitive total rewards package, continuing education & training, and tremendous potential with a growing worldwide organization.

DISCLAIMER:

Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities of this job to other entities; including but not limited to subsidiaries, partners, or purchasers of Alight business units.