Lead Architect

Description and Requirements
Job Summary

• Subject matter expert in information technology architecture with focus on insurance industry
• Influences both business and IT leaders to ensure success of enterprise-level programs in the context of technology & solutions.
• Drives to maximize efficiency in both application development, security, and infrastructure.
• Assures that architecture solution is to deliver business values, aligned to MetLife IT strategic roadmap and standards in order to maximize synergies and enterprise leverage

Responsibilities

• Identify gaps or deficiencies in the existing portfolio of IT solutions, management information systems and reporting, technology landscape and processes.
• Facilitate Japan key initiatives, including the coordination of an appropriately balanced pursuit of business objectives, IT strategic alignment, technical and solution per architecture viewpoints.
• Simplify the IT landscape by reducing complexity, diversity of solution and establishing consistency of approach within IT, covering IT applications, security , and Infrastructure architecture.
• Manage the identification and analysis of business drivers to business capabilities, information, technical and solution architecture requirements; including analyzing industry trends, technology to determine their potential impacts on the MetLife Japan architecture landscape.
• Illustrate a deep understanding of how both current and future technology can be used to drive business transformation.
• Drive the development of enterprise standards and strategic target roadmaps and ensure alignment across MetLife technology departments and business functions.
• Cultivate an environment of innovation, thought leadership, and partnership.
• Facilitate recurring MetLife Japan internal architecture, roadmap and standards meetings and assure action plans are fully developed and assigned to the appropriate departmental executives.
• Liaise with external vendors and technology partners such as Microsoft, Oracle, IBM etc. in the context of architecture and solutions.

Experience, Skills, Qualifications:
Must have minimum 8 years working experience in IT and 5 years in architecture solution design. Experience in the life insurance or financial services industries is a plus.
Must demonstrate experience and knowledge in information technology architecture practice, standards and plans in the financial industry. Life insurance experience will be a plus.
Possess wide technical knowledges and architecture design experience on SOA architecture, API/microservices, cloud service and so on. Having experience such as Kubernetes, OpenShift, AWS, or Azure will be PLUS.
Possess Data architecture experience.
Must have a good understanding of the financial services business and be able to discuss the business implications of technology decisions, as well as the technology implications of business decisions, particularly in terms of costs and implementation roadmaps.
Must have minimum 3 years' experience in IT Architecture Governance and demonstrate strong capability in communication and negotiation.
Strong understanding of LLMs, foundation models, responsible AI. Experience designing enterprise solutions using cloud AI platforms such as Azure AI, designing security and governance controls for enterprise AI.
Must be able to design solutions with security in mind involves conducting AI-specific threat modeling. A deep understanding of Identity and Access Management (IAM) to control permissions for agentic systems.
Implementation experience in Enterprise Architecture frameworks such as TOGAF, Zachman and other associated frameworks is strongly preferred.
Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of financial, non-financial, technical, and executive audiences.
Must have the ability to develop strategic relationships with their client groups and vendor partners.
Strong leadership skills required to restructure and continually refine organizational goals and direction.
Ability to direct multiple teams' activities; ability to direct, motivate and develop project staff in an evolving environment.
Strong interpersonal, conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of IT leaders and business audiences.
Japanese is a must and good written and oral communication skills in English.
Leadership Competencies:

• Thinks Strategically - Sets direction aligned to the company's strategy, applying external and global perspective to meet local and global needs.
• Motivates People - Gains people commitment to achieve business objectives through clear communication of the company's vision and flexing leadership styles to inspire high performance.
• Creates Partnerships - Authentically builds trusted relationships and collaborates across global, diverse and multi-functional teams to successfully drive business objectives.
• Models our Values - Creates a culture that promotes the company's values and standards through role modeling, accountability and ownership of decisions.
• Focuses on Customers - Promotes customer centricity and ensures focus on creating great customer experiences to achieve competitive advantage.
• Drives Results - Sets aggressive goals and is accountable for continuously driving improved performance, leading change and ensuring high standards.

Language:

• Japanese: Intermediate
• English: Advanced

福利厚生
メットライフ生命では、ワークライフバランスと社員の心身の健康を促進する福利厚生を提供しています。社員はフレックスタイム制度、年次有給休暇、特別連続休暇、リフレッシュ休暇等の休暇を利用できます。また、社会保険や団体保険の他、旅行や英会話教室で使える割引も提供しています。柔軟に働けるよう、オフィス勤務と在宅勤務を組み合わせた勤務形態の導入や、短時間勤務制度、また柔軟性のあるドレスコードなども設けています。
Benefits We Offer
MetLife Japan offers a comprehensive benefits package that promotes work-life balance and employee wellbeing. Employees can take advantage of flex time policy and a generous time-off policy, national holidays, annual paid leave, special consecutive leave, and refreshment leave. We also provide full social insurance coverage, a commuting expense reimbursement, group insurance, and discounts on travel and English language lessons. To support work flexibility, employees also have hybrid work options, shortened working hours for parents with children in third grade or below, and a casual dress code.
メットライフについて
メットライフは、グローバルで展開する金融サービス企業です。個人および法人のお客さまがより確かな未来を築けるよう、保険、年金、社員福利厚生給付、資産管理のサポートを提供しています。1868年に創業したメットライフは、世界40以上の市場で事業を展開し、米国、アジア、中南米、ヨーロッパ、中東において業界をリードしています。
メットライフは、New Frontier戦略の一環として、AIを活用し、人を中心に据えた未来を築いています。私たちは、AIを活用して顧客へのサービス向上、地域社会への支援、そして働き方の変革を推進していく中で、好奇心、適応力、そして成長意欲を持つ人材を求めています。メットライフにおいて、AIは、人間の判断力、創造性、継続的な改善を支える責任あるパートナーであり、信頼、インクルージョン、そして長期的な価値の構築に貢献しています。
メットライフ生命は、日本初の外資系生命保険会社として、1973年2月に国内での営業を開始しました。当社のPurpose「ともに歩んでゆく。よりたしかな未来に向けて。」は、メットライフが誇るグローバルネットワークと世界中のベストプラクティスを活かし、お客さまのニーズに応え、地域社会との信頼関係を築くという信念を表しています。
About MetLife
MetLife Inc., through its subsidiaries and affiliates (MetLife), is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help individual and institutional customers build a more confident future. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 markets globally and holds leading positions in the United States, Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.
As part of our New Frontier strategy, MetLife is building an AI-enabled, people-centered future. We're looking for people who bring curiosity, adaptability, and a growth mindset as we use AI to enhance how we serve customers, support communities, and evolve the way work gets done. At MetLife, AI is a responsible partner that supports human judgment, creativity, and continuous improvement while helping us build trust, inclusion, and long-term value.
MetLife Japan began operations in February 1973 as Japan's first foreign-owned life insurance company. Our purpose, "Always with you, building a more confident future," encapsulates our strong commitment to leveraging our global network and best practices worldwide to stand with our customers and build trust with our communities.