VP, Architecture

Description and Requirements
VP, Architecture
Location: Cary, NC
VP, Architecture
Emerging Technology Platforms and Architecture

Location: Cary, NC preferred, then NYC

Global Technology
On MetLife's Global Technology team, what you build here matters. We view our solutions through the eyes of the customers and are always striving to transform and simplify their experience. Whether your focus is keeping our customers' and employees' data and information safe, developing best-in-class-digital and cloud solutions, or leveraging data and analytics to transform customer insights into customer-first solutions - you make an impact for the customers we serve. We each play an integral role in bringing MetLife's purpose of building a more confident future to life. Sound like a team you'd like to work with? Join us!
The Opportunity
The VP Architecture is a strategic and forward-looking technology thought leader responsible for defining, leading and governing the enterprise architecture strategy across all business units and regions globally within MetLife. The ideal candidate has a proven track record of leadership, driving innovation, encouraging a culture of experimentation, and developing scalable architecture and solutions to advance MetLife's technological capabilities. Serving as a strategic leader within the Emerging Technology Platforms and Architecture function, this leader will be accountable for formulating and executing a cohesive approach to enterprise technology solutions, while collaborating extensively across all regions and functions of the company. This leader will ensure alignment of architecture standards with business goals, oversee a team of senior architects, and drive innovation and digital transformation through scalable and secure technology platforms. The VP Architecture is accountable for creating a technology architecture strategy that is tightly linked to MetLife's New Frontier and ensures that all Technology initiatives are advancing the strategy. This position provides strategic support to all areas of MetLife in the development and implementation of the organization's technology strategy, including Business Units, Application Development, Global Operations, Information Security, Data and Analytics, and Infrastructure.
How You'll Help Us Build a Confident Future (Key Responsibilities):
Innovation in Technology
• Drive technological innovation to enhance business capabilities and performance.
• Cultivate a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement within the technology teams. Publish position papers on emerging technologies for business and technology leadership.
• Lead the development of prototypes to explore new technologies and their applications.
Enterprise and Line of Business Architecture and Solutioning
• Build reference architectures and design patterns that are aligned to organization strategy, risk, operations and information security requirements in mind.
• Architect and deliver technology solutions tailored to various lines of business within MetLife.
• Build target state and transition state architectures partnering with business and CIO teams
• Collaborate with business leaders and CIOs to understand their needs and translate them into technical solutions.
• Ensure that technology initiatives are aligned with the overall business strategy and goals.
• Build roadmaps leading to the target state and align with business and enterprise strategies.
• Support M&A activities through architectural oversight and integration strategy to align business and technology goals.
Technical Governance
• Establish and enforce technology standards and patterns to ensure compliance across the enterprise.
• Oversee technology process governance to guarantee consistent technology use, aligned with industry standards. Support federated architecture review boards and maintain technology asset inventories.
• Implement security measures to ensure compliance and manage risks effectively.
What You Need to Succeed (Required Qualifications):
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in enterprise architecture or a related role preferably in Financial Services
• Proven track record of leading technological innovation and implementing effective governance frameworks.
• Strong understanding of security and risk management in a technology environment.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience in working with diverse lines of business and understanding their unique technological needs.
The expected salary range for this position is $250K to $312K. This role may also be eligible for annual short-term incentive compensation and stock-based long-term incentives. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.
Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the 2025 "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World's 25 Best Workplaces™ for 2024, as well as the 2025 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For ®, MetLife , through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by empathy, we're inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!
MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law ("protected characteristics").
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.
$250K to $312K
#BI-Hybrid