First, this person needs to possess an eclectic set of skills, including experience in programming, database design, network design, interface design, security, and performance engineering. Typically has a BS in computer science or business information systems, and sometimes an MS in computer science or business information systems.

Second, this person needs to have great written and verbal communication skills. You’ll need to this to communicate with the many people involved in this process, as well as producing the many documents that comes out of this process.

Third, this person needs to work and play well with others, meaning he or she understands how to deal with very different personalities in an organization, and gets them on board with the movement towards a SOA.

Forth, this person needs to keep up with the technology. He or she needs to know what’s hot as well as what’s working, and what’s not.

Finally, this person needs to be goal-oriented, or able to step up and make things happen on time, including completing requirements documents, design document, and completing a proof-of-concept. Nothing happens unless steps are completed.

Do you have the right stuff? If you do you’re in for a wild right for the next few years. By the way, HR people can leverage the text above as a job rec, I won’t mind.