Senior Solutions Architect

SENIOR SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT - RETAIL

OVERVIEW

The Senior Solution Architect is responsible for major architecture decisions in support of our major retail accounts as well as the solution strategy for the retail vertical within the business including what technologies we commit to and technical assets we build to support our propositions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

STRATEGIC

- Understand implications of technology trends in market place and their impact on the business.
- Assist technology COEs with technology adoption pertinent to the sector; execute against technology inputs from businesses technology strategy.
- Represent in retail technology forums and shape industry point of view through speaking slots, white papers etc.
- Build and manage relationships with senior technical stakeholders in clients and prospects
- Provide mentoring for solution staff working in retail accounts.

CURRENT CLIENT ENGAGEMENTS

- Build and maintain relationship with Heads of Functions, Chief Architects, Lead Analysts etc. key client accounts.
- Lead the technology innovation workstream in key retail accounts.
- Accountable for significant technology selection decisions on major accounts.

PROSPECTIVE CLIENT ENGAGEMENTS

- Provide technology and solution assistance at exploratory meetings with sales team.
- Guide pre-sales solutions team on technology selection decisions

SKILLS

- Good cross organisation Stakeholder Management skills. Ability to converse with director and C-level as easily as developers and trainees.
- Good Communication Skills. Ability to create and shape communication events and present with authority.
- Technical Architecture in a number of domains (J2EE, .NET, RDBMS, etc.)
- Familiarity with key architectural concepts and trends - eg SOA, Data Warehousing, Digital, Big Data, Omni-Channel.
- Enterprise Architecture, Business Architecture, Domain Architecture, Data/Information Architecture
- Formal training or exposure to one or more industry recognised architecture frameworks/methods (eg TOGAF, Zachmann, ATAM)
- Good architectural understanding of the retail domains (Supply Chain, Logistics, HR, Operations, Finance, Property, Marketing, etc.)

EXPERIENCE

- 10 years+ of executing architecture process in large accounts.
- 5 years+ of leading architecture & design teams
- Experience of leading and implementing initiatives in architecture method change or reinforcement
- Must have experience working for a major retailer