Solution Architect

Job Introduction

The Solutions Architect is responsible for defining the solution architecture for a project and is accountable for its successful design, development and implementation into the business and information systems landscape. They are responsible for exploring potential solution options and evaluating their fit to the business need, feasibility, cost, risks, benefits and support implications, then making recommendations and driving those decisions to resolution. They are also responsible for guiding vendor and product selection where required to ensure a strong fit for both the project need and the longer-term business ambitions.

A bit about the role

Solution Architecture

Defining and maintaining the solution architecture for each project that they are engaged on to enable successful project delivery including application, data, integration, infrastructure, operations and security architectures;

Working closely with business and information systems stakeholders to determine the most appropriate solutions for the organisation taking into account cost, benefit, timescales and constraints of the environment in which the portfolio operates;

Undertaking options analysis to evaluate the business, information, application and technology impact as well as the cost, risks, benefits and support implications of each option;

Reviewing third parties’ high level designs and implementations to ensure quality, coherence and consistency with solution architecture;

Working with the Business Solutions Architects to ensure that new / amended solutions align with the IT strategy, principles, enterprise architecture and domain architectures;

Defining and agreeing with the business the relevant non-functional requirements for the solution (performance, capacity, availability) and ensuring those requirements are met through solution design, both initially and in the future;

Determining and documenting the support impact, activities required to support the solution, transition considerations, business change implications and on-going cost to run the solution;

Project Delivery

Leading the selection of any new vendors, software and hardware components required for the solution, ensuring a strong fit for the solution requirements, alignment with the enterprise architecture and principles, long-term fit for the business, cost effectiveness and flexibility;

Contributing the solution design aspects to key project management documentation such as PIDs and business requirements documentation etc.;

Planning and estimating cost/duration of solution architecture activities necessary for successful completion of the project, including stakeholder consultation and review cycles, and ensuring those plans are reflected in project plans;

Assisting with the planning and estimating cost/duration of activities to deliver the solution including design, development, testing, implementation, migration, launch as well as the cost of procurement of any software or hardware components;

Identifying risks exposed by proposed solutions, identifying mitigating actions and following them through to closure;

Ensuring that the as-built solution is delivered as designed, that any components no longer required are decommissioned, licences are released, documentation is updated and any outstanding components / unmet requirements are appropriately handed over to be planned into later projects;

Knowledge Sharing & Thought Leadership

Ensuring that all relevant information about the baseline, transition and target architecture as well as plans and roadmaps is captured in an appropriate format, stored and controlled to promote re-use and consolidation in to a single view of the truth;

Providing a deep knowledge of specific architecture solutions and acting as an informed “challenger” to ensure alternatives have been considered rather than “just doing what we’ve always done”;

Deputising for the Business Solutions Architect as required;

Ensuring that all activities are performed at a consistently high standard with minimal risk to the Selfridges and Co. and Brown Thomas business and that opportunities to improve services and processes are identified and actioned.

A bit about you

Qualifications/ Training

Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, or business (management or economics).

Relevant qualification in systems analysis and design (e.g. BCS Solution Development Diploma or equivalent)

Awareness of enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g. TOGAF, Zachman, MODAF)

Experience

Significant experience as a Solution Architect, Solution Designer or equivalent role within an omni-channel retail organisation or a leading Management Consultancy. This will include the definition and delivery of major change in back office solutions and at least one of the following domains: Ecommerce, Buying & Merchandising, Logistics & Supply Chain, Finance, Omni-Channel Order Management, Customer Experience and Relationship Management (CRM).

Extended experience in at least two IT disciplines (such as business analysis, application development, middleware, information analysis, technical architecture, service delivery);

Experience designing and engineering applications, both packaged and bespoke, in particular mission critical business applications, distributed and multi-tier applications;

Experience delivering solutions within an application, integration or technical subject area within a significant transformation programme through to successful delivery;

Experience informing business stakeholders and communicating complex ideas and solution options in a simple and resonant way in order to gain buy-in and commitment;

Experience in supporting project delivery involving both in-house and third-party design, development, testing and project management;

Experience using modelling tools and techniques to document and manage business, information, applications & technical architectures, e.g. UML, BPMN, Archimate or similar;

Experience of different delivery lifecycles and service delivery methods will be beneficial, e.g. RUP, Agile, TDD, Waterfall, Prince2, ITIL and similar;

Experience designing solutions for common back office applications will be beneficial, e.g. Microsoft O365 solutions, Oracle E business Suite, Workday etc.

Technical Skills

Awareness of the key business functions within a specific domain (e.g. eCommerce, buying & merchandising) of a modern omni-channel retailer, the major processes and information flows, how they combine to produce value and the role of information systems in supporting them;

Awareness of common strategies, challenges and business models relevant to retailers and the influence they have on technology strategy and decision-making;

Ability to define all aspects of information, application, integration and technology architecture necessary to effectively meet a business need;

Ability to identify multiple solution options to address a business problem and analyse, assess their impact and make appropriate recommendations;

Ability to manage the selection and evaluation of vendors and software / hardware procurement, in collaboration with the Project Manager and the IT procurement team;

Ability to rapidly analyse and understand functions and operation of existing solutions and capabilities of new technologies;

Ability to identify and plan for the information management, security, performance, capacity, availability, reliability, flexibility and supportability aspects of a solution across a diverse variety of technologies and topologies;

Demonstrated understanding of key systems design concepts, systems behaviour, application and integration patterns, standards, architecture principles and building blocks.

Personal Attributes/ Behavioural Skills

Motivated self-starter, enthusiastic, resilient, personally effective, pro-active and with a flexible attitude to work;

Strong strategic and analytical problem solving skills, has a keen attention to detail and a good commercial sense;

Quickly builds strong relationships and credibility with both the business and within Information Systems;

Excellent person/people management skills, especially in developing consensus across diverse groups;

Makes customer-oriented decisions and shares great stories of exceptional customer service;

Remains visible to customers as one of the faces of IS to listen to their concerns and share these with others;

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an ability to handle difficult or sensitive situations;

Communicates information in a relevant and concise fashion, mindful of and tailored to the audience;

Proactively identifies areas for improvement, shares lessons learned with colleagues and encourages others to do the same;

Ability to continually question current customs and practice, think laterally to resolve project issues and initiate quality improvements;

Prioritises work and remains focussed on the most critical tasks, ensuring time and resources are used efficiently and effectively;

Confident, able to make tough decisions and stick to them when questioned.

A bit about us

We are a shop run on imagination: a place where the world’s most covetable brands combine with the most extraordinary spectacles, events and ideas for an experience like no other.

We have challenged the rules of retail from day one, whilst demonstrating our unwavering commitment to sustainability.  In 2016, we were the first to be awarded with recognition for the ‘World’s Best Sustainability Campaign by a Department Store’ at the IGDS Global Department Store Summit, in-line with its focus on buying better and inspiring change. We are also recognised as the Best Department Store in the World (2010, 2012, 2014 & 2018) underlining our place at the forefront of retail. In 2018 we were recognised as a LinkedIn Top Company to work for.

Our vision is to be the destination for the most extraordinary customer experience, and our people are central to us achieving this. As an employer we are committed to making Selfridges an exciting, inspiring and fun place to work