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Architect

Job description

Reports to: 

Director of Technology 

 

Location: 

Piccadilly though travel to all sites required on occasion 

 

 

Role Purpose:  

To provide a strategic oversight, planning, governance and direction for complex technology stack in this evolving dynamic business. With an experienced background in strategic technology design you will have the vision to advise and architect technology that fulfils the needs of this diverse business, maximising existing investments and identifying opportunities to utilise new technology that is appropriate for our business.  

 

The role will establish the architecture function, setting up governance processes and procedures for others to follow, utilising TOGAF methodologies.  Working closely with the Director of Technology to create a Technology strategy that is aligned to the business strategy, drawing on the heritage of the brand, to utilising technology to enrich our customer and staff experiences to elevate the brand onto the next stage of its incredible journey.   

 

Collaborating with the business and transformation teams to ensure our technology is constantly evolving and making the most out of industry developments. The role will be responsible for ensuring designs are architected to a high, secure standard. The candidate will have vast experience of producing high level designs across multiple products, with multi-functional assets and will have experience of writing technical system and solution documentation. This role will be responsible for being able to understand the business desires, the existing technology landscape and blending that with, the vision for the future and the opportunities that technology provides to enrich the needs of the business. 

 

 

 

Responsibilities 

Operational  

  • Define, create and maintain the technology strategy with the Director of Technology in conjunction with business stakeholders 

  • Create and implement overarching governance to architecture function, to ensure standards upheld 

  • Translate requirements from the business into technology designs that are commercially astute  

  • Provide architecture at the inception stage of each project to ensure that design standards are woven into the fabric of each delivery 

  • Lead architecture governance, creating, implementing and setting standards across the business  

  • Assist with problem management. Actively engage in identifying issues and subsequent solutions, whilst working collaboratively across teams and classifying and managing associated risks 

  • Ensure documentation of all solutions are to the correct standard 

  • Lead the Design Forum, reviewing and approving all designs and collaborating across team 

  • Have holistic view of the estate to understand ways to consolidate and strengthen technology  

 

People & Collaboration  

  • Establish the architecture function – provide governance and confidence in the strategy 

  • Acting as a translator between the non-technical business stakeholders and the technical engineers and vice versa 

  • Support third parties working for or in conjunction with our overall requirements, ensuring that they meet our standards and ways of working 

  • Keep up to date with trends and new ways of working and emerging trends within the industry and within the technology stack, actively learning and ensuring that new applications and platforms are explored and understood 

  • Collaborate with each area of the technology teams to share the technology strategy so it is realised 

  • Act as an ambassador for the Technology team within the wider business to explain the role of architecture 

  • Identify potential risks and challenges in the creation and implementation of the strategy and design process and devise mitigation actions to ensure successful adoption 

  • Imbed security principles into every aspect of the architecture created 

  • Understand customer journeys and be excited about all parts of the business from logistics to product management, to marketing through to retail and data. It is imperative you are keen to know about all parts of this business 

 

 

Previous Experience (including qualifications where relevant) 

  • Proven experience of working as an Architect for a minimum of 10 years, preferably within the Retail sector and exhibit passion for technology and data. 

  • Demonstrable experience of the systems listed below that are identified as Essential to the role 

  • Leadership experience in setting up an architecture function and bedding into an established business 

  • Relevant certification in D365 architecture and development and strong knowledge of data implementations 

 

Role Specific Criteria:

Competencies 

  • Experience in Retail & Hospitality 
  • Leadership experience 

Technologies/ Qualifications 

  • Microsoft Azure  
  • Microsoft D365 
  • E-commerce / Mobile App experience 
  • Databricks 
  • Integrations platforms 
  • Adobe suite 
  • Adyen 
  • PIM 
  • DAM 
  • Incident and problem management 
  • ITIL 
  • TOGAF 
  • GenAI technologies 
  • Cisco Meraki 
  • Data privacy & data regulations including GDPR & PCIDSS 

Behaviours 

  • Ability to manage conflicting priorities and customer expectations 
  • Team player 
  • Proactively takes responsibility, owns any issues arising and follows through to resolution 
  • Strong communication skills – written and verbal 
  • Outcomes focused and driving results 
  • Prioritising skills with the ability to manage workload 
  • Works at pace, but with accuracy and attention to detail 
  • Financial astute 
  • Experience of Agile working behaviour 

 

We are committed to developing your career and nurturing your talent, regardless of age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation. We respect and embrace each other's differences, to create a truly inclusive environment.

In the last year alone, our people have been recognised and celebrated, winning awards for their outstanding contributions to Retail, Technology, Global Hospitality & Tourism, Visual Merchandising & Display, Customer Service and Local Community Awards.

 
 

In return, we offer:

  • A competitive salary
  • A generous store and restaurant discount of up to 40%
  • 25 days holidays (excluded bank holidays) and an extra day off for your birthday
  • A fantastic subsidised staff restaurant which uses Fortnum’s ingredients
  • A range of opportunities to develop and grow personally and professionally
  • Excellent pension scheme