Principal Architect – Retail and Property

Job description

Job Description:

Develop the strategy and own the roadmap creation for Applications and Technology for the Retail and Property portfolio, working closely with Heads of Technology Solutions and Product Owners to effectively translate business needs / requirements. Provide technical thought leadership in M&S whilst leveraging and cultivating key strategic thought leadership from the wider retail industry and the strategic partner. Support the development of the overall Technology strategy. Support in the definition
of relevant architectural processes, standards and tools.

Key accountabilities and measures

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Develop the strategy and own the roadmap creation for the Retail and Property portfolio, providing a world class retail industry context, aligned to the overall Technology Strategy

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Engage directly with the senior business leaders within the relevant business portfolio(s) to ensure that the business leadership owns the overall roadmap content and direction as part of their wider business strategy

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Support the development of the overall Technology Strategy

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Definition, management and governance of the implementation of, and adherence to, architectural procedures, standards, patterns, processes and tools

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Bring outside-in, industry expertise to M&S technology, ensuring this is embedded through strategic and architectural decisions – both internally and those made by the Strategic Supplier

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Keep abreast of developments in the technology industry and retail market space, participating in thought leadership initiatives and representing M&S Technology at industry events

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Develop strong working relationships with the relevant Head of Technology Solutions, supporting the translation of business needs / requirements into Technology strategy and roadmaps, ensuring technology investments create business value

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Work closely with the Strategic Supplier to enable the successful development and implementation of Solutions and Technical Architecture, ensuring design, strategic planning and product / project delivery support is provided to the relevant business portfolios, and is aligned to M&S Technology strategy and roadmaps

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Ensure the strategy and roadmaps support the business’s change priorities in a flexible, cost effective and implementable manner, whilst ensuring M&S’ technology investments are aligned to the overall technology strategy, are future-facing and meet business needs

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To ensure the roadmap(s) and technology strategy is communicated and bought into across the organisation (and appropriate third parties)

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Ensure the portfolio architecture strategies are effectively communicated and bought into across the organisation (and appropriate third parties)

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Actively engage with the qualification, selection and ongoing talent management in relation to the Strategic Supplier’s architects and relevant SMEs

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Help in the establishment and ongoing development of an active M&S architecture community, ensuring a cohesive and collaborative engagement with the Strategic Supplier’s architects and relevant SMEs

Key skills

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A proven ability to deliver flexible, reliable, supportable, cost effective architectural solutions

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Demonstrable knowledge of the Technology and Retail marketplace, trends and innovation

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Strong experience of enterprise-level Technology and Application Architecture and the development and delivery of relevant technology strategies covering point of sale, stock management, store operations, payment, store devices and facilities management.

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Demonstrable experience in solutions architecture, application and/or technical architecture, systems integration, Technology industry standards, services design, architecture principles design, architecture views and viewpoints design, building block design, solutions modelling, systems behaviour

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Wide ranging experience across modern technology platforms including cloud computing, services and APIs, integration, collaboration, business intelligence and big data platforms

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Commercial evaluation and planning skills (cost models, business cases, TCO calculation, budgeting and forecasting)

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Excellent communication, stakeholder management, presentation and technology leadership skills