What’s the role about:

Playing a key role in the John Lewis Partnership’s (JLP) Architecture Team is challenging, fascinating and rewarding. 

We are looking for a Solution Architect with a passion for enabling business change through technology and with an ability to act as the interface between the business and technical teams. As the Programme Solution Architect on our largest business and tech modernisation programme in our Trading domain, you will play a fundamental role in modernising the Merchandising and Stock Management (Enterprise Resource Planning) capabilities within Waitrose - ranging from how Waitrose forecasts customer demand, through to placing orders with suppliers and performing the subsequent stock management activities. 

What you’ll be doing as a Programme Solution Architect: 

In this role you will: 

• Lead all Architectural activities on the programme (design governance, design decisions, architecture principles/guardrails and representing architecture at key forums) including key stakeholder management

• Act as the key interface between the business and Architecture/technical teams - ensuring the solution meets the business need and translating the implications of the solution back to the business teams

• Be responsible for taking & maintaining a holistic view of how the solution impacts other areas of the business, such as supply chain, shops and online 

• Design an end-to-end technology solution that is effective, efficient and sustainable 

• Ensure architectural best practice is brought to bear during solution design to increase value, reduce delivery risk, and control technical debt

• Be supported by a team (mix contractors and employees) of architects, with specialised knowledge of the solution being implemented, and/or previous experience of similar solution deployments 

What you’ll have (Essential skills/core competencies):

• The ability to be able to operate & communicate at a functional and technical level (i.e. comfortable with solution/technical teams but adept at translating into business/non technical language when with business stakeholders)

• An ability to problem solve and to look at solution challenges objectively

• Good influencing and negotiation skills (GAP certified useful), with an ability to bring stakeholders (both technical and non technical) on the journey when making key design or solution decisions

• The ability to motivate and get the most out of a team (with specialist knowledge & skills) 

• Experience of the role of Architecture in a programme delivery lifecycle and an understanding of the key challenges/pitfalls that come with a large transformation programme

Other useful competencies/experience - non essential)

• Experience of playing a similar Lead or Programme Solution Architect role on a large transformation programme, preferably in Retail or an adjacent industry

• Experience of Blue Yonder/JDA or Oracle Retail technology solutions  

Additional Information:

• The application form consists of a CV upload, followed by application questions. Please visit - https://www.jlpjobs.com/how-to-apply/journey/ to understand more about application and hiring process

• Internal applicants  please copy paste this link on to the browser for job outline - https://bit.ly/JOSACC 

• We occasionally close vacancies early in the event that we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore we recommend you apply as soon as possible.