IT Solution Architect (Ref: 191388)

This organization is a prominent player in the Retail industry, focusing on Sporting and Recreational Equipment. They are well-regarded for their extensive product offerings and a corporate culture that emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and customer-centric service.

We are collaborating with our client to identify an IT Solution Architect who will be instrumental in crafting and executing technology solutions that streamline business operations. The ideal candidate will possess a strategic mindset, enabling them to effectively connect business demands with technological solutions while maintaining compliance with enterprise architecture standards.

• Oversee the evaluation and proposal of effective technological solutions, including potential upgrades, replacements, or phase-outs, always aiming for enhanced business efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Develop and implement strategies to minimize the time allocated to reactive tasks.
• Engage with business and technology experts to produce comprehensive end-to-end solutions that add value while adhering to established architecture frameworks.
• Forge strong partnerships with business leaders to synchronize IT operations with overall business goals.
• Utilize various modeling techniques to represent conceptual, logical, and physical solutions.
• Create detailed documentation capturing the comprehensive design of technical solutions.
• Facilitate the refinement of requirements, focusing particularly on service expectations.
• Collaborate closely with other IT teams to enhance understanding of the architectural vision and incorporate their feedback.
• Participate in design reviews to ensure architectural integrity and traceability to preliminary solutions.
• Assist in the creation and ongoing enhancement of enterprise standards and guidelines.
• Effectively communicate the architectural choices and rationale behind them.
• Proactively work with business stakeholders to ensure their imminent and future technical needs are met.
• Develop a deep understanding of the organization's policies and safety protocols.
• Remain flexible to other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements & Attendance:

• Must possess adequate hearing and vision to fulfill job functions.
• Adherence to scheduled work hours and maintenance of professional conduct is required.
• Consistent attendance at the workplace is mandatory.

• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline is required.
• A minimum of 10 years of pertinent experience in IT management or a solutions architecture role is essential.
• Experience in the retail industry for 2-3 years is preferred.
• 3-5 years of hands-on experience with data integration strategies and tools is necessary.
• 3-5 years in designing solutions for cloud and hybrid environments is required.
• Understanding of network and security implications concerning system integration and data flow is critical.
• A robust understanding of security practices in both on-premises and cloud settings is essential.
• Familiarity with vendor management and enterprise architecture integration tools is advantageous.
• Knowledge of IT architectural models such as TOGAF and Zachman is beneficial.
• Experience with retail supply chain and planning operations, especially merchandising, is a plus.
• Experience in implementing enterprise-class supply chain management solutions is highly desirable.
• Solid experience in designing service-oriented architecture (SOA) and microservices is preferred.
• Experience with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) applications tailored for retail is a key asset.

Skills:

• Able to effectively navigate and integrate both agile and traditional waterfall methodologies.
• Outstanding interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, enabling interaction with various levels of stakeholders.
• Ability to foster consensus on proposed solutions among different parties.
• Capable of working independently while also being a proactive team player.
• Strong analytical skills complemented by creative problem-solving capabilities.
• Self-driven, with the ability to juggle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Preferred skills include strong optimization abilities, such as stochastic modeling and advanced planning techniques.
• Adept at working with business leadership to create lower-level roadmaps and contextualize requirements.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.

• Competitive salary with performance-related bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and wellness benefits.
• Opportunities for ongoing professional development and training.
• Flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance.