Senior Solution Architect - Stores

## An Exciting Opportunity to Architect the Future of a Beloved Brand: Tribe Architect - Customer at M&S

Marks & Spencer, a cornerstone of British retail, is undergoing a significant digital transformation, and at the heart of this evolution lies a profound investment in its architecture. This role of Tribe Architect within the Customer domain presents a unique opportunity for seasoned architectural leaders to not only influence but actively shape the technological landscape of a brand cherished by millions. If you are driven by innovation, possess a strategic mindset, and thrive in environments where your contributions have a tangible impact, this position warrants your serious consideration.

What Makes This Role Stand Out?

• Impactful Ownership: As a Tribe Architect, you will command a broad and critical portfolio encompassing loyalty, CRM, banking, personalization, online selling platforms, fulfillment and returns, contact centers, and the technology underpinning their extensive store estate. This is a chance to own significant areas of M&S's customer-facing technology.
• Strategic Leadership: You will be instrumental in defining and realizing the target architecture for your tribe, ensuring seamless alignment between enterprise capabilities and business objectives. Your vision will guide technical strategies and prioritize delivery for optimal outcomes.
• Driving Innovation for a Legacy Brand: M&S is actively leveraging technology to drive innovation. This role offers the chance to be at the forefront of this change, applying modern engineering practices and emerging technologies to enhance customer experiences and empower colleagues.
• Influence and Collaboration: This position demands strong partnership with business and product leaders, translating strategic goals into actionable architectural plans. You will be a key influencer, fostering collaboration and consensus across complex stakeholder groups.
• Mentorship and Community Building: Beyond technical strategy, you'll have the opportunity to lead, inspire, and mentor technical teams, including solution architects and engineers. You'll play a vital role in fostering a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative architecture community.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: M&S offers a compelling array of benefits, including significant colleague discounts, competitive holiday entitlement, discretionary bonus schemes, a generous pension plan, extensive training and development programs, and robust wellbeing support including a 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist.
• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: M&S is dedicated to building diverse and representative teams where everyone can thrive. They actively support reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, ensuring an inclusive experience for all candidates.

Key Considerations for Your Career Path:

• Scale of Transformation: This role is ideal for architects who have experience navigating and delivering large-scale digital transformations within an Agile framework. The breadth of M&S's operations and their commitment to modernization offer a challenging yet rewarding environment.
• Technical Depth and Breadth: A strong foundation in architectural patterns, integration, platforms, and modern engineering practices is essential. The ability to evaluate and apply emerging technologies will be a significant advantage as you chart the future.
• Strategic Acumen and Commercial Awareness: Success in this role requires not only technical expertise but also the ability to align technology with business objectives, influence priorities, and demonstrate commercial understanding. Your track record of driving enterprise-wide outcomes will be crucial.
• Navigating Complexity: You will be expected to bring clarity and leadership to complex technology landscapes. Balancing innovation with governance, managing risk, and leading change through established frameworks will be core to your responsibilities.
• Hybrid Working Model: The "#hybridrole" tag indicates a blend of remote and in-office work, offering flexibility while maintaining team collaboration.

This Tribe Architect position at M&S is more than just a job; it's an invitation to leave your architectural imprint on a cherished brand during a pivotal period of growth and innovation. If you are a visionary leader with a passion for customer-centric technology and a desire to make a measurable impact, this opportunity is well worth exploring as you advance your career in architecture.