Head of Architecture

Permanent, Full Time

Salary: £110,000 - £120,000 per annum + annual company bonus 

Hours: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week

Reporting to: Director of Core Enterprise Systems

Location: Farringdon, London, EC1R 3AU (Hybrid)

Smollan is looking for a Head of Architecture who thrives at the intersection of long-term business strategy and high-level system design. In this executive-level role, you will be the lead strategist for our global technology ecosystem, ensuring our "Core" systems; including HR, Finance, CRM, and Payroll are seamlessly integrated with our proprietary "FSA" platforms. This isn’t about maintaining the status quo; it’s about creating a cohesive, flexible foundation that allows a global organisation to move with speed and clarity.

Strategic Impact

We have a clear vision for our technology. As the Head of Architecture, you will be the primary architect of three key business outcomes:

• A Simplified Customer Offer: Designing flexible, API-driven architectures that allow us to respond to market needs with agility.

• A Simplified Operating Model: Moving us toward a unified global standard, ensuring our core platforms (COTS and SaaS) speak the same language.

• Scalability & Resilience: Leveraging cloud-native principles to ensure our systems are robust enough for today and flexible enough for tomorrow.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Architectural Roadmap: Own and evolve the 3-5 year technology roadmap, aligning technical investment with global business growth.

• Integration & Data Fabric: Define the strategy for our enterprise API layer and Master Data Management (MDM) to ensure a single, consistent view of our business entities.

• Collaborative Governance: Lead the Architecture Review Board (ARB), working as a peer to the Heads of Engineering and Data to turn high-level designs into reality.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Guide a global team of Lead and Solution Architects, fostering a culture of technical excellence and professional growth.

Your Technical Playground

• Ecosystem: Integration of Global COTS (Workday, Salesforce, SAP, etc.) with bespoke Smollan proprietary tech.
• Stack Strategy: Expert-level API orchestration, Master Data Management (MDM), and Cloud-Native Resilience (Azure/AWS).

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for a thoughtful, strategic leader who can navigate complex technical landscapes and build strong relationships across the business.

• Experience: 12+ years in tech, with at least 7 years leading architecture in a complex, global environment.
• Cloud Expertise: Deep knowledge of cloud architecture (Azure or AWS certification is essential).Deep, certified expertise in Azure or AWS. You know how to build for the cloud, not just "shift" to it.
• Strategy-Minded: Proven ability to translate commercial ambitions (like operational simplification) into actionable technical roadmaps. You can sit with a CFO to discuss TCO and then pivot to a deep dive with Engineering Leads on event-driven patterns.
• Collaborative: A natural partner who can speak the language of business and technology with equal fluency.
• Change Agent: You have a proven track record of reducing architectural debt and improving platform resilience (we’ll want to hear about your "Platform Resilience Index" wins).
  

What We’ll Offer You:

• Competitive salary + bonus

• Benefits include: Pension (4%), Life Assurance, Electric Vehicle Scheme,, GymFlex, WeCare ERP + Toothfairy, Perkbox, Taste Card

• 24 days annual leave + bank holidays (increasing 1 day per year up to 29 days)

• Ongoing support to enable you to fulfil your role to the best of your potential.

• Opportunity to work in a dynamic and innovative environment.

• Career growth and development opportunities.

• Supportive and inclusive company culture.

Why Join Smollan? You will have a seat at the table where technology decisions are made, acting as a peer to the Heads of Engineering and Data. You will have the autonomy to choose the tools and define the patterns that will define our next decade of growth.

Ready to simplify the complex? Let’s build the future. Apply today and our recruitment team will be in touch!

*Respectfully - no recruitment agencies please*

Smollan is a full-service retail solutions partner with over 90 years of heritage, helping brands win at the point of purchase. Operating across 61 countries, we are trusted by over 500 global and local brands and employ more than 90,000 people. Our purpose is to create growth and transform lives by connecting people to products and possibilities.

We deliver intelligent, end-to-end retail execution and experiences across the physical and digital landscape, directed by data and powered by technology and people. Our capabilities include Sales & Merchandising, Activations & Experiences, and Data & Technology. Smollan grows brands by growing people, creating value for clients and impact for consumers every day.

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