At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and guide data solutions while collaborating with diverse teams.
- Company: Join M&S, a dynamic leader in retail innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, competitive holidays, bonuses, and wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Shape the future of retail data solutions and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in data architecture, analytics, and strong communication skills.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are looking for an experienced Data Solutions Architect to provide architecture and design guidance across our portfolio of data projects. You will use your retail knowledge and design experience to guide projects developed within our data portfolio, and to manage impacts on our data estate caused by change initiatives elsewhere within M&S. You will work with fellow architects within the Data Architecture & Design team, and with Product Managers, Data Governance teams, Data Analytics teams, Security teams, and our colleagues in the wider architecture community at M&S. You will confidently assess impacts of both external and internal change on our data estate, shaping solution proposals, and managing solution options.
Who You are
- An excellent communicator, able to influence stakeholders, and to document complex data estates clearly;
- Experienced in designing secure, scalable, and performant data solutions in complex environments;
- Experienced in data lake/lakehouse architectures, analytics, data engineering, and governance best practices;
- Skilled in creating Key Design Principles (KDPs) and Key Design Decisions (KDDs) and presenting proposals to senior stakeholders;
- An enthusiastic collaborator, motivated by solving problems and helping M&S reach its goals.
What you will do
- Build strong, collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders across data, analytics, governance, and architecture teams;
- Provide thought leadership, understanding data use cases and proposing design patterns and solution designs;
- Create and maintain design artefacts to enable engineering teams to implement solutions effectively;
- Review data solutions to ensure compliance with design principles and functional/non‑functional requirements;
- Stay current with industry trends in data technology and contribute to best practice principles and design decisions.
What's in it for you
- After completing your probationary period, you’ll receive 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third‑party brands for you and a member of your household.
- Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
- Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
- A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
- A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
- Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
- Industry‑leading parental, adoption and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
- Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
- A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you're passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.
Everyone's welcome
We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We’re transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen. We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together. If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.
Data Solutions Architect in City of Westminster employer: Marks & Spencer Plc
Contact Detail:
Marks & Spencer Plc Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Data Solutions Architect in City of Westminster
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at M&S on LinkedIn or through industry events. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding M&S's data projects and their impact. Show us how your experience aligns with their goals and be ready to discuss specific examples of your past work in data architecture.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! As a Data Solutions Architect, you'll need to explain complex ideas clearly. Try explaining your previous projects to a friend or family member who isn’t in the field to sharpen your skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the M&S team.
We think you need these skills to ace Data Solutions Architect in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Data Solutions Architect role. Highlight your experience with data lake architectures and your ability to influence stakeholders, as these are key aspects of the job.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since being an excellent communicator is crucial, use clear and concise language in your application. Don’t forget to mention any experience you have in documenting complex data estates or presenting proposals to senior stakeholders.
Demonstrate Your Collaborative Spirit: We love enthusiastic collaborators! Share examples of how you've built strong relationships with internal teams in previous roles. This will show us that you’re motivated by solving problems and working together to achieve goals.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer Plc
✨Know Your Data Architecture
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of data lake and lakehouse architectures. Be ready to discuss how you've designed secure and scalable data solutions in the past, and think about specific examples that showcase your experience in complex environments.
✨Communicate Clearly
As an excellent communicator, you'll need to articulate complex data estates clearly. Practice explaining your design principles and decisions in a straightforward manner, as this will help you influence stakeholders during the interview.
✨Collaborate and Connect
Show your enthusiasm for collaboration by preparing to discuss how you've built strong relationships with internal teams in previous roles. Think of examples where your collaborative efforts led to successful project outcomes, especially in data governance and analytics.
✨Stay Current with Trends
Familiarise yourself with the latest industry trends in data technology. Be prepared to share your thoughts on best practices and how they can be applied to M&S's data projects, demonstrating your thought leadership and proactive approach.