At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technical strategy and drive architectural best practices in a dynamic retail environment.
- Company: Join M&S, a beloved brand at the forefront of digital transformation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a 20% discount, competitive holidays, and tailored training from day one.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with strong support for personal development and wellbeing.
- Why this job: Shape the future of retail technology and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in architecture governance, cloud technologies, and enterprise architecture principles.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Practice Architect to join our growing Architecture team! At M&S, technology is at the heart of our transformation journey — powering millions of customer interactions and enabling thousands of colleagues every day. As we continue to evolve and invest in strategic technology, we’re expanding our architecture capability to ensure we remain differentiated and future-ready. This is your opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking team that’s shaping the digital backbone of a beloved retail brand.
What you'll do
- As a technical leader, you will collaborate with stakeholders to define and evolve the technical strategy for your practice.
- You will also facilitate and assist with the prioritisation of delivery to maximise business value and outcomes.
- Drive architectural best practices and ensure coherence with enterprise standards within the assigned domain or technology practice.
- Assist in defining learning pathways, maintaining accreditations and supporting IT compliance (e.g. ISO27001, AWS Solution Architects).
- Guide stakeholder collaboration and translate business needs into architectural requirements.
- Assess and develop technical capabilities within Tribes.
Who you are
- Experience with architecture governance processes and compliance requirements.
- Cloud technologies, data & integration, security & compliance, DevOps & engineering practices and architectural tools & frameworks.
- Strong understanding of enterprise architecture principles, patterns, and best practices.
- Proficiency in architecture modelling, design, and documentation tools.
- Knowledge of software development methodologies, frameworks, and tools.
What's in it for you?
Working at M&S means being part of something bigger - helping to deliver quality, value and service to millions of customers every day. We’re inclusive, fast-moving and always evolving, with a strong sense of purpose and a focus on doing the right thing. Here are just a few of the benefits that make working here even more rewarding:
- 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third-party brands for you and someone in your household, available once you’ve completed your probation.
- Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more.
- Discretionary bonus schemes linked to your performance and ours.
- Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future.
- Tailored induction and training to support your development from day one.
- Exclusive perks and savings through our M&S Choices portal.
- Market-leading family policies, including parental, adoption and neonatal leave.
- 24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services.
- One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters to you.
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.
Practice Architect - Ways of Working in Salford employer: Marks & Spencer Plc
At M&S, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. As a Practice Architect, you'll be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to shaping the future of retail technology, with access to tailored training, competitive benefits, and a strong commitment to employee wellbeing and development. Join us in our mission to deliver quality and service while enjoying unique perks like a generous colleague discount and flexible family policies.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Practice Architect - Ways of Working in Salford
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who works at M&S. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Show Off Your Skills
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, don’t hold back! Share your experiences and how you've tackled challenges in architecture. Use real examples to demonstrate your expertise and passion for the role.
✨Tailor Your Approach
Every conversation is an opportunity! Make sure to tailor your discussions to highlight how your skills align with M&S's goals. Show them you understand their tech transformation journey and how you can contribute.
✨Apply Through Our Website
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 Practice Architect - Ways of Working in Salford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with architecture governance and cloud technologies. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:When detailing your experience, focus on your proficiency in architectural tools and frameworks. We’re keen to know how you’ve applied these in real-world scenarios, so give us some juicy examples that demonstrate your expertise.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences. Remember, clarity is key!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks & Spencer Plc
✨Know Your Architecture Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in architecture governance processes and compliance requirements. Brush up on enterprise architecture principles, patterns, and best practices, as these will likely come up during your interview.
✨Showcase Your Technical Leadership
Prepare to discuss your experience in collaborating with stakeholders to define technical strategies. Think of specific examples where you’ve driven architectural best practices and how you’ve maximised business value through your decisions.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Cloud Technologies
Since cloud technologies are a big part of the role, be ready to talk about your experience with them. Highlight any projects where you’ve used AWS or similar platforms, and how you ensured security and compliance in those environments.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be prepared to tackle hypothetical scenarios related to architectural challenges. Think about how you would translate business needs into architectural requirements and how you would assess and develop technical capabilities within teams.
