At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technology strategies and create roadmaps for business areas in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join M&S, a forward-thinking retailer committed to quality and exceptional service.
- Benefits: Enjoy 20% discount, competitive holidays, bonuses, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: We value diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds.
- Why this job: Be part of an innovative team shaping the future of retail with exciting challenges.
- Qualifications: Experience in enterprise architecture and digital transformation is essential.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.
Summary
As an Enterprise Architect, you will be a technical leader focused on ensuring our technology plans are coherent and deliver strategic outcomes for your business area. We are hiring for three positions - one in Foods, one in Fashion, Home & Beauty, and one in Business - each requiring a deep understanding of the strategic objectives for that area, and the ability to define and describe a pragmatic technology path that will move us towards these, along with the practical steps required to realise them.
You will own Enterprise Architecture roadmaps and apply industry best practices to support strategic objectives. Collaborating with vendors, senior partners, and across product tribes, you will ensure alignment of architectural, business, product, and technical priorities. You will also be naturally curious and creative, understanding how new technology can help us leapfrog the competition and enable strategic objectives.
What\'s in it for you
Being a part of M&S is exactly that - playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We\'re an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever and however they want to shop with us.
Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special...
- 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.
- Develop and secure stakeholder buy-in for 1-3-year target architectures, transitional states, blueprints, principles, standards, and costed roadmaps for the business area, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, business priorities, and compliance requirements while managing TCO and simplification goals.
- Lead architecture governance for the business area, establishing robust policies, frameworks, and guardrails; ensure adherence to security, regulatory, and quality standards; oversee technology life-cycle management, vendor/technology selection, and alignment to pan-M&S architecture standards.
- Inspire and guide cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative, high-performing architecture community; act as mentor and coach; represent the Architecture Community to ensure alignment across the enterprise and advocate for the business area\'s technical direction.
- Drive communities of interest to experiment, research, and shape future architectures; identify opportunities for optimisation and efficiency; deliver solutions that simplify the landscape, reduce costs, and enhance scalability, reliability, and business outcomes.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors and partners; influence external technology roadmaps; support commercial negotiations; and ensure cross-functional collaboration effectiveness, priority alignment, and stakeholder satisfaction.
- Significant experience with enterprise architecture modelling (ArchiMate, UML, BPMN) and developing enterprise models across business capability, product, service domain, and data; strong understanding of architectural patterns, integration, modern engineering practices, compliance, and risk management at enterprise scale.
- Proven ability to assess and align emerging architecture and technology trends with business requirements; deep knowledge of current and emerging platforms/technologies in area of expertise; recognised as an internal thought leader with strong commercial acumen.
- Track record in delivering large-scale digital transformation at pace; advanced ability to translate complex, ambiguous objectives into pragmatic, coherent target architectures and actionable roadmaps that deliver customer-centric outcomes.
- Skilled at leading and coaching high-performing architecture teams, building communities of interest, and working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders; ability to influence senior leaders and maintain credibility with architects, engineers, and technical teams.
- Excellent written and verbal communication at all levels; adept at risk analysis, benefit assessment, and solving complex architectural challenges; experienced in change management and Agile delivery; driven by continuous improvement, innovation, and natural curiosity about business and technology trends.
We\'re ambitious about the future of retail. We\'re innovating, disrupting, and leading the way into a more inspiring, digital era. It\'s an exciting time to be part of M&S.
To support us on our journey, we\'re building inclusive, diverse teams where everyone can be themselves, do their best work, and make change happen. We support each other and succeed together.
Don\'t worry if you don\'t meet every single requirement of the job description. It\'s more of a guide to what\'s possible within the role. If you\'re passionate, ready to work hard, and think the role feels right for you, we\'d love to hear from you.
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Enterprise Architect (London) employer: MARKS&SPENCER
Joining M&S as an Enterprise Architect means becoming part of a dynamic and inclusive team that values innovation and collaboration. With competitive benefits such as a generous pension scheme, extensive training programmes, and a strong focus on employee wellbeing, M&S fosters a culture of growth and support. Located in London, this role offers the unique opportunity to influence strategic technology decisions in a leading retail environment, making a meaningful impact on the future of retail.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Enterprise Architect (London)
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what MARKS&SPENCER values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges MARKS&SPENCER might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at MARKS&SPENCER!
✨Direct Apply to MARKS&SPENCER
Let's not forget to apply directly through the MARKS&SPENCER website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace Enterprise Architect (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at MARKS&SPENCER.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at MARKS&SPENCER. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at MARKS&SPENCER
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
