At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative Workday solutions and collaborate with global teams to enhance HR and Finance platforms.
- Company: Exemplar Luxury Group, a luxury retail leader uniting top brands with exceptional customer experiences.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a passionate team dedicated to excellence in luxury retail.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of luxury retail technology and drive impactful innovations.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in Workday architecture and proven leadership in technical delivery.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 88000 £ per year.
Exemplar Luxury Group, formerly Saks Global, is the luxury collective uniting coveted brands with unrivaled customer experiences across Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman. Driven by a relentless devotion to our customers and powered by our talented colleagues, we offer expertly curated product assortments, unparalleled service and personalized experiences across our integrated retail model.
Exemplar Luxury Group is seeking an experienced Workday Solution Architect to serve as the technical visionary and solution architect across our HR and Finance enterprise platform. In this lead role, you will test new Workday capabilities, build proof-of-concepts, and deliver end-to-end technical solutions.
As the technical lead, you will provide functional direction and task oversight to an offshore Innovations Squad of developers, while collaborating seamlessly with internal Functional and Guardrail squads within the broader Business Systems support organization. You will spearhead innovation by designing Proof of Concepts (PoCs) across Workday Extend, Prism Analytics derived datasets (for complex calculations like sales commissions), Workday AI/Agentic capabilities, and general ERP integrations-establishing repeatable hand-off processes for offshore delivery teams.
WHAT YOU WILL DO:
- Innovations Squad Technical Oversight: Provide functional leadership, technical direction, and workload coordination for an offshore Innovations Squad. Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs), design standards, and review practices to ensure seamless, repeatable hand-offs from architectural concepts to production execution.
- Cross-Squad Collaboration & Alignment: Serve as the technical bridge between the Innovations Squad, the Functional Squad (HCM, Payroll and Finance technical leads), and the Guardrail Squad (platform governance, core security, and compliance). Ensure all technical enhancements adhere to platform guardrails and align with functional roadmaps.
- Proof of Concept (PoC) & Solution Architecture: Act as the hands-on lead architect by building PoCs for novel business requirements. Validate feasibility for emerging Workday technology, refine implementation blueprints, and establish repeatable delivery frameworks for the offshore team to build and scale.
- Advanced Technology Execution: Architect end-to-end Prism solutions that leverage transformation pipelines and derived datasets to run complex calculations-such as retail sales commissions, variable incentive pay, margin distributions, and multi-source financial reconciliations-making outputs operational within Workday and downstream systems.
- Workday Extend: Architect and prototype custom native applications, custom objects, and API-driven extension workflows, creating scalable design patterns for developers to extend Workday functionality.
- Workday AI & Intelligent Agents: Evaluate and prototype Workday AI capabilities, automated agentic workflows, and machine learning models, creating practical playbooks for integrating intelligent automation into everyday business operations.
- Enterprise ERP Integration Strategy: Oversee the architecture and governance of core Workday integrations (EIB, Core Connectors, Studio, Web Services/REST APIs) connecting Workday to complex retail supply chain, POS, payroll, and financial software ecosystems.
- Operational & Release Governance: Partner with the Guardrail Squad to review bi-annual Workday releases. Identify opportunities to adopt new AI features, Extend updates, and platform innovations while overseeing change control and regression testing.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING:
- Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in Workday solution design, system architecture, and integrations. Proven track record acting as a Technical Lead or Solution Architect coordinating developer resources in a global/offshore delivery model.
- Matrix & Resource Leadership: Exceptional ability to guide and oversee technical delivery teams. Strong stakeholder coordination across functional, governance, and technical workstreams.
- Technical & Prism Expertise: Deep expertise in Workday Studio, EIBs, Core Connectors, and Web Services/APIs, combined with architectural experience in Workday Extend and Prism Analytics (specifically using derived datasets and complex calculated fields for business rules like commissions).
- AI & Automation Vision: Strong understanding of emerging enterprise AI concepts, Workday Innovation Services, Workday AI/ML features, and automated agentic workflow implementation.
- Collaboration & Governance: Outstanding communication skills with a proven track record of partnering with business analysts, security/compliance.
Workday Solution Architect employer: SAKS & CO
SAKS & CO is an attractive employer due to its commitment to excellence in luxury retail and a collaborative work environment. Employees enjoy opportunities for professional development and are part of a team that values customer satisfaction and high-quality service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Workday Solution Architect
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at SAKS & CO or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to SAKS & CO.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like SAKS & CO.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like SAKS & CO that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Workday Solution Architect
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at SAKS & CO.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at SAKS & CO and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at SAKS & CO
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If SAKS & CO uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
