At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and implementation of innovative digital solutions for a top retail brand.
- Company: Join Very, a dynamic digital retailer focused on enhancing customer experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous holiday, and a £6500 benefits allowance.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive culture with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in shaping the future of digital customer experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in software architecture and strong stakeholder management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 85000 € per year.
About us
We’re the team behind digital retailer Very. Our purpose, helping families get more out of life, powers everything we do. And we want our people to get more out of life too! If you’re high-performing, ambitious and make the most of every opportunity, we want to hear from you. In return, you’ll enjoy heaps of flexibility, great perks and benefits, and the freedom to be yourself, keep learning and take your career wherever you want it to go. If you love making a difference, you’ll love making it sparkle for millions of Very customers.
About the Team
The Digital Customer Experience (DCX) tribe is striving to create a world class customer experience across our Mobile and Web platforms. We are in control of building this exciting future and are looking for like-minded individuals to help make this a reality. We need people with strong backgrounds in digital retail to help us on this journey as we strive to define, design, build and run frictionless experiences that sets The Very Group apart from other online retailers.
About The Role
Working with the Lead Architect, you will be responsible for implementing the policies and standards that guide technology delivery, possessing significant experience in modern, cloud-based technology standards and practices. Solution Architects are involved in designing solutions that are appropriate and fit-for-purpose which align to both business and technology strategies with pragmatic solutions which deliver value for our customers and stakeholders. As Solution Architect you are expected to help shape architectural design and technology roadmaps for complex applications supporting high volume, mission critical products and services. The Solution Architect must both contribute towards strategic thinking as well as ensuring that appropriate technology standards are created and adhered to – including solution designs, strategic alignment, growing technology capabilities, introducing best practice and leading technology selection. The Solution Architect must be an integral part of the Solution Architecture team, working in collaboration with the Lead Architect within a Tribe.
Participation in, and contribution to, the Performance Unit and TVG-wide governance processes and forums is a key element of the role. You will be experienced in actively addressing the most complicated risks, issues and dependencies including managing dependencies where ownership exists outside of the team. We need the right person to help identify innovative ways to unblock issues whilst evolving our architecture towards a defined target. Solution Architects must have hand-on experience across a broad range of products and services, delivering and managing architecture change throughout the entire product life cycle. Working with the Lead Architect, they are involved in the end-to-end technology landscape.
As a practitioner in Agile and Lean practices, you'll know how to lead complex technology delivery in a fast-paced environment which is obsessed over continuously improving customer experiences. You'll work hand in hand with our Product Managers, Delivery and Technical Leads in order to influence and define a technology roadmap to meet both our commercial and technology aims.
To be successful in the role, we need someone who can mediate between people and explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences, particularly someone who is confident communicating with stakeholders at all levels. Someone who understands the evolutionary nature of technology delivery in an agile environment. As you may imagine, our stakeholder expectations are high, and we'll need you to facilitate discussions about high risk and complexity even within constrained timescales.
We want to be known as the best in class for this space, so here you can speak and represent the community to large audiences inside and outside of the Very Group! The role also has a focus on promotion and leadership of the architectural vision both inside the architecture team and across the wider technology and business teams. Experience working in a Digital Customer Experience domain is preferred. You will be supporting squads as part of Digital Customer Platforms covering digital foundation services, content operations and AdTech as well as digital customer journeys across web and mobile app.
About You
Experience of working on large technology change programmes or projects with multiple stakeholders. Proven track record of delivery in both iterative and continuous delivery approaches. Ability to operate in a complex stakeholder and technology environment. Significant experience of building, integrating, maintaining and managing complex software architectures (both build and bought), ideally across multi-cloud environments. Expert level knowledge of security, reliability, scalability, high availability and concurrency architectural patterns and their application to enterprise scale systems. Expert level solution design experience across the full technology stack, including on-prem, public and hybrid cloud. Expert level experience of building, integrating and migrating service/component-based architectures across modern and legacy platforms. Practical experience of successfully delivering change in a lean/agile/DevSecOps environment. Ability to lead collaboration and influence decision making with strong stakeholder and 3rd party management skills. Computer Science degree or relevant experience (preferable). Knowledge and experience of the Digital Customer Experience domain. Knowledge and experience of MACH architecture – digital experience platforms, FUSE design system, Microservices/API design. Experience of domain and event driven architecture. Knowledge of cloud platforms, ideally AWS. Experience of working with Commerce, CMS, Search and Discovery SaaS platforms such as Commercetools, Constructor and Amplience or equivalent.
Some of our benefits
Flexible, hybrid working model. Inclusive culture and environment. £6500 flexible benefits allowance to suit your needs. 30 days holiday + bank holidays. Udemy learning access. Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk. Matched pension up to 6%. More benefits can be found on our career site.
How to apply
Please note that the talent acquisition team are managing this vacancy directly, and if successful in securing this role, you will be required to undertake a credit, CIFAS, Right to Work checks and if a specific requirement of your role a DBS (criminal records) check. Should your application progress we require you to let the team know if there is anything you need to disclose in relation to any of these checks prior to them being undertaken, including any unspent criminal convictions.
What happens next?
Our talent acquisition team will be in touch if you’re successful so keep an eye on your emails! We’ll arrange a short call to learn more about you, as well as answer any questions you have. If it feels like we’re a good match, we’ll share your CV with the hiring manager to review. Our interview process is tailored to each role and can be in-person or held remotely. You can expect a two-stage interview process for this position:
1st stage - A 60-90 minute interview, ideally in person with the hiring team to discuss your skills and relevant experience. This is a great opportunity to find out more about the role and to ask any questions you may have.
2nd Stage - a 30 minute call with a member of the Leadership team.
As an inclusive employer please do let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments.
Diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities
We’re building a culture of everyday inclusion, and welcome applications from anyone who believes they can do the job. We don’t discriminate based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you need reasonable adjustments to apply, interview, or perform a role, let us know via talentacquisition@theverygroup.com. We’ll be happy to support you. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer and have nine brilliant colleague networks - including DAWN (Disability Awareness at Very) and Think (Neurodiversity at Very) - that are helping us make Very an even more inclusive place to work.
Senior Solutions Architect - DCX in Liverpool employer: The Very Group
At Very, we are committed to fostering a vibrant work culture that prioritises flexibility, inclusivity, and continuous learning. As a Senior Solutions Architect in our Digital Customer Experience team, you will have the opportunity to shape innovative technology solutions while enjoying a generous benefits package, including a £6500 flexible benefits allowance and 30 days of holiday. Join us in making a meaningful impact for millions of customers while advancing your career in a supportive environment that values your unique contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Solutions Architect - DCX in Liverpool
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those already at Very. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info about the company culture and what they’re really looking for.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by knowing your stuff! Dive deep into Very’s digital customer experience initiatives and think about how your skills can contribute. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but someone who can make a real impact.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain complex tech concepts in simple terms. You’ll need to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical folks, so make sure you can adapt your language to your audience.
✨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 joining the Very team!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Solutions Architect - DCX in Liverpool
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Senior Solutions Architect role. Highlight your experience in digital retail and cloud-based technologies, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about the Digital Customer Experience space. Share specific examples of how you've made a difference in previous roles, and don’t forget to mention your agile and lean experience!
Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills:In your application, emphasise your ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences. We want to see how you've successfully navigated stakeholder relationships in past projects.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our culture and values!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Very Group
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of cloud-based technologies and architectures, especially those relevant to the Digital Customer Experience domain. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience with multi-cloud environments and how you've tackled complex software architectures in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills
Prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences. Think about times when you've successfully mediated between different stakeholders and how you managed their expectations, especially in high-pressure situations.
✨Emphasise Agile Experience
Since the role requires a strong understanding of Agile and Lean practices, be prepared to share specific instances where you've led technology delivery in fast-paced environments. Highlight your experience with iterative and continuous delivery approaches, and how you've contributed to improving customer experiences.
✨Be Ready for Problem-Solving
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills, particularly around unblocking issues in complex technology landscapes. Think of innovative solutions you've implemented in the past and be ready to discuss how you can apply that thinking to the challenges faced by the team at Very.
