At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and implementation of innovative retail technology solutions.
- Company: Join Very, a digital retailer focused on enhancing family life.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous holiday, and a £6500 benefits allowance.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with excellent career growth and learning opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in transforming retail technology for millions of customers.
- Qualifications: Experience in complex solution design and strong communication 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 Retail Tribe is transforming the current retail tools and infrastructure into one of the most contemporary tech stacks in retail. Owning the designs, builds, integrations and running of technology across all retail products and functions, the tribe are transforming key Retail capabilities spanning Sourcing, Planning, Forecasting, Buying, Merchandising and Pricing, as well as the Product journey from initial setup to publish.
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. 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. The Senior 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 Senior Solution Architect must be an integral part of the Solution Architecture team, working in collaboration with the Lead Architect within a Tribe. 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. As Senior Solution Architect you are expected to help shape architectural design and technology roadmaps for complex applications supporting high volume, mission critical products and services. 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.
About You
Demonstrable experience in designing complex solutions balancing strategic direction and business delivery.
Experience in defining roadmaps and influencing, communicating and guiding stakeholders.
Conceptual and strategic thinker.
Technical expert.
Team member with good interpersonal skills but able to work independently.
You are known for your thought leadership and critical thinking in the technical space, while being able to apply business context.
You have experience of the following technology skills or knowledge: Java & Amazon AWS.
Experience working with the following technologies would be a bonus: SpringBoot, Oracle DB, Terraform, React & AWS specifics: API Gateway and RDS.
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%.
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 - Retail (Hybrid) in Liverpool employer: Very Group
At Very, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions flexibility and personal growth. Our inclusive culture fosters innovation and collaboration, allowing you to thrive in a hybrid working environment while enjoying a generous benefits package, including a £6500 flexible benefits allowance and access to continuous learning through Udemy. Join us in making a meaningful impact for millions of customers while advancing your career in a dynamic and supportive team.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Solutions Architect - Retail (Hybrid) in Liverpool
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities you might not find on job boards.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its culture, especially how they align with your values. Be ready to discuss how your skills can help them achieve their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills! During interviews, share examples of how you've tackled complex issues in the past. This will demonstrate your ability to handle challenges in a fast-paced environment.
✨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 our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Solutions Architect - Retail (Hybrid) 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 with cloud technologies and your ability to communicate complex ideas simply.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how you can contribute to our Retail Tribe. Share specific examples of your past achievements that relate to the job description.
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:Don’t shy away from detailing your technical skills, especially in Java and AWS. We want to see how your expertise can help us transform our retail tools and infrastructure.
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, your application goes straight to our talent acquisition team, who are eager to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Very Group
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, especially Java and AWS. Brush up on your knowledge of SpringBoot, Oracle DB, and Terraform too. Being able to discuss these technologies confidently will show that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare examples of how you've contributed to strategic thinking in previous roles. Be ready to discuss how you’ve defined roadmaps and influenced stakeholders. This will demonstrate your ability to align technology with business goals, which is crucial for a Senior Solutions Architect.
✨Communicate Complex Ideas Simply
Practice explaining complex technical concepts in layman's terms. You’ll need to mediate between technical teams and non-technical stakeholders, so being able to simplify your explanations will be key. Think of scenarios where you’ve successfully done this before.
✨Embrace Agile Practices
Familiarise yourself with Agile and Lean methodologies if you haven’t already. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve led technology delivery in fast-paced environments. Highlight any experiences where you’ve improved customer experiences through agile practices.
