Head of Architecture

We’re looking for a Head of Architecture to join our Digital Technology Team. Reporting to Chris, our Director of Technology, you’ll lead and inspire the group architecture team.

In this role you will have a unique opportunity to direct the transformation of our legacy technology estate into a cutting edge microservice driven digital retail organisation.

Joining the senior leadership team, you’ll be the voice of architecture, influencing and aligning with key stakeholders on the road-map, best practice and compliance, strategic initiatives and market and environmental trends.

What will you do as a Head of Architecture at N Brown?

• Shape enterprise-wide architecture and processes to embed the strategic application of change across the business.
• Lead the creation and review of a systems capability strategy that meets the strategic requirements of the business and ensure the buy-in of all key stakeholders.
• Capture and prioritise market and environmental technology trends, business strategies and objectives, and identify the business benefits of alternative strategies.
• Lead a practise of enterprise and solution architects, empower colleagues to drive positive change and encourage a community of continuous learning.
• Seek out, identify, propose, and initiate capability improvement activities within the organisation.
• Set strategies, policies, standards and practices to ensure compliance between business strategies, technology strategies, and enterprise transformation activities.
• Shape technology roadmaps that align organisational plans with emerging technology solutions.
• Prioritise areas for quality improvement by considering strategy, business objectives and results from internal and external audits.
• Set policies, standards, and guidelines for how the organisation conducts strategy development and planning.
• Champion and lead development of an organisational knowledge management approach. Share different approaches for knowledge sharing across communities of practice, business units, and networks.
• Lead substantial improvement programmes. Plan and manage the evaluation or assessment of organisational capabilities. Selects frameworks, approaches and techniques for use.

 What skills and experience will you have?

• Extensive architecture experience
• Experience of transforming from legacy architecture to microservices
• TOGAF and Archimate are both desirable but not essential
• BCS Enterprise Certificate in Architecture would be desirable but not essential
• Experience of cloud technologies: AWS would be ideal
• Experience in Retail and/or Financial Services
• Ability to manage and influence a wide range of key stakeholders
• Experienced Leader able to lead others through organisational and technology change
• ERP experience is preferable

What’s in it for you?

• Hybrid working
• 24 days holiday (+ 8 bank holidays) with the option to buy an additional 10 days
• Annual bonus scheme
• Enhanced maternity and adoption leave
• Access to Apricity, a self-funding IVF benefit at a reduced rate
• Company pension with up to 8% N Brown contribution
• Mental Health support both internally and externally, including access to our wellbeing champions and counselling services
• A range of financial wellbeing support
• Colleague discount across all N Brown brands
• Onsite café with subsidised rates and local restaurant discounts!
• Life Assurance and Private Medical Insurance
• Paid volunteer time – all our colleagues can take a full day paid to volunteer for a charity of their choice

N Brown – who we are and why work for us?

At N Brown, we’re committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment that values equality for all. Our vision is that by ‘championing inclusion, we’ll become the most loved and trusted fashion retailer’. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are, therefore, at the heart of our culture.

We’re a forward-thinking digital retailer with a financial services proposition to be proud of. We’re customer-obsessed, serving them through three core brands: JD Williams, Simply Be, and Jacamo. We’re experienced, with over 160 years of trading under our belt. We’re inclusive, as we believe in fashion without boundaries; and we’re sustainable, striving to make as little impact on the planet as possible.

Ways of Working

We offer hybrid working which varies across the business depending on the role you’re in. Our Head Office is located in the Northern Quarter in Manchester City Centre. So if you are travelling by train, tram or bus we’re perfectly located, plus we’re surrounded by cool cafes, trendy bars and the best places to eat!

Our working hours are 36.17 per week and our core working hours are between 10am - 4pm. Given we don’t have strict working hours you can find the working pattern that’s right for you.

Our promise to you:

We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

What happens when you apply to a role at N Brown?

As soon as we receive your application, we’ll send you an email to let you know. We always aim to come back to you as soon as possible with an update and we really appreciate you taking the time to apply for a role with us. Good luck!