IT Solution Architect (Ref: 191388)

Title: IT Solution Architect (Ref: 191388)

Industry: Retail

Location: Katy, Texas

Salary: $160,000 - $180,000 with eligibility for a 20% Bonus

Contact: alley.williams@forsythbarnes.com

About Our Client:

They are a prominent player in the Retail industry, focusing on Sporting and Recreational Equipment. They are well-regarded for their extensive product offerings and a corporate culture that emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and customer-centric service.

Job Description:

We are collaborating with our client to identify an IT Solution Architect who will be instrumental in crafting and executing technology solutions that streamline business operations. The ideal candidate will possess a strategic mindset, enabling them to effectively connect business demands with technological solutions while maintaining compliance with enterprise architecture standards.

Key Responsibilities:

● Oversee the evaluation and proposal of effective technological solutions, including potential upgrades, replacements, or phase-outs, always aiming for enhanced business efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

● Develop and implement strategies to minimize the time allocated to reactive tasks.

● Engage with business and technology experts to produce comprehensive end-to-end solutions that add value while adhering to established architecture frameworks.

● Forge strong partnerships with business leaders to synchronize IT operations with overall business goals.

● Utilize various modeling techniques to represent conceptual, logical, and physical solutions.

● Create detailed documentation capturing the comprehensive design of technical solutions.

● Facilitate the refinement of requirements, focusing particularly on service expectations.

● Collaborate closely with other IT teams to enhance understanding of the architectural vision and incorporate their feedback.

● Participate in design reviews to ensure architectural integrity and traceability to preliminary solutions.

● Assist in the creation and ongoing enhancement of enterprise standards and guidelines.

● Effectively communicate the architectural choices and rationale behind them.

● Proactively work with business stakeholders to ensure their imminent and future technical needs are met.

● Develop a deep understanding of the organization's policies and safety protocols.

● Remain flexible to other duties as assigned.

Requirements

● A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline is required.

● A minimum of 10 years of pertinent experience in IT management or a solutions architecture role is essential.

● Experience in the retail industry for 2-3 years is preferred.

● 3-5 years of hands-on experience with data integration strategies and tools is necessary.

● 3-5 years in designing solutions for cloud and hybrid environments is required.

● Understanding of network and security implications concerning system integration and data flow is critical.

● A robust understanding of security practices in both on-premises and cloud settings is essential. ● Familiarity with vendor management and enterprise architecture integration tools is advantageous.

● Knowledge of IT architectural models such as TOGAF and Zachman is beneficial.

● Experience with retail supply chain and planning operations, especially merchandising, is a plus. ● Experience in implementing enterprise-class supply chain management solutions is highly desirable.

● Solid experience in designing service-oriented architecture (SOA) and microservices is preferred.

● Experience with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) applications tailored for retail is a key asset.

Skills:

● Able to effectively navigate and integrate both agile and traditional waterfall methodologies.

● Outstanding interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, enabling interaction with various levels of stakeholders.

● Ability to foster consensus on proposed solutions among different parties.

● Capable of working independently while also being a proactive team player.

● Strong analytical skills complemented by creative problem-solving capabilities.

● Self-driven, with the ability to juggle multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

● Preferred skills include strong optimization abilities, such as stochastic modeling and advanced planning techniques.

● Adept at working with business leadership to create lower-level roadmaps and contextualize requirements.

● Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.

Benefits

● Competitive salary with performance-related bonuses.

● Comprehensive health, dental, and wellness benefits.

● Opportunities for ongoing professional development and training.

● Flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance.