Solution Architect

Howdens Joinery is looking for a Solution Architect to be part of our busy digital team based in our Croxley Office in Hertfordshire or our office in Raunds, Northamptonshire. As a FTSE 250 business that is undergoing a digital transformation, this role offers a confident and engaging Solution Architect, an excellent opportunity to lead the technical design and work closely with analysts, developers, and business stakeholders to deliver viable and high-quality designs.

Reporting to the Trade Enterprise Architect, you will be working on several interesting digital transformation projects and therefore you'll need to have a strong background working within e-commerce related projects including online applications, content management platforms, e-commerce platforms, CRM, and mobile applications. You'll ideally be a Solution Architect with strong digital experience within an e-commerce capacity from industries such as Retail, Banking, Auto-motives, or hospitality. As a Solution Architect, you'll also be working closely with stakeholders from the business, so you'll need to communicate your work and ideas to other product and platform teams, including non-technical audiences. You'll also be able to work under pressure and have a track record of delivering outstanding results.

Working within a busy digital team as a Solution Architect, you'll also be actively involved across all elements of project delivery and strategy and will be engaged in working with the team to share information and facilitate workshops to investigate, align and agree on proposed changes. Following government guidelines this role will be home-based for the immediate future, however, this will be reviewed as and when restrictions are updated.

Key Experience & Skills required

• Digital, e-Commerce, and/or Retail business and solutions experience
• Solution design experience in highly complex, enterprise-scale based environments in eCommerce, customer, and payment systems
• Confident, engaging, and a strong work ethic with a passion for transformation and innovation
• Solution architecture thought leadership and effective stakeholder management
• Practical experience on online applications developments, content management platforms, e-Commerce platforms, CRM, and mobile applications
• Experience of working within a Lean Agile project methodology
• Able to support the overall business strategy, transformation, and technology direction
• Working understanding of integration platforms and various techniques to integrate systems
• Understanding and good working knowledge of TOGAF architecture methodology
• Knowledge of emerging technologies and architectural trends

Howdens Joinery is a highly successful FTSE 250 business, with more than 780 depots nationwide and more than 10,000 staff. Last year our sales reached circa GBP1.5 billion and we continue to experience significant growth and success. Despite our scale, Howdens remains a local business with traditional values.

We have a very competitive salary and benefits package including 25 days holiday increasing to 27 days after 5 years, annual company bonus, fully expensed company car or car allowance, private medical insurance, and a contributory pension. There is also great coffee and other refreshments and snacks, onsite car parking, subsidised gym membership, exceptional social events, and a friendly and supportive working environment. As well as the opportunity to develop within a high-profile FTSE 250 company, you will be part of a rewarding organisation recognised for excellence in the workplace in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For.