About the position
We are seeking a Senior Solution Architect to lead the end-to-end architecture design for a large-scale Retail Workforce Management (WFM) transformation.
This is a high-impact role focused on the Design/Investigation Phase, where you will produce a validated, build-ready architecture blueprint that removes ambiguity, accelerates delivery, and reduces implementation risk.
You will play a pivotal role in shaping a modern WFM ecosystem, ensuring seamless integration, strong data governance, and a resilient, secure, and store-friendly solution.
What You’ll Own (Design Phase Accountability)
You will be accountable for delivering architecture outcomes across:
- Target Solution Architecture – Define the future-state Retail WFM ecosystem
- Integration Architecture – Systems, interfaces, patterns, and controls
- Data Architecture – Data flows, validation, reconciliation, and auditability
- Non-Functional Architecture (NFRs) – Performance, usability, availability, and supportability (with store users in mind)
- Security & Resilience – Embedded by design and validated with SMEs
- Business Case Enablement – Architecture inputs into cost, timeline, and investment case
Key Deliverables (Build-Enabling Architecture Artefacts)
1. Retail WFM Target Architecture Pack (HLD)
- Target architecture diagrams (systems, components, integrations)
- Architecture principles, assumptions, and constraints
- Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) to lock key design choices
2. Integration Architecture Pack (HLD)
- Integration landscape map (systems and interface purposes)
- Prioritised interface catalogue (API/event/file, frequency, ownership)
- Design-level reliability principles (error handling, monitoring expectations)
3. Data Handoffs & Controls Pack
A concise, high-impact deliverable ensuring data integrity and auditability:
- High-level data domains and object model (WFM + enterprise data)
- System-of-record definitions (create, maintain, consume)
- Validation rules at integration handoff points
- Reconciliation, traceability, and audit controls (payroll/compliance critical)
- Clear integration boundaries and expectations across systems
4. Retail WFM NFR Pack (Store-Aware)
- Store-focused NFRs (usability, performance, availability, supportability)
- Security-by-design (access models, auditability, secure integrations)
- Resilience-by-design (recovery, graceful degradation, monitoring readiness)
- Cloud, quality, and cybersecurity standards alignment
5. Architecture Inputs to Business Case
- Dependencies, risks, and sequencing (RAID inputs)
- Cost and timeline drivers (complexity, constraints, sizing factors)
- Executive-ready architecture inputs for investment decisions
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end architecture design across solution, integration, data, and NFRs
- Facilitate design workshops to translate business needs into technical decisions
- Define integration patterns and contracts (ownership, frequency, reliability)
- Partner with Business Process Leads to align process ? system ? data design
- Embed security and resilience principles into all architecture outputs
- Design solutions that optimize store operations and reduce administrative effort
- Contribute to investment case development with clear architectural insights
Collaboration Model
- The Business Process Lead owns business decisions, policies, and RACI
- The Solution Architect translates these into:
- System design
- Integration contracts
- Data controls and auditability
Requirements - 8+ years in Solution Architecture within enterprise, integration-heavy environments
- Proven experience delivering design-phase architecture artefacts (HLDs, blueprints, interface catalogues, NFR packs)
- Strong exposure to Workforce Management (WFM), scheduling, or time & attendance systems
- Experience embedding security and resilience by design
- Strong facilitation skills—translating business discussions into clear technical outcomes
Nice-to-Have
- Experience with UKG or similar enterprise WFM platforms
- Retail / multi-site operations experience (store networks, complex scheduling)
- Exposure to cloud/SaaS architectures, integration patterns, and observability
Skills & Competencies
- Architecture Clarity – Produces precise diagrams and decision records
- Integration & Data Rigor – Defines practical, testable data and interface contracts
- Security & Resilience Mindset – Designs with risk mitigation from the outset
- Store Empathy – Understands retail environments and operational realities
- Executive Communication – Simplifies complexity and articulates trade-offs clearly
Desired Skills:
- Solution Architecture
- design-phase architecture artefacts
- Workforce Management (WFM)
Desired Qualification Level:
About The Employer:
