Solutions Architect (Smart Retail Ordering/Stock Optimisation)

Solutions Architect (Smart Retail Ordering / Stock Optimisation / Allocation / Replenishment)

Duration: Initial 6‑Month Contract

Location: Reading (Hybrid – 2 days per week)

Day Rate: Competitive Inside IR35

An excellent opportunity has opened for an immediately available Solutions Architect to join a major retail technology programme on an initial 6‑month contract.

You’ll take ownership of the Solution Architecture for Smart Retail Ordering (Stock Optimisation, Forecasting, Allocation/Replenishment), ensuring the design is robust, well‑documented, communicated clearly, and aligned with business and technology strategy. You’ll also manage any changes to the approved solution and work closely with senior stakeholders, architects, delivery teams, and systems integrators.

Key Responsibilities

• Designing end‑to‑end solutions across process, applications, data, technology, service, integration, and security domains.
• Creating and reviewing documentation for technology selection (RFI, RFP) and solution blueprints.
• Reviewing requirements, identifying gaps, and shaping the architecture to meet functional and non‑functional needs.
• Defining as‑is and future‑state architecture, securing agreement on transition states.
• Presenting solution designs to the Technology Design Council for approval.
• Overseeing low‑level design activities, working with specialist architects and systems integrators.
• Resolving design issues, managing changes, and ensuring architectural impacts are understood and agreed.
• Ensuring solution delivery aligns with programme plans, testing phases, and cutover timelines.
• Supporting environment provisioning and ensuring solution quality throughout development.
• Maintaining architecture documentation and updating baseline architecture at go‑live.
• Collaborating with business partners, SMEs, delivery teams, and service teams to ensure smooth implementation and transition to support.

What You’ll Bring

• Demonstratable experience with Inventory Planning Software/Smart retail ordering.
• Strong communication skills with excellent documentation and diagramming capability.
• Proven experience delivering solution designs in a large‑volume retail environment (fashion/general merchandise preferred).
• Experience in Allocation & Replenishment, Stock Optimisation, and Forecasting solutions.
• Familiarity with retail supply chain and planning platforms.
• Experience working on large‑scale IT transformation programmes.
• Solid understanding of the systems development lifecycle.
• Experience with SaaS applications and Retail ERP (e.g., Oracle).
• Ability to analyse complex, interconnected IT systems.
• Knowledge of architectural frameworks (TOGAF, FEAC, Zachman) and architecture tools.
• 7+ years in IT engineering/design within large multinational organisations.
• 5+ years in Solution Architecture.
• Broad understanding of major IT disciplines and software development practices.
• Experience integrating applications in high‑volume environments (Azure Integration Services a plus).
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to influence without authority.
• A proactive, curious, self‑starter mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.