Overview
We’re Kingfisher, A team made up of over 78,000 passionate people who bring Kingfisher - and all our other brands: B&Q, Screwfix, Brico Depot, Castorama and Koctas - to life. That’s right, we’re big, but we have ambitions to become even bigger and even better. We want to become the leading home improvement company and grow the largest community of home improvers in the world. And that’s where you come in.
At Kingfisher our customers come from all walks of life, and so do we. We want to ensure that all colleagues, future colleagues, and applicants to Kingfisher are treated equally regardless of age, gender, marital or civil partnership status, colour, ethnic or national origin, culture, religious belief, philosophical belief, political opinion, disability, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation.
We are open to flexible and agile working; therefore, we offer colleagues a blend of working from home and our B&Q Eastleigh Office.
We are seeking a Lead Solution Architect to join our Architecture chapter. In this role you will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with one of our biggest brands, B&Q, playing a pivotal role steering IT solutions and supporting them deliver on their business goals through technology.
You will bring comprehensive knowledge in systems integration and cloud technologies and an ability to translate complex concepts into actionable insights. You will be comfortable with leading teams in collaborative efforts, shaping the technological path to support business goals.
What's the job
1. Architectural Decisions: Steer the architectural decision-making within the banner, offering expert guidance to ensure banner decisions are in sync with business and technical requirements, while maintaining compliance with governance steps.
2. Strategic Design Collaboration: Collaborate with stakeholders to craft end-to-end high-level designs that mesh with existing systems, achieve business aims, and comply with architectural principles.
3. Product Selections: Support banner owned product selection processes, providing guidance to support their decision making, ensuring that the most suitable products and technologies are chosen to meet business capability requirements, align with architecture principles and technology strategy.
4. Architectural Leadership: Provide architecture leadership and guidance across banner projects, fostering the adoption of cloud-native technologies and identifying effective architectural patterns.
5. Stakeholder Management: Serve as the chief architectural liaison for the banner, ensuring stakeholders are clearly informed and engaged with project direction and outcomes.
6. Collaborative Working: Drive collaboration across business, technical and Group teams to deliver high-quality solutions.
7. Line Management: Lead and develop Solution Architects aligned to or working on banner activity, guiding their contributions to align with strategic objectives and fostering professional growth.
8. Enhancing Architectural Practice: Actively lead the enhancement of the Architecture chapter, innovating and advancing architectural practices and methods.
What you'll bring
9. Possesses a strategic interest in diverse IT technologies and their impact on business innovation and efficiency.
10. Skilled in engaging and articulating complex technical details to stakeholders and various levels throughout IT and the business.
11. Strong leadership in stakeholder engagement and influence, orchestrating stakeholder collaboration to support banner-led architectural decisions.
12. Understands cloud technologies, with a particular emphasis on implementing and cloud native integration patterns.
13. Thrives in collaborative team environments and contributes to a culture of inclusivity and shared success.
14. Innovative and tactical in problem-solving, adept at formulating and implementing robust solutions to intricate banner-specific challenges.
15. An understanding of an architecture framework or frameworks ( TOGAF).
16. Extensive experience of architecting integration solutions that span business, data, applications, and technology domains.
17. Coordinates effectively with multiple third-party providers, ensuring integrated and strategic solutions that align with the banner's architecture.
18. Skilled in clarifying complex technical terms, adeptly presenting sophisticated IT concepts to non-technical audiences to support clear understanding and informed decision-making
Be Customer Focused – constantly improving our customers’ experience
19. I listen to my customers
20. I use available data to help make decisions
Be Human – acting with humanity and care
21. I do the right thing
22. I am respectful
Be Curious – thrive on learning, thinking beyond the obvious
23. I build and share new ideas
24. I try new things and share my learnings
Be Agile – working with trust, pace and agility
25. I have courage to be creative
26. Done is better than perfect, I aim for 80/20
Be Inclusive – acting inclusively in diverse teams to work together
27. I embrace allyship
28. I have self-awareness and a desire to learn
Be Accountable – championing the plan to deliver results and growth
29. I own my actions
30. I understand the Kingfisher plan and how it relates to my role
At Kingfisher, we value the perspectives that any new team members bring, and we want to hear from you. We encourage you to apply for one of our roles even if you do not feel you meet 100% of the requirements.
In return, we offer an inclusive environment, where what you can achieve is limited only by your imagination! We encourage new ideas, actively support experimentation, and strive to build an environment where everyone can be their best self. Find out more about Diversity & Inclusion at Kingfisher here!
We also offer a competitive benefits package and plenty of opportunities to stretch and grow your career.
Interested? Great, apply now and help us to Power the Possible.
#LI-DW1
Rewards & Benefits
What we offer.
31. Private Health Care
Opportunity to receive up to family level cover with Bupa. Join within three months of starting or at annual renewal in April. (This benefit is subject to Benefit In Kind taxation).
32. Kingfisher Pension Scheme
Immediate eligibility through auto-enrolment. Contribute 8% to receive a max 14% from the Company.
33. 25 Days' Holiday
25 days per annum plus bank holidays as stated in your contract (pro rated for part time colleagues).
34. Staff Discount
20% discount at B&Q and Screwfix. Eligible after 3 months service.
35. Kingfisher Share Incentive Plan (SIP)
Share ownership in a tax efficient way. Save between £10 to £150 per month. Join at any time once three months service is reached.
36. Life Assurance
x4 Salary plus benefit equal to value of your Retirement Account (if an active member of KPS-MP) or x1 Salary if not active member.
37. Bonus
Competitive bonus scheme that aligns to work level of role.
38. Kingfisher Share Save
Save with the option to buy Kingfisher plc shares at the end of a 3 or 5 year period. Offered annually. Three months service is required at the annual invitation date, normally in October.
Our Behaviours
At Kingfisher, we are united by our 6 core behaviours
Be customer
focussed
Constantly improving our customer experience
Be human
Acting with humanity and care
Be curious
Thriving on learning, thinking beyond the obvious
Be inclusive
Acting inclusively in diverse teams to achieve together
Be agile
Working with trust, pace and agility
Be accountable
Championing the plan to deliver results and growth