Director - Solution Architect

GMG; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A global well-being company is seeking a Technology Solution Architect to drive AI-driven automation and innovation in its retail business. This role involves architecting AI/ML solutions and designing hyperautomation strategies while ensuring alignment with business objectives. Ideal candidates will have experience in cloud-native platforms and enterprise architecture. Join a vibrant environment that promotes growth and well-being.

Benefits

Comprehensive family medical insurance

Family residency sponsorship and flight allowances

Up to 30% discount in premium retail sports brand stores

Up to 20% discount in pharmacy chain

Qualifications

• Experience in architecting AI-driven solutions for retail.
• Strong background in hyperautomation strategies.
• Knowledge of cloud-native platforms like AWS and Azure.

Responsibilities

• Architect AI/ML-driven solutions like predictive analytics and chatbots.
• Design hyperautomation strategies for retail operations.
• Define technology roadmaps and rationalize legacy systems.

Skills

Enterprise and solution architecture design

AI / ML solutioning and implementation

Hyper automation platforms

Cloud-native platforms and microservices architecture

API-first and event-driven system design

Data architecture concepts

Risk management and compliance

Strategic planning

Cross-functional leadership

Job description

Corporate Talent Acquisition | Headhunting | Global Sourcing | Human-first Hiring

Who we are?

GMG is a global well-being company retailing, distributing and manufacturing a portfolio of leading international and home-grown brands across sport, everyday goods, health and beauty, properties and logistics sectors. Under the ownership and management of the Baker family for over 45 years, GMG is a valued partner of choice for the world's most successful and respected brands in the well-being sector. Working across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, GMG has introduced more than 120 brands across 12 countries. These include notable home-grown brands such as Sun & Sand Sports, Dropkick, Supercare Pharmacy, Farm Fresh, Klassic, and international brands like Nike, Columbia, Converse, Timberland, Vans, Mama Sita's, and McCain.

Job Summary

We are seeking a strategic and forward-thinking Technology Solution Architect to drive AI-driven automation, technology rationalization, and innovation in our retail business. This role requires a deep understanding of retail operations, AI / ML, hyper automation (RPA, intelligent workflows), and enterprise architecture optimization. As a key leader reporting to the CTO, you will define technology roadmaps, rationalize legacy systems, evaluate new investments, and mitigate risks while ensuring alignment with business objectives. You will act as a trusted advisor, translating complex technical concepts into actionable strategies for executive stakeholders.

Accountabilities

Core Responsibilities :

• Architect AI / ML-driven solutions (predictive analytics, personalized recommendations, demand forecasting, chatbots, computer vision for retail).
• Design hyperautomation strategies (RPA, process mining, workflow automation) to optimize retail operations (supply chain, inventory, customer service).
• Identify opportunities for generative AI (GenAI) applications in retail (dynamic pricing, content generation, virtual shopping assistants).
• Conduct current-state assessments of retail tech stack (eCommerce, POS, ERP, CRM) and define modernization paths.
• Develop 3-5 year technology roadmaps aligned with business growth, balancing innovation with cost efficiency.
• Lead legacy system sunsetting, cloud migration, and consolidation initiatives to reduce complexity.

Investment Strategy & Business Case Development

Clearly articulate a point of view on new technology investments (e.g., AI platforms, composable commerce, edge computing).

Build ROI-driven business cases for tech initiatives, partnering with Finance and Product teams.

Proactively identify technical, security, and compliance risks in retail systems (PCI, GDPR, AI ethics).

Define architectural guardrails to ensure scalability, resilience, and regulatory adherence.

Establish vendor risk assessment frameworks for third-party AI / automation tools. Stakeholder Collaboration & Leadership

Present executive-level recommendations to CTO and business leaders on tech strategy.

Partner with Data Science, Engineering, and Operations teams to implement AI / automation at scale.

Mentor teams on emerging tech trends and best practices in retail architecture.

Job Requirements

Enterprise and solution architecture design

AI / ML solutioning and implementation (GenAI, predictive modeling, MLOps)

Hyper automation platforms (RPA, process orchestration)

Cloud-native platforms and microservices architecture (AWS, Azure, GCP)

API-first and event-driven system design

Data architecture concepts including data mesh and real-time analytics

Risk management, compliance, and IT governance

Strategic planning, portfolio management, and technology investments

Cross-functional leadership and agile delivery

Why Join GMG?

At GMG, we're dedicated to nurturing a vibrant, inclusive, and engaging work environment that promotes growth, innovation, and well-being. Join us in our mission to inspire victories that make the world better – for our team, our consumers, and our communities.

If you're seeking a challenging role where you can make a significant impact, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today to become a part of our journey.

What we offer?

An opportunity to become part of diverse teams with international exposure

Comprehensive family medical insurance

Family residency sponsorship and flight allowances

Up to 30% discount in our premium retail sports brand stores

Up to 20% discount in our pharmacy chain

Seniority level

Seniority level

Not Applicable

Employment type

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Job function

Information Technology

Industries

Retail

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