Global Chief Architect

ZipRecruiter; London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in pet nutrition is hiring a Global Chief Architect to drive its digital transformation. This role involves shaping enterprise architecture, managing a team of architects, and ensuring alignment with business strategies. Successful candidates will have significant experience in SAP and a strong background in leading enterprise-level architecture initiatives.

Benefits

Best-in-class learning and development support

Industry competitive salary and benefits package

Company bonus

Qualifications

• 10-15 years of experience in SAP ECC/S4HANA and interfacing systems.
• Experience guiding large-scale transformations across complex environments.
• Track record of managing and mentoring senior architects.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural vision for Royal Canin’s Digital Core Transformation.
• Design and oversee implementation of scalable end-to-end systems.
• Monitor architectural effectiveness through KPIs and metrics.

Skills

ERP architecture leadership

SAP ECC/S4HANA

modern architecture principles

strategic influencing

collaborative leadership

Tools

Signavio

LeanIX

Job description

Job Description

Royal Canin, part of Mars Petcare, is undergoing a bold digital transformation to modernize its global operating model. Through the EOS Program, we are implementing SAP S/4HANA, standardizing processes, and enabling seamless interoperability across Pet Nutrition and Royal Canin businesses.

This transformation spans ERP modernization, edge systems integration (e.g., Salesforce, OMP), and advanced data and analytics platforms like Mars Data Lake and SAP BTP.

We are hiring a Global Chief Architect to lead the architectural vision and execution across this transformation. You will:

• Shape and govern the enterprise architecture for our Digital Core and growth programs.
• Lead a team of architects across domains (ERP, data, platform, security).
• Partner with business leaders, product owners, and tech teams to ensure scalable, interoperable, and future-ready systems.
• Represent Royal Canin in Mars’ global architecture forums and drive alignment with enterprise strategy.

This is a unique opportunity to define the digital backbone of a purpose-led, high-growth global business — and help build a better world for pets.

What are we looking for?

• Proven ERP architecture leadership with 10–15 years' experience in SAP ECC/S4HANA and interfacing systems in CPG or similar industries.
• Strategic enterprise architect with hands-on experience guiding large-scale transformations across complex, matrixed environments.
• Strong leadership capabilities, with a track record of managing and mentoring senior architects and cross-functional tech teams.
• Expert in modern architecture principles, including Clean Core, extensibility, microservices, and composable design.
• Collaborative influencer, adept at engaging with vendors, integrators, and internal stakeholders to drive best practices, governance, and innovation

What will be your key responsibilities?

Transformation & Enterprise Architecture Leadership

• Define and lead the architectural vision for Royal Canin’s Digital Core Transformation (EOS Program) across Petcare divisions.
• Develop and maintain current and future-state architectural blueprints and an aspirational enterprise roadmap.
• Design and oversee implementation of scalable, integrated end-to-end systems across SAP and non-SAP environments.
• Align architecture strategy with segment needs, enterprise goals, and industry trends.
• Champion architectural governance, ensuring consistency, standardization, and best practices adoption.

Technology & Strategy Leadership

• Define the overall system architecture and roadmap to support Royal Canin’s digital transformation journey.
• Ensure architecture decisions align with enterprise standards and strategic business goals.
• Balance enterprise and segment-specific needs with external innovation perspectives.
• Drive value through technology initiatives that improve operational efficiency and reduce technical debt.
• Stay ahead of emerging technologies and ensure architectural readiness for future innovation.

People & Stakeholder Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing global team of Enterprise, Business, Solution, Platform, and Security Architects.
• Foster strong collaboration with Digital Technologies, Process Owners, Analytics, and business teams across regions.
• Act as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to stakeholders, influencing decisions and challenging the status quo.

Change & Governance

• Guide the rollout of industrialized architecture practices, including transition models, roadmaps, and technical strategies.
• Contribute to the Architecture Review Board (ARB) and enforce architecture governance processes and tools.
• Maintain and evolve the Enterprise Architecture repository and supporting toolsets (e.g., Signavio, LeanIX).

Operational Excellence

• Monitor architectural effectiveness through KPIs and metrics, reporting to executive and business leadership.
• Support technology standards enforcement in collaboration with service and implementation teams across domains.
• Ensure compliance, cost-efficiency, and resilience through architectural best practices and continuous improvement.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

#TBDDT