IT Principal Architect

Lincolnshire Co-op; Lincoln; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

34 days annual leave

Pension scheme with up to 12% employer

Generous colleague discounts

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Lincolnshire Co-op is seeking a Principal Architect to shape our technology estate and provide architectural governance across our stores, pharmacies, and services. You will review designs, maintain roadmaps, and drive standards while collaborating with Enterprise, Solution and Data Architects and external partners.

You will chair governance boards, balance immediate delivery with long-term health of systems, and lead the development of the Architecture function within the organisation.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in solution or application architecture.
• Experience with architecture governance, design authorities or architecture review boards.
• Ability to explain complex decisions clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience across packaged and bespoke business systems.

Responsibilities

• Review and approve solution designs from internal teams and delivery partners.
• Chair the Solution Review Board and contribute to Architecture Review Board standards and roadmaps.
• Maintain architecture records, application registers and decision logs.
• Identify architectural risks and long-term impact of design decisions.
• Lead and develop the Solutions Architect role within the team.
• Explain technical decisions to senior stakeholders across the Society.

Skills

Solution architecture

Architecture governance

Cloud architecture

Stakeholder communication

Team leadership

Risk management

Education

TOGAF certification (or equivalent)

Tools

Azure

Job description

About the role:

We’re looking for a Principal Architect to help shape and safeguard the technology estate that supports every part of Lincolnshire Co-op. From our food stores and pharmacies to our funeral, travel and property businesses, technology plays an important role in helping our colleagues serve our communities. As we continue our transformation, you’ll provide the technical leadership and architectural governance needed to ensure the solutions we introduce are secure, sustainable and right for our future.

What you’ll be doing

Reporting to our Head of IT Transformation, you’ll take formal responsibility for reviewing and approving solution designs before they move into build.

You’ll chair our weekly Solution Review Board and play a leading role within our Architecture Review Board, helping to establish clear standards, patterns and technology roadmaps across the Society. As our transformation progresses, there is also an expectation that you’ll move into chairing the Architecture Review Board.

Your role will include:

• Reviewing and approving solution designs from internal teams and delivery partners.
• Safeguarding our application portfolio by ensuring solutions follow agreed architectural standards.
• Maintaining a clear view of our systems, their connections and future roadmaps.
• Identifying architectural risks, technical debt and the longer-term impact of design decisions.
• Working closely with Enterprise, Solution and Data Architects, project teams, service colleagues and technology partners.
• Challenging proposals constructively when they don’t meet our standards or long-term needs.
• Keeping architecture records, application registers and decision logs accurate and up to date.
• Explaining technical decisions clearly to colleagues and senior stakeholders across the Society.
• Leading and developing our Solutions Architect.

This is a role with real influence. You’ll help us balance immediate delivery needs with the longer-term health of our technology estate, making sure decisions are joined up across projects, platforms and businesses.

INDHP

About You

You’ll bring significant experience in solution or application architecture, or in a senior application management role where you’ve held genuine responsibility for technical design.

You’ll also have:

• Experience of working across a mixed estate of packaged and bespoke business systems.
• A strong understanding of how applications integrate and support operational services.
• Experience of architecture governance, design authorities or architecture review boards.
• Sound judgement around integration, technical debt, customisation and point-to-point solutions.
• The confidence to challenge internal and external technical specialists while maintaining positive working relationships.
• The ability to explain complex decisions clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong written communication and the discipline to maintain clear, traceable architectural records.

Experience of Microsoft Azure, packaged retail, pharmacy or ERP platforms would be helpful, as would experience of working with outsourced or co-managed delivery partners. A recognised architecture qualification or framework, such as TOGAF, would also be welcomed, but it isn’t essential.

How we’ll work together

You’ll be based at our Support Centre in Lincoln, with hybrid working and a minimum of two days each week in the office. You’ll work with colleagues and senior leaders across our family of businesses, as well as our technology suppliers and implementation partners.

We’re looking for someone who can bring clarity to complexity: someone who will listen, ask thoughtful questions and make balanced decisions, while being prepared to hold firm when a proposal isn’t right for the Society.

At Lincolnshire Co-op, our purpose is to bring together ideas, energy and resources to make life better in our communities.

What connects for you

Alongside meaningful work where your ideas can shape how technology supports our Society, you’ll receive:

• 34 days annual leave, including bank holidays
• Pension scheme with up to 12% employer contributions
• Generous colleague discounts across our family of businesses
• Opportunities to develop your skills and grow your career

About Us

From a single store in 1861 we have grown to be one of the most successful co-operatives in the UK. We’re proud to be able to offer a wide range of services from across our family of businesses. From Food Stores and Pharmacies to Post Offices and Support Services, we’re a growing society made up of over 220 outlets and nearly 3,000 colleagues.

We're owned by our members, the people of Lincolnshire and surrounding counties, and has been for more than 160 years! Communities are at the heart of everything we do and motivates us to deliver more than great customer service. We support them by sharing dividend with our members, investing in new and improved services, raising money for charity through our Community Champion scheme, supporting local schools and so much more!