Principal Solution Architect & Practice Manager

Co-op Digital; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

28 days holiday

Pension contributions

Private healthcare

onsite gym

Staff discount

Stream pay access

Virtual healthcare

24/7 support

Training & career development

Cycle-to-work

Job summary

Co-op Digital is reshaping its Digital, Technology and Data function and seeks a Principal Solution Architect & Practice Manager in Manchester. You will own end-to-end solution architecture for key initiatives, lead architectural decision-making, and coach a team of Solution Architects while aligning designs with business goals and technology strategy.

You’ll work with Value Stream Leaders to foster collaboration, deliver high‑quality solutions, and build a strong architecture community for

Qualifications

• Proven track record designing and delivering complex solutions in retail or similar environments.
• Strong architectural judgement balancing business needs and tech constraints.
• Experience coaching and developing architects and building high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills to translate complex concepts.

Responsibilities

• Own end‑to‑end solution architecture for key initiatives and align designs with business goals.
• Define and maintain roadmaps that support long-term priorities and tech direction.
• Lead architectural decision‑making and balance standard vs bespoke solutions.
• Ensure scalable, secure, and well‑integrated solutions across the technology landscape.
• Provide guidance on complex designs, trade‑offs, and delivery challenges.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of Solution Architects.
• Collaborate with Practice Managers to foster knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Drive quality across designs in line with governance and standards.
• Deploy Architects across change initiatives matching skills to business needs.
• Build trusted relationships with engineering teams, value streams, vendors and partners.

Skills

Solution Architecture

Stakeholder management

People leadership

Enterprise architecture

Cloud architecture

Communication

Job description

Principal Solution Architect & Practice Manager
£80,000 to £90,000 plus great benefits (Work level 4)
Hybrid working, splitting your time between home and coming into our Manchester city centre office once or twice a month

We're reshaping our Digital, Technology and Data function for the future, creating new opportunities, strengthening our capability, and building clearer, more resilient ways of working so we can deliver even better services for our Co-op, our colleagues, members and customers.

At Co-op, technology helps us deliver better experiences for our colleagues, members and customers. We're looking for a Principal Solution Architect & Practice Manager to combine strategic architecture leadership with people leadership, shaping technology solutions that deliver real business value while supporting and developing a team of talented Solution Architects.

This is an opportunity to influence how technology enables our future business strategy while helping others grow and succeed. You'll work closely with our Value Stream Leadership teams and the other Solution Architecture Practice Managers to bringing people together, share expertise and fostering a collaborative architecture community, you'll help make sure we deliver high-quality solutions and build a strong, engaged team for the future.

What you'll do

• Own end-to-end solution architecture for key initiatives, ensuring designs align with business goals, enterprise architecture and technology strategy
• Define and maintain solution roadmaps that support long-term business priorities and technology direction
• Lead architectural decision-making, balancing standard capabilities, configuration options and bespoke solutions where appropriate
• Support the delivery of scalable, resilient, secure and well-integrated solutions across the wider technology landscape
• Act as a senior architectural leader, providing guidance on complex designs, technical trade-offs and delivery challenges
• Lead, coach and develop a team of Solution Architects, supporting their growth, performance and career development
• Work with our other Practice Managers to build a strong architecture community that encourages collaboration, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
• Drive quality across solution designs, ensuring alignment with architecture standards, governance requirements and best practice
• Manage the deployment of Solution Architects across change initiatives, matching skills and experience to business needs
• Build trusted relationships with engineering teams, value stream delivery colleagues, vendors and external partners

What you'll bring

• Significant experience as a Solution Architect, with a strong track record of designing and delivering complex solutions within retail or similarly complex environments
• Strong architectural judgement, with the ability to balance business needs, operational requirements and technical considerations to achieve the best outcomes
• A passion for people leadership, with experience coaching, mentoring and developing others while creating an inclusive and supportive team environment
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, practical guidance for a range of audiences
• A collaborative mindset, with a focus on building strong relationships, sharing knowledge and bringing people together to achieve shared goals
• The ability to foster innovation and continuous improvement, helping both people and technology capabilities evolve and succeed

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Private healthcare
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream - early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you'll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we'll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion.