Principal Solution Architect & Practice Manager

CO-OP; Manchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Holiday allowance

Pension 10%

Private healthcare

Onsite gym

Product discounts

Virtual healthcare

Wellbeing support

Training & progression

Cycle-to-work

Job summary

Co-op is seeking a Principal Solution Architect & Practice Manager to lead architectural strategy and people leadership. You will own end-to-end solution architecture for key initiatives, shaping roadmaps and guiding complex designs across the technology landscape.

You’ll mentor a team of Solution Architects and collaborate with Value Stream Leadership to build a strong architecture community. You’ll influence technology direction, balance trade-offs, and ensure delivery of high-quality, secure

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a Solution Architect delivering complex solutions.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a team of architects.
• Experience shaping architecture practice and governance in a large organisation.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end solution architecture for key initiatives aligned with strategy.
• Define and maintain roadmaps supporting long-term priorities.
• Lead architectural decision-making balancing standard vs bespoke solutions.
• Support scalable, secure, well-integrated solutions across technology landscape.
• Coach and develop a team of Solution Architects.
• Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across the architecture community.
• Ensure designs meet governance and architecture standards.

Skills

Solution architecture

People leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Mentoring & coaching

Communication

Job description

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
  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
  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.