Solution Architect Team Manager

Mitchells & Butlers plc; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33% discount across all M&B brands

Friends & Family discount for up to 5

Annual bonus scheme

Option to buy up to two additional ays

Matched pension contributions (up to 1

Private healthcare and dental plan

Cycle to Work and wellbeing schemes

26 days annual leave plus bank/hldys

Hybrid working and flexible approach

Job summary

MITCHELLS & BUTLERS PLC is seeking an experienced Solution Architect Team Manager to lead a high-performing team of Solution Architects. The role combines people leadership with hands-on architecture to shape technology solutions that deliver business value across our hospitality portfolio.

You will partner with Enterprise Architecture, Information Security and delivery teams to prioritise architecture work, develop roadmaps, and ensure solutions align with standards and commercial objectives.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of architecture teams in complex organisations.
• Experience governing end-to-end solution architectures and roadmaps.
• Strong written and verbal communication; ability to influence senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the Solution Architecture team.
• Build and maintain career development plans for direct reports.
• Allocate architecture resources across projects and programmes.
• Escalation point for architecture issues on projects and initiatives.
• Chair Design Forum activities and promote continuous improvement.
• Evaluate and recommend solution options to meet business requirements.
• Present architecture risks and assumptions to governance forums.
• Ensure designs meet security, resilience, and licensing requirements.
• Collaborate with suppliers and stakeholders to develop technology roadmaps.
• Maintain current-state architecture documentation across domains.
• Engage with enterprise architecture, information security and delivery teams.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Architecture governance

Solution Architecture

Agile experience

Communication

Problem solving

Vendor management

Education

IT based degree or equivalent

Job description

We're looking for an experienced Solution Architect Team Manager to join our award-winning Technology team on a permanent basis and play a pivotal role in shaping the technology solutions that support one of the UK's largest hospitality businesses. Leading a team of Solution Architects, you'll ensure technology solutions are designed to deliver business value while balancing security, risk, cost, supportability and long-term strategic fit. As both a people leader and hands-on architect, you'll be responsible for ensuring architecture resources are prioritised against the initiatives that matter most to Mitchells & Butlers. Working closely with Enterprise Architecture, Information Security and delivery teams, you'll provide direction, challenge and governance to ensure solutions align with our technology standards, architecture principles and commercial objectives. You'll help shape the future technology landscape at M&B, developing architecture roadmaps that support business growth, simplify our IT estate and manage technology lifecycles effectively. Alongside leading the function, you'll remain actively involved in solution design, using your expertise to identify and recommend technologies that deliver the right balance of value, resilience and operational sustainability. This is a fantastic opportunity to build and develop a high-performing team, fostering a collaborative and problem-solving culture while creating clear development and progression opportunities for your architects. The role holder will also take ownership of solution architecture activity on key projects and programmes, providing both strategic leadership and hands-on architectural expertise.

• Perform a dual role of Lead Solution Architect and Solution Architecture Team Manager.
• Lead, coach and develop the Solution Architecture team.
• Build and maintain career development and progression plans for direct reports.
• Proactively manage architecture resource allocation across projects, programmes, strategic initiatives and options papers.
• Act as the point of escalation for Solution Architects and projects where a Solution Architect is assigned.
• Chair and facilitate Design Forum activities, promoting constructive challenge and continuous improvement.
• Lead the evaluation, selection and recommendation of solution options to support business requirements.
• Present architecture recommendations, risks, assumptions and exceptions to Architecture Governance forums.
• Assure solution designs against security, resilience, supportability, integration, service, operational and licensing requirements.
• Work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to develop technology roadmaps and understand emerging capabilities.
• Maintain awareness of market trends, suppliers and technology developments relevant to M&B.
• Identify opportunities to rationalise, modernise or decommission legacy systems.
• Maintain current-state architecture documentation across application, data, infrastructure and licensing domains.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and relationship building skills
• Communicate architecture decisions effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrable understanding of architecture methodologies
• ITIL foundation - Appreciation of ITIL and Service Design techniques - Desirable
• Demonstrable experience of working within an Agile environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to influence key stakeholders and work together to make change happen
• Knowledge and understanding of corporate policy and business strategy
• The ability to produce, manipulate, implement or enhance all architecture concepts, roadmaps, principles or effective strategies
• The ability to think laterally and constructively question established processes
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment and handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Proven experience of managing third party companies

Key Experience

• Solution Architecture, Architecture Management or Technology Leadership roles within complex organisations.
• Leading, developing and managing Solution Architects and technical architecture teams.
• Defining, governing and assuring end-to-end solution architectures across multiple technology domains.
• Operating architecture governance, design authorities, assurance processes, standards and exception management.
• Maintaining architecture documentation, decision records and governance artefacts within complex technology estates., IT based degree or equivalent
• Five years experience in a similar architecture role
• Solution's Architecture certification
  At M&B we value the unique perspectives each person brings. We believe that by fostering a culture of inclusion, respect, and allyship, we create a sense of belonging, engagement and teamwork which are essential to delivering great guest experiences.

Salary Competitive Salary 1. Hours Full Time,

• 33% discount across all M&B brands.
• 20% Friends & Family discount for up to five people.
• Annual bonus scheme.
• Option to buy up to two additional weeks of holiday.
• Matched pension contributions (up to 1.5x your contribution).
• Private healthcare and dental plan.
• Cycle to Work and wellbeing schemes.
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Hybrid working and flexible approach.