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Principal Architect

Not Specified

39 hours per week

Not Specified

Support Centre, Lincoln

c. £78k per annum (dependent on experience)

Permanent

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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.

INDMP
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. If you’d like to use your technical expertise to help shape technology that supports thousands of colleagues and customers across Lincolnshire, we’d love to hear from you.

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

We’re also proud to be an Investors in People Platinum employer—recognition of the way we support colleagues to grow, contribute and build careers they feel proud of.
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 have 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!

We work together as a Society and are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is barrier free and as inclusive as possible for everyone. If you need any adjustments, would like us to do anything differently during the interview or would like to get in touch with us about anything else, please contact our Recruitment team on (01522) 533316, or alternatively you can email [email protected].

We may choose to close our vacancies in the event that we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so we encourage all candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Job Description

Where you'll
be working

Here is where you'll be based.

Stanley Bett House, 15-23 Tentercroft Street, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN5 7DB, United Kingdom

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Support Services

Behind every great shift in store, branch, pharmacy or funeral home, there's a team working with our front-line colleagues making sure everything runs smoothly.

Find out more

Why choose us?

Career progression

Whether you have big ambitions or taking a small next step, you'll have chances to learn, build your skills, and grow more confident in your role.

How we help you grow

For life's challenges

If life gets in the way you'll have supportive managers who listen and help you find a way forward.

Owned by members, not shareholders

You'll be part of a co-op that puts people and communities first, every day.

Beewise credit union

A Lincolnshire Co-op exclusive credit union, with a simple way to save and access low-interest loans.

Pensions

Your future matters. We'll match what you pay in, up to 12%, with our Honeypot pension scheme.

Volunteering

You get two paid days a year to volunteer locally, doing something that feels good and has an impact in the community.

Why choose us

Rewards & benefits

A good job should come with good perks and as a colleague, you'll have access to a range of rewards and benefits. Some from day one, with others available once you've completed your probation.

Up to 36 days holiday

You'll start with 30 days annual leave (including bank holidays). That rises to 36 days with service.

Time to talk

A yearly catch-up with your manager to talk about how things are going and what support, training, or next steps would help you.

Beewise credit union

A Lincolnshire Co-op exclusive credit union, with a simple way to save and access low-interest loans.

Employees association

Discounted social events and days out. From comedy nights and concerts to shows and trips at special prices.

Colleague awards

Great service doesn't go unnoticed. You can nominate a colleague for an award when they've gone the extra mile.

Healthcare scheme

Affordable cover options for individuals and families, if you want a little extra support.

Union membership

We work closely with the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) to support good working conditions and best practice.

Wellbeing support

Help for both body and mind, including counselling, helpful resources and other support when you need it.

Discretionary bonus

When the Society performs well, profits may be shared through an annual discretionary bonus. It's worked out as a percentage of your annual wage.

Colleague discount

After you've completed your probation, you'll get discounts across our products and services through our cashback scheme.

Volunteering days

You get two paid volunteer days each year to support your local community. It's part of your role, fully paid.