Solutions Architect

We drive our own success.

Solutions Architect 

Location: Spalding

Business Area: IT 
Contract Type: Permanent

Working Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm

6 Months Fixed Term Contract

Why join us?

We’re constantly evolving, progressing and diversifying. And we want our people to do so too. For everyone to feel empowered, engaged and enabled. To create opportunities to move forward, climb higher and push for more.

About the role.

The Solution Architect will facilitate the development, management and communication of a portfolio of solutions to help deliver agreed business outcomes.  

 
The role will own, in collaboration with the functional Domain Leads, the creation and development of Domain Strategies, Architecture Principles, Standards and Design Practices and be responsible for the coordination of such outputs with the wider Group IT function.   

Role Accountabilities

• Contributes to the development of solution architectures in specific business, infrastructure or functional areas, using appropriate tools and methods. 
• Identifies and evaluates alternative architectures and the trade-offs in cost, performance and scalability. 
• Produces specifications of cloud-based or on-premises components, tiers and interfaces, for translation into detailed designs using selected services and products. 
• Supports a change programme or project through the preparation of technical plans and application of design principles that comply with enterprise and solution architecture standards (including security). 
• Participates in quality reviews of solution architecture components. 
• Contributes to formal reviews and evaluations when projects and programmes end. Documents and socialises the lessons learned from the architecture development. 
• Develops and maintains knowledge of the technical specialism by, for example, reading relevant literature, attending conferences and seminars, meeting and maintaining contact with others involved in the technical specialism and through taking an active part in appropriate professional and trade bodies. 
• Maintains an awareness of current developments in the technical specialism. 
• Provides advice, both reactively and pro-actively, to those engaged in activities where the technical specialism is applicable both to IT staff and those in related areas such as budgetary and financial planning, litigation, legislation, and health and safety. 
• Identifies opportunities to apply the technical specialism within employing organisation and closely associated organisations, such as customers, suppliers and partners, and advises those responsible. 
• Carries out specific assignments related to the technical specialism, either alone or as part of a team. 
• Provides quality assurance of activities involving the technical specialism. 
• Conforms to and promotes quality standards and policies relating to the technical specialism, and is familiar with applicable legislation and compliance guidelines. 
• Promotes transfer of knowledge and awareness of the technical specialism to those in closely-related areas, such as IT staff, clients/users and development teams. 
• Writes, or contributes to, articles and papers and speaks at conferences, user groups, or specialist subject groups on topics involving the technical specialism. Takes part in special interest groups concerned with the technical specialism. 
• Attends configuration change control board (CCB) and design authority board meetings or equivalent. 
• Adheres to IT and company policies, procedures, audit and legal requirements including business continuity and security. 
• Travel to other UK and international sites may be required. 

About you:

Required

• Knowledge of systems development lifecycle and typical problems associated with the implementation and operation of information systems
• Familiar with IT strategy, policies and standards, and any industry regulations/constraints
• Aware of risk management, change management, configuration management, reliability and safety methods and the use of metrics. 
• Good leadership and communication skills and the ability to present complex subjects in a style appropriate to the audience.   
• Positive, proactive and flexible approach to work
• Ability to influence at all levels of the organisation  
   

Desirable

• Professional IT qualification such as, an Apprenticeship at Level 3, Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent 

What you’ll receive.

As an equal opportunity employer, we’re committed to providing a safe and rewarding environment for you to thrive in. This is why we work hard to deliver benefits and wellbeing offerings that are important to you. 

You’ll enjoy:

• Life Assurance (2.5 x Salary)
• Private medical insurance (employee & family cover)
• Car allowance
• Annual Bonus Scheme
• 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays as standard (may vary by role)
• Staff Shop
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme
• Discount & cashback platform
• Personal Accident Insurance
• Free health check
• Employee Assistance Programme
• A range of voluntary benefits (holiday purchase scheme, additional life assurance, dental & hospital cash plans)
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Free independent mortgage advice
• Discounted tutoring for children
• Access to financial learning tools and affordable loans via your salary
• Free car parking – Site dependant

Proud to be Bakkavor

We’re proud to be the market leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry. We’re proud to supply meals, salads, desserts, pizza and bread to leading grocery retailers including Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. We’re driven by the hard work and passion of our people and are delighted to offer a wide range of careers across our business – come and join our dedicated Bakkavor team!

Find out more and apply.