Employment:
Full Time
Who we are We are a leading partner for luxury across the Middle East. With more than 600 stores, 300 brands and over 65 years of experience in the region, we have become a major player in the beauty, fashion and gift sectors, by offering service excellence to our partners and delighting all our customers. We are moving fast from a traditional distributor and retailer for luxury in the Middle East, to a hybrid retailer bringing luxury experiences to the fingertips of customers everywhere. To fuel the next stage of our growth we are looking to build a world class team. From physical retail through to supply chain and customer loyalty, we aim to use technology and data to continuously improve every aspect of our operations. We are looking for top talent to join us on this journey of exploring new horizons together. This is a fantastic opportunity for a Customer Solutions Architect to join a leading retail group in the middle east, working as part of the IT Services team. The candidate will work with our solution architects in the team to support the ongoing transformation of the enterprise architecture, including key high-profile projects focused on achieving the Chalhoub Group business priorities.What you’ll be doing The Customer Solution Architect is responsible for the solution design and architecture of project streams. This will include product evaluation(RFP), technology impact assessment, Outline Solution and High-Level Designs, governance of the low-level design and adherence to principles, policies and standards on projects and within product teams. The ideal candidate will work independently with minimal supervision, closely collaborating with other architects, business analysts and project managers in the IT team.This role will interact with delivery teams to validate and construct solutions designs across the enterprise systems and will also participate in delivery projects to perform compliance checks and ensure product quality and alignment with IT processes. The Solution Architect will also proactively incorporate the Peer Review and Enterprise Design Authority boards to ensure solution proposals are compliant with the Group’s overall Enterprise Architecture principles.The candidate must have strong communication skills and be organized in their approach to daily tasks. They should have previous experience in software and hardware implementation projects and a proven track record in documenting architectural designs following industry best practices and tools.What you’ll need to succeed • To undertake high level technical architecture & design activities on projects of work, working alongside our development partners.• Ensure appropriate and timely escalation and resolution of key architecture & design decision conflicts.• Evaluate 3rd party solutions, performing detailed technical assessments (RFP) and advising business on integration and technical fit into existing architecture landscape.• Collaborate with and, where required, instruct 3rd party development partners and resource on low level technical design and delivery of an IT solution.• Partners with business and technology subject-matter experts to elicit and translate business requirements into technology solutions & strategic direction.• Ensure solution design complies with the long-term strategic roadmap for all IT systems architecture.• Partners with other solution architects to provide a consensus based scalable and adaptable architectural solution including peer review of solution architecture deliverables.• Presents and evaluates high level project architecture & artefacts at a technology governance forum to ensure architectural and strategic fit.• Run design authority sessions, in collaboration with other solution architects, evaluating proposed designs against established standards and architecture framework.• Identifies opportunities for innovation & supports the development of the Business Technology Strategy.• Provides input in the development of policies, standards and guidelines that direct the selection, development, implementation and use of Information Technology as related to Customer domain technologies.• Responsible for Customer domain technology subject matter leadership, providing guidance to implementing technology projects and technical teams on standards-based best practice• Provides enterprise-wide assurance over the integrity and appropriateness of Customer solution designs, using Chalhoub enterprise architecture principles, policies and standards.• Represents the Customer domain in architecture and design forum(s) as a key decision-making stakeholder.• Work with the Project Managers and Business Analysts to develop a high-level project schedule, business requirements and set of architectural artefacts.• Governs and manages changes to the Customer domain architecture landscape, for both existing systems and new initiatives that impact Customer-related business capabilities, including transition and target architecture changes and management of related architectural artefacts (i.e. knowledge management and appropriate application of tooling standards)• Provides assurance and governance over Customer domain implementations at key time-based milestones, ensuring appropriate application of Chalhoub architecture principles, policies, and standards.• Research new Customer technologies to improve and evolve the existing technology stack, providing recommendations to the business and technology teams as appropriate
What skills and competencies you’ll need to succeed• A minimum of 6 years’ experience is required working in technology related environments as a Technical Architect, Solution Architect, Consultant, Developer or equivalent role.• 6+ years’ experience in Customer-specific architecture and solution design• Experience designing, integrating, and managing complex solutions (multi-platform, multi-technology, 3rd parties).• The candidate should possess a strong background in different technologies focusing on consumer and business applications and should know and understand a variety of different technologies, frameworks and coding languages. Ideally the candidate should have a technology related academic background.• It is also crucial to have experience in the application of technology to business processes and to have a good understanding of Retail as an industry.• Experience of Agile and Waterfall software development lifecycles.• Previous experience in software development/coding during their career.• Demonstrated ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders.• Demonstrated experience in at least one area of digital technology, such as digital content management, digital marketing, digital commerce or mobile applications.• Has experience implementing cloud solutions – IaaS, PaaS and SaaS.• Experience working on integration technologies and a good understanding of API design patterns and frameworks, micro services, API gateways, API security etc.• Detailed experience and successful track record in establishing CRM capabilities, defining and driving the adoption of CRM architectures e.g. Salesforce Service, Marketing, Campaign Management, Service Management, Commerce.• Deep domain knowledge of CRM and cloud systems/platforms & implementations, and hands-on experience working on related technologies.• Possess an exceptionally strong technical and functional experience in CRM, Marketing, Voice of Customer, Contact Centre, Loyalty, Self-Service and Omnichannel solutions.• Knowledge and technical experience in AWS or a related cloud-based development platform.• Knowledge in Modern Application development and containerization/CI-CD.• Experience in Salesforce Service and Marketing Cloud or equivalent is essential.• Working knowledge of at least one of the following database technologies: Oracle, MYSQL, SQL Server, RDS, NoSQL.• Knows at least one of the following programming/scripting languages and technologies: C, C#, Java, PLSQL, Perl, Python, PHP, HTML, React Java Script, Node.Js etc.• Relevant Customer technology software certifications, preferably in the Salesforce domain (SFSC, SFMC)• Architecture practice and modelling-related certifications e.g. TOGAF, BCS, Zachmann, UML.• Architecture tooling experience e.g. Orbus, Archimate, Sparx, Mega Hopex, Casewise, ARIS…What we can offer you With us, you will turn your aspirations into reality. We will help shape your journey through enriching experiences, learning and development opportunities and exposure to different assignments within your role or through internal mobility. Our Group offers diverse career paths for those who are extraordinary, every day. We recognise the value that you bring, and we strive to provide a competitive benefits package which includes health care, child education contribution, remote and flexible working policies as well as exclusive employee discounts.
The Chalhoub Group is the leading partner for luxury across the Middle East since 1955. As an expert in retail, distribution and marketing services based in Dubai, the group has become a major player in the fashion, beauty and gift sectors regionally.
By blending its Middle East expertise and intimate knowledge of luxury, Chalhoub Group is building brands in the region, by offering service excellence to all its partners and a unique experience to its customers through its passionate teams.
With a growing workforce of more than 9,000 people, implemented in 14 countries, as well as the operating of over 470 retail outlets, the group’s success is attributed to its most valued asset of highly skilled and dedicated teams. Professionalism and passion are what fuel the Chalhoub Group’s competitive edge in today’s market.
By being committed to implementing sustainable practices into their business, the Chalhoub Group has been awarded in 2013 the CSR Label from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. More