Req ID: 487690
Our IT Supply Chain Distribution team is seeking a
Senior Solutions Architect responsible for designing, governing, and enhancing the technology architecture that supports end-to-end merchandising and supply chain operations, including assortment planning, category management, procurement, demand planning, inventory management, transportation, warehousing, order fulfillment, and logistics execution.
This role serves as the strategic bridge between business operations and technology teams, ensuring merchandising, supply chain, data, AI, and enterprise platforms work together to support growth, profitability, inventory productivity, customer service, and operational excellence. The architect defines future-state technology roadmaps, evaluates emerging technologies, establishes architecture standards, and leads complex transformation initiatives that improve visibility, decision-making, automation, and scalability across the enterprise.
The position plays a critical leadership role in identifying and implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, automation, and advanced analytics capabilities that drive measurable business value across merchandising and supply chain functions.
Job Functions:Architecture Strategy & Governance- In partnership with the Technical Product Managers, develop and maintain the merchandising and supply chain technology architecture roadmap.
- Establish architecture principles, standards, design patterns, and governance processes.
- Ensure proposed solutions align with enterprise architecture standards and business strategy.
- Evaluate technology investments and provide recommendations to senior leadership.
- Lead architecture review and governance activities for supply chain technology.
Solution Design, Review & Advisory- Design integrations between merchandising platforms, ERP systems, supply chain applications, and store systems.
- Review and approve solution architectures developed by project/technology teams, vendors, system integrators, and solution architects.
- Provide guidance and architectural direction during planning and design activities.
- Assess technical tradeoffs, risks, scalability, maintainability, and business alignment of proposed solutions.
- Ensure consistency across merchandising, supply chain, data, integration, and AI platforms.
- Identify opportunities to simplify application landscapes and reduce technical debt.
Business Partnership- Partner with Merchandising, Supply Chain, Store Operations, Finance, Data & Analytics, and Technology teams to understand strategic priorities.
- Translate business capabilities into technology architecture requirements.
- Advise leadership on technology trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Support business case development and technology investment decisions.
AI Strategy, Governance & Enablement- Define the enterprise AI vision and roadmap for merchandising and supply chain functions.
- Evaluate AI and automation opportunities and advise business leaders on potential value and implementation approaches.
- Review and approve AI solution architectures to ensure alignment with enterprise standards.
- Establish governance frameworks for AI models, data quality, security, privacy, explainability, and responsible AI practices.
- Partner with Data Science, Analytics, and Engineering teams to ensure AI initiatives can be operationalized and scaled effectively.
Experience and Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree required (Information Systems, Computer Science, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or related field/experience).
- Advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in Supply Chain/Merchandising technology
- 5+ years experience providing architecture leadership, governance, or solution review responsibilities for complex enterprise systems.
- Experience supporting or implementing merchandising, planning, ERP, WMS, TMS, data, analytics, or AI platforms in a retail, distribution, or supply chain environment.
- Demonstrated experience evaluating emerging technologies, establishing standards, and advising leadership on technology strategy and investments.
Skills:- Hard Skills:
- Deep knowledge of merchandising, supply chain, and retail business processes including planning, inventory management, replenishment, warehousing, transportation, procurement, and vendor management.
- Enterprise and solution architecture expertise, including application architecture, integration patterns, APIs, event-driven architectures, and cloud platforms.
- Strong understanding of supply chain and merchandising technology platforms such as ERP, WMS, TMS, planning, forecasting, and analytics solutions.
- AI, automation, and data architecture knowledge, including generative AI, machine learning concepts, data governance, analytics platforms, and intelligent automation.
- Technology governance and architecture review capabilities, including risk assessment, security considerations, scalability, maintainability, and vendor solution evaluation.
Soft Skills:- Strategic thinking with the ability to align technology decisions to business objectives and long-term capabilities.
- Strong communication and executive presence, capable of influencing decisions across business and technology leadership.
- Critical thinking and sound judgment when evaluating competing solutions, risks, and tradeoffs.
- Collaboration and relationship-building skills across cross-functional teams, vendors, and implementation partners.
- Leadership through influence, including mentoring, facilitating architecture reviews, and driving consensus without direct authority.
Typical Physical Demands:- Requires prolonged sitting, some bending and stooping
- Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds
- Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer keyboard and calculator
- Requires normal range of hearing and vision
- Travel occasionally, including visits to warehouse and production facilities, with potential exposure to loud noises
