About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Technical Architect, To advise, assist and co-ordinate integration of new and enhanced applications into the technology architecture, acting as the technical lead in architecture ensuring a consistent approach and build practices are assured, compatible with IT strategy; and consistent with vendor standards. To contribute proactively ensuring a high-quality IT service is maintained.

Role Responsibilities

Technical Assurance
• Conduct thorough reviews of technical designs and architectural documentation to ensure alignment with project requirements, best practices, and industry standards.
• Identify and address potential design flaws, security vulnerabilities, and scalability concerns during the early stages of the project.
• Design, Specify or Coding of complex, specialist or critical elements of applications/platform services.
 

Quality Assurance
• Establish and influence coding standards, best practices, and architectural guidelines to maintain code quality and consistency across development teams.
• Conduct code reviews to identify and rectify potential issues related to coding standards, 
performance, and maintainability.

Relationship Management
• Manage stakeholders, ensuring effective and timely communication, realistic expectations and displaying a positive ‘growth mindset’.
• Liaise with internal subject matter experts/Independent 3rd Party Software Vendors/Strategic 
software partners on matters within their area of expertise, to understand business needs and 
support efficient problem resolution.
• Act as expert technical consultant in the areas of software development, platform considerations and architectural issues. 
 

Personal
• Maintain a good awareness of developments across the IT industry in technologies, tools and techniques.
• Supervise, organise and control the work of others as and when required.
• Manage engagements on smaller projects and technical change initiatives
• Providing coaching/training to less experienced colleagues and senior business stakeholders
 

Best Practice
• Set best practices and standards for software development, supervise and verify results of feature development and extension of MS Dynamics, Azure PaaS and bespoke software solutions. Develop, or contribute to, software peer review, development practices, security standards, software releases and technology strategy.

Point of contact for assistance in resolving complex technical problems and using awareness of business/commercial impact, prioritise own and others workloads. Proactive contribution to improving the effectiveness of IT, promoting good practice throughout the department.

General
• To be committed to good outcomes for customers at all times
• Ensure compliance with all applicable UK and local regulations, Company Policies and FCA

Conduct Rules
• Demonstrate behaviours in line with our Company values
• To take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and other persons who may be 
affected by acts and omissions at work

About you

Technical Knowledge

• Excellent relevant development skills including some/all of analysis; design, specification; programming; testing, implementation.
• Confident and proficient in the application of structured methods, tools and techniques

Best Practice

• Able to contribute positively across differing Software Development Lifecycles, Application architectures and associated development tools,techniques and methods.

Problem Solving

• Strong planning, analytical and reporting skills, able to assimilate complex information and present concise reasoned recommendations.

Communication

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to engage effectively at all levels, both internally and with 3rd parties. 

Business Knowledge

• Good awareness of retail and financial servicesbusiness operations and how these are supported by IT systems. 

Strategic thinking skills, able to place FGH

• IT activity and broader industry trends in an organisational context.

Managing Change

• Flexible and proactive approach to change, encouraging innovation and presenting change positively.

Business Knowledge

• Makes IT decisions consistent with good commercial basis.

Leadership

• Coaches/motivates/ develops less experienced/skilled members both across IT and the organisation as a whole.

Drive

• Maintains a high level of personal motivation, working with pace and energy, responding positively to setbacks, enabling performance improvement.

Accountability

• Accepting responsibility and delivering results.

Collaborative working

• Displays and encourages strong sense of teamwork within the department and across all stakeholders.

Customer Focus

• Champion a customer focused environment striving to exceed customer expectations.

Be able to commute to Bradford City Centre

Why FGH?

Our staff enjoy competitive benefits including staff discount, generous annual leave, healthcare cash plan together with a vibrant, colourful, creative and flexible working atmosphere. With our competitive benefits, and supportive teams our staff enjoy helping us on our mission and benefit greatly from the challenges that come with working for a successful retailer.

About us

Freemans Grattan Holdings (FGH) is based in West Yorkshire and is part of the OTTO Group – one of the world's largest online retailers.

Home to familiar brands such as Freemans, Grattan and Kaleidoscope, we have over 100 years of experience. 

We're on a mission to help our customers live their best lives through a choice of quality basics, the brands they love and credible exclusive product supported by easy and rewarding ways to pay.

We offer excellent service and delivery seven days a week, with so much going for us - why not be part of the story.

We have over 600 UK employees working for us in various functions, including Marketing and Creative, Customer Experience, Warehousing and Logistics, Financial Services, Transformation, Buying and Merchandising, IT and Support Services. 

Our values of Resilience, Empathy, Ambition, Commitment, and Honesty underpin our vibrant and dynamic culture.

We're heading for some exciting and challenging places, so why not join us and be part of our vision to create a modern, digital retailer with powerful customer brands, exciting product and compelling financial services.