Senior Solution Architect (Retail WFM Transformation) (Cape …, Cape Town

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Solution Architect to lead the end-to-end architecture design for a large-scale Retail Workforce Management (WFM) transformation.

This is a high-impact role focused on the Design/Investigation Phase, where you will produce a validated, build-ready architecture blueprint that removes ambiguity, accelerates delivery, and reduces implementation risk.

You will play a pivotal role in shaping a modern WFM ecosystem, ensuring seamless integration, strong data governance, and a resilient, secure, and store-friendly solution.

What You’ll Own (Design Phase Accountability)

You will be accountable for delivering architecture outcomes across:

• Target Solution Architecture – Define the future-state Retail WFM ecosystem
  
• Integration Architecture – Systems, interfaces, patterns, and controls
  
• Data Architecture – Data flows, validation, reconciliation, and auditability
  
• Non-Functional Architecture (NFRs) – Performance, usability, availability, and supportability (with store users in mind)
  
• Security & Resilience – Embedded by design and validated with SMEs
  
• Business Case Enablement – Architecture inputs into cost, timeline, and investment case
  

Key Deliverables (Build-Enabling Architecture Artefacts)
1. Retail WFM Target Architecture Pack (HLD)

• Target architecture diagrams (systems, components, integrations)
  
• Architecture principles, assumptions, and constraints
  
• Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) to lock key design choices

2. Integration Architecture Pack (HLD)

• Integration landscape map (systems and interface purposes)
  
• Prioritised interface catalogue (API/event/file, frequency, ownership)
  
• Design-level reliability principles (error handling, monitoring expectations)
  

A concise, high-impact deliverable ensuring data integrity and auditability:

• High-level data domains and object model (WFM + enterprise data)
  
• System-of-record definitions (create, maintain, consume)
  
• Validation rules at integration handoff points
  
• Reconciliation, traceability, and audit controls (payroll/compliance critical)
  
• Clear integration boundaries and expectations across systems
  
  

4. Retail WFM NFR Pack (Store-Aware)

• Store-focused NFRs (usability, performance, availability, supportability)
  
• Security-by-design (access models, auditability, secure integrations)
  
• Resilience-by-design (recovery, graceful degradation, monitoring readiness)
  
• Cloud, quality, and cybersecurity standards alignment
  
  

5. Architecture Inputs to Business Case

• Dependencies, risks, and sequencing (RAID inputs)
  
• Cost and timeline drivers (complexity, constraints, sizing factors)
  
• Executive-ready architecture inputs for investment decisions
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end architecture design across solution, integration, data, and NFRs
  
• Facilitate design workshops to translate business needs into technical decisions
  
• Define integration patterns and contracts (ownership, frequency, reliability)
  
• Partner with Business Process Leads to align process → system → data design
  
• Embed security and resilience principles into all architecture outputs
  
• Design solutions that optimize store operations and reduce administrative effort
  
• Contribute to investment case development with clear architectural insights
  
  

Collaboration Model

• The Business Process Lead owns business decisions, policies, and RACI
  
• The Solution Architect translates these into:
  
  • System design
    
  • Integration contracts
    
  • Data controls and auditability
    

Requirements

• 8+ years in Solution Architecture within enterprise, integration-heavy environments
  
• Proven experience delivering design-phase architecture artefacts (HLDs, blueprints, interface catalogues, NFR packs)
  
• Strong exposure to Workforce Management (WFM), scheduling, or time & attendance systems
  
• Experience embedding security and resilience by design
  
• Strong facilitation skills—translating business discussions into clear technical outcomes
  

• Experience with UKG or similar enterprise WFM platforms
  
• Retail / multi-site operations experience (store networks, complex scheduling)
  
• Exposure to cloud/SaaS architectures, integration patterns, and observability
  

Skills & Competencies

• Architecture Clarity – Produces precise diagrams and decision records
  
• Integration & Data Rigor – Defines practical, testable data and interface contracts
  
• Security & Resilience Mindset – Designs with risk mitigation from the outset
  
• Store Empathy – Understands retail environments and operational realities
  
• Executive Communication – Simplifies complexity and articulates trade-offs clearly
  

Requirements
8+ years in Solution Architecture within enterprise, integration-heavy environments Proven experience delivering design-phase architecture artefacts (HLDs, blueprints, interface catalogues, NFR packs) Strong exposure to Workforce Management (WFM), scheduling, or time & attendance systems Experience embedding security and resilience by design Strong facilitation skills—translating business discussions into clear technical outcomes Nice-to-Have Experience with UKG or similar enterprise WFM platforms Retail / multi-site operations experience (store networks, complex scheduling) Exposure to cloud/SaaS architectures, integration patterns, and observability Skills & Competencies Architecture Clarity – Produces precise diagrams and decision records Integration & Data Rigor – Defines practical, testable data and interface contracts Security & Resilience Mindset – Designs with risk mitigation from the outset Store Empathy – Understands retail environments and operational realities Executive Communication – Simplifies complexity and articulates trade-offs clearly