Principal Solution Architect - SAP

Principal Solution Architect – SAP 
£80,000 to £90,000 plus great benefits including private healthcare and a company car or car allowance (Work Level 4) 
Manchester city centre - in this role you’ll spend most of your time at home but visit the office when needed to support the team (find out more about our hybrid working policy at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy)

We’re open to applications from people who may require flexible working arrangements. There’ll be an opportunity to discuss your flexible working requirements during the interview process, and at offer stage.

We’re reshaping our Digital, Technology and Data function for the future, creating new opportunities, strengthening our capability, and building clearer, more resilient ways of working so we can deliver even better services for our Co-op, our colleagues, members and customers.

We’re looking for a Principal Solution Architect to join our Technology team to play a leading role in shaping the technology solutions that support our Co-op strategy. You’ll provide deep architectural expertise across SAP platforms and enterprise-wide technology landscapes, guiding the design of complex solutions and making sure they align with our long-term technology plans.

Working across your assigned value streams, you’ll influence senior colleagues, contribute to enterprise architecture standards, and help drive innovation across Co-op.

Why this role matters

Technology plays a vital role in helping us deliver for our colleagues, members, customers, and communities. In this role, you’ll make sure that the solutions we design today are scalable, secure, and fit for the future. By providing architectural leadership across major programmes and transformations, you’ll help us make better technology decisions.

What you’ll do

• Lead the design and delivery of complex SAP and enterprise technology solutions 
• Provide architectural leadership across platforms, domains, and strategic programmes 
• Develop and maintain solution roadmaps, standards, and architecture patterns
• Make sure solutions meet business needs, security requirements, and enterprise architecture principles 
• Support governance activities and provide expert guidance on technology decisions 
• Coach and mentor architects and technical specialists across the team 
• Build strong relationships with business teams, delivery teams, vendors, and partners

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

• Experience in solution architecture, systems integration, and technology lifecycle management within a retail environment 
• Deep expertise within SAP architecture, ideally including SAP Retail and enterprise-scale technology environments 
• A strong understanding of enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF, SAP Enterprise Architecture) 
• Experience leading the design and delivery of complex solutions across multiple domains 
• The ability to influence senior partners and communicate complex technical concepts in a clear, engaging way 
• Experience supporting technology programmes and large transformation initiatives

We know some people may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement. At Co-op, we’re committed to building diverse and inclusive teams, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly, we still encourage you to apply.  

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance) 
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays  
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions  
• A company car or £6,000 car allowance 
• Private healthcare
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ) 
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands  
• Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it  
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice  
• 24/7 colleague support service  
• Training and support for your development and career progression 
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone, and our support centre is an inclusive environment where all our colleagues can thrive.  

If you have a disability, we’ll make reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process. We’re also proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme - if you’re disabled and you meet the minimum criteria for this job, we’ll guarantee you an interview.  

Learn more about our recruitment process at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process  

Explore our commitments to diversity, inclusion and wellbeing at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion-wellbeing