Director, Enterprise Architecture-eCommerce & Digital Retail

The Director of Architecture for e-Commerce and Digital Retail will lead architecture strategy and execution for our global e-commerce and digital retail platforms. (S)he will own Solutions Architecture for all guest-facing digital channels and products/platforms and lead a team of Solutions Architects.  This role requires a strategic thinker with deep technical expertise and a passion for innovation, as well as a hands-on architect, leading some of the projects directly.  

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience with large-scale, high-performance e-commerce/omnichannel architecture, engineering and operations; cloud technologies; and a strong background in the QSR and/or retail industry. 

(S)he will be responsible for transforming Inspire Digital Platform into a scalable multi-brand white-labeled platform and drive integration of Inspire Brands’ vertical e-commerce and restaurant technology capabilities into a cohesive Unified Commerce architecture.   

This role will be part of Architecture & Innovation team and report to VP, Architecture & Innovation. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Strategic Leadership: 

• Develop and lead a cohesive architecture strategy for e-commerce and digital retail platforms. 

• Collaborate with executive leadership to align architectural initiatives and designs with business objectives. 

• Drive innovation and digital transformation efforts across the organization. 

• Architecture Development: 

• Design and implement scalable, secure, and highly performant architectural solutions. 

• Ensure architectural alignment with business goals, industry and company standards and best practices. 

• Oversee the development and maintenance of architectural documentation, standards, and guidelines. 

• Team Leadership and Collaboration: 

• Lead a team of architects, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. 

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including product management, engineering, operations, and marketing.  Provide thought leadership and support. 

• Mentor and develop team members, promoting knowledge sharing and professional growth. 

• Technology and Innovation: 

• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends, evaluating their potential impact on the business.  Examples may include voice AI, drone delivery service, recommendation engine, etc. 

• Drive the adoption of modern technologies and best practices such as API-driven architectures, cloud computing, microservices, etc. 

• Champion the use of data and analytics to drive decision-making and enhance customer experiences. 

• Project and Vendor Management: