Director - Solution Architect

Who we are

GMG is a global well-being company retailing, distributing and manufacturing a portfolio of leading international and home-grown brands across sport, everyday goods, health and beauty, properties and logistics sectors. Under the ownership and management of the Baker family for over 45 years, GMG is a valued partner of choice for the world's most successful and respected brands in the well-being sector. Working across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, GMG has introduced more than 120 brands across 12 countries. These include notable home-grown brands such as Sun & Sand Sports, Dropkick, Supercare Pharmacy, Farm Fresh, Klassic, and international brands like Nike, Columbia, Converse, Timberland, Vans, Mama Sita's, and McCain.

Job Summary:

We are seeking a strategic and forward-thinking Technology Solution Architect to drive retail solution architecture, technology rationalization, modernization, and innovation across our retail business. This role requires a deep understanding of retail operations, SAP S/4HANA, eCommerce and omnichannel architecture, enterprise integrations, cloud technologies, and emerging technologies including AI-driven automation.

As a key leader reporting to the CTO, you will define end-to-end solution architecture and technology roadmaps across ERP, eCommerce, POS, OMS, CRM/loyalty, merchandising, inventory and supply chain platforms, rationalize legacy systems, evaluate new investments, and mitigate risks while ensuring alignment with business objectives. You will act as a trusted advisor, translating complex technical concepts into actionable strategies for executive stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Retail & Enterprise Solution Architecture

• Define end-to-end solution architecture across SAP S/4HANA, eCommerce, POS, OMS, CRM/loyalty, merchandising, pricing, inventory, and supply chain platforms.
• Architect scalable omnichannel solutions connecting physical stores, digital commerce, customer, inventory, order management and fulfilment platforms.
• Define integration architecture across SAP, eCommerce and enterprise platforms using APIs, events, middleware and modern integration patterns.
• Translate complex retail business requirements into scalable solution designs and target-state architecture.
• Establish architectural standards and guardrails across major retail transformation and technology initiatives.

AI & Automation Leadership

• Identify and architect AI/ML-driven solutions that enhance retail operations, including predictive analytics, personalized recommendations, demand forecasting, dynamic pricing, customer service and intelligent automation.
• Define automation strategies using RPA, intelligent workflows and process automation to optimize retail operations across supply chain, inventory, stores and corporate functions.
• Evaluate opportunities for Generative AI and emerging technologies and determine their practical application within the broader retail technology architecture.
• Ensure AI and automation solutions integrate effectively with existing SAP, eCommerce, data and enterprise platforms.

Technology Portfolio Rationalization & Roadmaps

• Conduct current-state assessments of the retail technology landscape across SAP/ERP, eCommerce, POS, OMS, CRM, loyalty, merchandising, supply chain and data platforms and define modernization paths.
• Develop 3–5 year technology and target-state architecture roadmaps aligned with business growth, customer experience and operational priorities.
• Identify opportunities to simplify and consolidate the application landscape, reduce duplication and improve integration across retail platforms.
• Lead legacy system sunsetting, cloud migration, platform modernization and consolidation initiatives to reduce complexity and improve scalability.
• Ensure architecture decisions support omnichannel growth, scalability, resilience and future business requirements.

Investment Strategy & Business Case Development

• Clearly articulate a point of view on new technology investments, including SAP capabilities, composable commerce, cloud platforms, AI and emerging retail technologies.
• Build ROI-driven business cases for technology initiatives, partnering with Finance, Product and Business teams.
• Evaluate build-vs-buy-vs-partner decisions for retail solutions.
• Assess technology vendors and platforms against business requirements, architectural fit, scalability, integration capability, total cost of ownership and long-term technology strategy.

Risk Management & Governance

• Proactively identify technical, security, and compliance risks in retail systems (PCI, GDPR, AI ethics).
• Define architectural guardrails to ensure scalability, resilience, and regulatory adherence.
• Establish vendor risk assessment frameworks for third-party AI/automation tools.

Job Requirement:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 16+ years of technology experience, with significant experience in Solution Architecture or Enterprise Architecture within complex enterprise environments.
• 5+ years of experience within retail/eCommerce, with a strong understanding of retail business processes and technology landscapes.
• Proven practical experience architecting solutions across SAP S/4HANA and eCommerce/omnichannel environments.
• Strong understanding of SAP S/4HANA and its integration with retail platforms; exposure to SAP IS-Retail, SAP Fashion, SAP CAR and/or SAP Commerce Cloud is highly desirable.
• Strong architecture experience across eCommerce, POS, OMS, CRM/loyalty, merchandising, pricing, inventory and supply chain platforms.
• Proven experience designing enterprise integrations using APIs, middleware, event-driven architecture and modern integration patterns.
• Strong background in technology portfolio rationalization, target-state architecture and roadmap development.
• Experience with cloud-native architectures across AWS, Azure and/or GCP.
• Good understanding of AI/ML, Generative AI and intelligent automation and their practical application within retail environments.
• Experience evaluating technology investments and build-vs-buy-vs-partner decisions.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and advise senior business and technology leaders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Additional regional language proficiency is a plus.

Why Join GMG

At GMG, we're dedicated to nurturing a vibrant, inclusive, and engaging work environment that promotes growth, innovation, and well-being. Join us in our mission to inspire victories that make the world better – for our team, our consumers, and our communities.

If you're seeking a challenging role where you can make a significant impact, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today to become a part of our journey.

What we offer

• An opportunity to become part of diverse teams with international exposure
• Comprehensive family medical insurance
• Family residency sponsorship and flight allowances
• Up to 30% discount in our premium retail sports brand stores
• Up to 20% discount in our pharmacy chain