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 Mc Cain.

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/4 HANA, e Commerce 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, e Commerce, 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/4 HANA, e Commerce, 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, e Commerce 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, e Commerce, data and enterprise platforms.

Technology Portfolio Rationalization & Roadmaps

Conduct current-state assessments of the retail technology landscape across SAP/ERP, e Commerce, 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/e Commerce, with a strong understanding of retail business processes and technology landscapes. Proven practical experience architecting solutions across SAP S/4 HANA and e Commerce/omnichannel environments. Strong understanding of SAP S/4 HANA 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 e Commerce, 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