Director, 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: 

• Manage complex architectural efforts/projects from conception through implementation, ensuring timely and successful delivery. 

• Manage relationships with external vendors and partners, ensuring alignment with architectural goals. 

• Monitor and report on architecture progress, risks, and outcomes to senior leadership. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

• 4 Year Degree; Preferred Bachelor's or Master's degree in a technical field. 

• 10+ years of experience in solutions architecture and engineering, with a focus on e-commerce and digital retail. 

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.  The ability to influence engineers, peers, and executive stakeholders. 

• Expert knowledge and experience architecting, designing and implementing large-scale e-commerce/retail/omnichannel solutions for restaurant (QSR), retail, and/or hospitality companies. 

• Strong knowledge and masterful application of modern application, integration and data practices and patterns, such as Domain Driven Design, Event-Driven Architecture, Microservices, CQRS, circuit breaker, bulkhead, etc. 

• Thorough understanding and experience with modern IT practices such as DevOps, Continuous Delivery, Agile, Lean, Design Thinking, etc. 

• Strong understanding of security, compliance, and data privacy requirements in a global context. 

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with multiple priorities. 

• Experience with Agile methodologies and project management best practices. 

• Thorough understanding and experience with modern IT practices such as DevOps, Continuous Delivery, Agile, Lean, Design Thinking, etc. 

• People coaching and development. 

 

Inspire Brands is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 32,000 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide.

We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.