Role Description Who we are: Born digital, UST transforms lives through the power of technology. We walk alongside our clients and partners, embedding innovation and agility into everything they do. We help them create transformative experiences and human-centered solutions for a better world. UST is a mission-driven group of over 30,000+ practical problem solvers and creative thinkers in over 30+ countries. Our entrepreneurial teams are empowered to innovate, act nimbly, and create a lasting and sustainable impact for our clients, their customers, and the communities in which we live. With us, you’ll create a boundless impact that transforms your career—and the lives of people across the world. Visit us at . You Are We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Technology Leader (Lead Enterprise Architect) to spearhead the end-to-end technology transformation for our retail customers. This role requires a deep understanding of the retail domain, technology modernisation, and the evolving landscape of digital commerce and AI-driven innovation. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership, strategic thinking, and hands-on transformation expertise in shaping and delivering complex transformation programmes that enable retailers to unlock growth, efficiency, and competitive advantage. The Opportunity Technology Strategy & Advisory • Define and own the technology vision and transformation roadmap for key retail clients, aligned with their business goals. • Act as a strategic advisor to C-level executives, shaping digital and technology transformation agendas across commerce, supply chain, merchandising, marketing, and customer experience. • Lead assessments of current state architectures and define future-state architectures leveraging modern digital, cloud-native, composable commerce, and AI technologies. Transformation Leadership • Drive the execution of technology modernisation initiatives including solution design, cloud migration, headless commerce adoption, API-first architectures, and microservices transformation. • Lead and oversee large-scale digital transformation programmes, ensuring successful delivery across technology, process, and organisational dimensions. • Champion agile and product-centric operating models for technology teams within client environments. • AI & Data-Driven Innovation • Identify and lead opportunities to embed AI and machine learning into the retail value chain (e.g., demand forecasting, personalisation, pricing optimisation, customer insights). • Shape AI-enabled commerce platforms, search and recommendation systems, and automation-led operational efficiencies. • Stakeholder Management • Build trusted relationships with client stakeholders across business and IT functions. • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including solution architects, delivery leads, product managers, and engineering teams. • Thought Leadership & Growth • Represent the company in industry forums, events, and executive briefings as a thought leader in retail technology. • Contribute to business development through proposal support, client workshops, and innovation-led pursuits. Location: • Willingness to work onsite (3 days) in the Midlands with flexibility for hybrid working where applicable. • Occasional travel may be required within the UK What You Need • 15+ years of experience in Senior Strategic Enterprise Architect roles, with a strong focus on retail and consumer domains. • Proven track record of leading digital and AI-led transformations for large retailers (online, omnichannel, or traditional). • Expertise in retail technology stacks including eCommerce platforms (e.g., Fluent commerce, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Adobe Commerce, Shopify Plus), order management, POS, ERP, CRM, and loyalty systems. • Demonstrated experience with cloud-native architectures (AWS, Azure, GCP), microservices, APIs, DevOps, and data platforms. • Experience of Dynamics ERP and integration with other systems • Familiarity with AI/ML use cases in retail and knowledge of GenAI advancements relevant to customer experience and operations. • Strong understanding of agile delivery models, product management practices, and enterprise architecture. • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage and influence C-suite executives. Preferred Background • Experience working in or with major retailers in Europe and UK. • Prior consulting or advisory experience within a systems integrator, technology vendor, or strategy firm. • Ability to balance strategic vision with delivery pragmatism and commercial acumen. Education • Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related fields. • Certifications in cloud platforms (e.g., AWS/Azure Solutions Architect), TOGAF, or SAFe are a plus. Skills Digital & AI-led Transformation,Retail Technology Stacks,Cloud-Native Architecture