Infrastructure Solutions Architect

The Company

SSP is a leading operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations worldwide, with c.42,000 colleagues in over 600 locations across 37 countries. We operate sit-down and quick service restaurants, cafes, lounges and food-led convenience stores, principally in airports and train stations, with a portfolio of around 550 international, national and local brands.

These include our own brands Upper Crust, Millies Cookies etc. as well as franchise brands such as M&S, Starbucks and Burger King.

The Role

SSP are investing in a range of new global application platforms to replace a legacy estate where the key technology services have been provided locally in country. These platforms are global in scope and include S4/Hana for finance and inventory, Success Factors for HR, recruitment and payroll, Oracle Simphony for point of sale (POS), UKG Kronos for workforce management, a new strategic business intelligence architecture, new digital technology for customer loyalty and customer apps, cloud based strategy leveraging MS Azure and SaaS infrastructure, MuleSoft for enterprise integration and more.

We also need to have a future ready infrastructure for our units in airports and rail stations world wide to leverage SSPs digital strategy. The Infrastructure Solution Architect will evaluate the existing “unconfirmed” strategy and develop the Global SSP infrastructure strategy and establish a clear 5 year roadmap which will include corporate network, pure / hybrid cloud and on prem compute strategy, and working with Modern Workplace team, end user technology solutions.

The infrastructure strategy and roadmap will also include unit infrastructure design, you will assist stakeholders in understanding and clarifying requirements and to then develop solution designs that contribute to the SSP technology strategy; ensuring successful delivery of requirements through the SSP project delivery process.

What you'll be doing

• Assume product ownership for enterprise identity management platform
• Provide leadership and guidance to regional technology teams (EU, APAC, NA, and establish a strategic relationship with India).
• Actively support the cyber security strategy, and be a key partner with the cyber security team
• Work with key stakeholders across the SSP to develop the SSP infrastructure strategy and roadmap
• Develop network strategy for future for SSP offices and restaurant units
• Develop a strategy for compute that is fit for SSP’s architectural journey
• Work with the Modern Workplace team to develop a strategy for end user technology
• Ensure that project and business stakeholders understand their own requirements and design infrastructure solutions to enable success
• Own infrastructure solutions designed and guide them through the project delivery process to ensure requirements are met and roadmap integrity are maintained
• Take ownership of the capital investment process to justify investment and ensure value is delivered
• Lead infrastructure architectural strategy across regional IT teams

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Experience managing cloud and on prem data centre hosting
• Network design and management experience
• Experience in managing end user technologies
• Experience in presenting technology proposals and influencing both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience in retail/hospitality environments: Point of Sale (POS) solutions, Kiosks, Scanners, PED’s and Printers
• Ability to manage and arbitrate conflicting views and opinions to a consensus that is the best outcome for the business
• Ability to bring structure and rigour into an environment lacking clear processes, yet maintain a results driven culture
• Proven experience in managing budgets, preparing financial proposals and delivering change within agreed budgets

Desirable

• MS Azure
• Azure Stack HCI
• SD-WAN commercial WiFi design
• MS 365 Enterprise
• Experience in S4/Hana / Succes Factors environment
• Experience in Food service industry or similar industry experience with multiple outlets (e.g. retail)

What You’ll Get from Us:

Our commitment to learning and development is our commitment to unlocking our people’s success. We strive to provide a wide range of resources that boost our people’s skills today, and help them fulfil their potential tomorrow. No matter where you join us, you’ll have all the tools you need to take charge of your development. Surrounded by like-minded colleagues and guided by industry experts, it’s your career, your way at SSP.

Diversity and Inclusion is a priority at SSP. We are an equal opportunities employer committed to engaging all of our people, so they feel valued and motivated; we champion diversity, promote inclusion, and ensure equality. We respect and protect human rights and prevent discrimination; and we positively impact our communities. We encourage and welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates regardless of background, gender, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual identity and orientation or age.