A World of Possibilities with DFS
Working with DFS means journeying into a world of possibilities unlike anywhere else, a world where you can pilot your career to exciting locations and new heights.
At DFS, a proud member of the global LVMH family, your aspirations for career and personal growth are made possible alongside the world’s most incredible collection of luxury brands and an ever-growing footprint spanning many of the world’s most visited airports and downtown locations.
As we craft and curate new brands and new locations, the stage is set for like-minded people to join us and grow with us. A stage where your passion for luxury, travel, and retail can combine to help you and us forge long-lasting relationships that will write the next chapter in the DFS story.
Technology at DFS
At DFS, technology is at the heart of everything we do, and it is DFS Tech’s mission to transform experiences, enable a step change in performance, and play a pioneering role in reimagining luxury travel retail. DFS Technology team is driving a significant transformation to modernize ways of working, deploy modular tech architectures/platforms, drive automation, digitize employee and customer experiences and deliver insights from DFS’ data.
A major component of this transformation is the implementation of a next-gen SAP S/4 HANA core backbone globally across the DFS Group. The Enterprise Architect will be responsible for architecting and designing the DFS2.0 Digital CORE backbone, with a specific focus on SAP S/4 HANA and related technologies. He/she will help oversee and deliver the overall solution architecting, blueprint design and solution capability, aligning with the DFS 2.0 transformation agenda and objectives.
If the intersection of tech, luxury retail and travel excites you and you are a self-motivated go-getter with a “can do” spirit looking to make a significant impact, we are looking for you!
Job Responsibilities
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Providing strategic direction, designing solutions, and ensuring alignment with business objectives
- Develop and maintain the overall architecture for SAP S4, considering scalability, performance, security, and integration requirements.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive the implementation and optimization of SAP S/4 HANA systems across the organization.
- Working closely with the implementation partner to ensure a successful migration and delivery of the transformation program.
- Advocate best practices in process, solution and implementation design, serving as a SME for business teams to help define, estimate and recommend optimized solutions.
- Provide technical leadership and guidance to cross-functional teams involved in SAP S/4 HANA projects, ensuring compliance with architectural standards and best practices.
- Oversee system configuration, customization, and development activities to ensure alignment with the solution design and architecture.
- Collaborate effectively with the implementation partner's team, fostering a strong partnership and productive working relationship.
- Coordinate activities, align on project objectives, and ensure clear communication channels to facilitate a smooth implementation process.
- Ensure the quality and reliability of the implemented solution and assist in defining overall enterprise architecture landscape.
- Conduct system reviews and perform risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential issues.
- Proactively address technical risks and challenges, provide recommendations for risk mitigation, and ensure adherence to security and compliance standards.
- Engage and manage relationships with business stakeholders, project sponsors, and internal teams by Communicating the solution design, progress, and technical considerations effectively, ensuring alignment with business requirements and expectations.
- Provide regular updates on project milestones, deliverables, and potential impacts to stakeholders.
- Ensure knowledge transfer and smooth transition to the S4 HANA environment.
- Stay updated with the latest architecture technologies, trends, and best practices related and identify opportunities for process improvements, system optimization, and innovation within the organization's SAP landscape.
- Provide recommendations for future enhancements, system upgrades, and strategic initiatives based on industry standards and business needs.
- Provide ongoing feedback, mentoring, and coaching to team members, and act as a role model by proactively demonstrating innovative thinking, accountability, and commitment.
- Develop and maintain architectural documentation, guidelines, and governance frameworks to ensure consistency and compliance.
Key Requirements
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent years of experience)
- At least 10 years of experience working in large scale program environment.
- Minimum of 8 years of experience as an Enterprise Architect, with a strong focus on SAP S4 and related technologies.
- At least 2-3 cycles of end-to-end SAP S/4HANA implementation delivery experience
- Certified in SAP S4/HANA, TOGAF or Cloud platforms-related certification(s) will be added
- advantage
Critical knowledge & skills including tools, software applications, language, etc.
- Ability to align technology solutions with business strategies and goals, with a focus on driving innovation and value.
- Familiarity with industry-standard architecture frameworks and their application in enterprise architecture design.
- Strategic thinker from a solid technical-functional background with experience in IT Solution, Application integrations with a solid record of delivery implementation experience
- Strong leadership and influencing skills to guide cross-functional teams and stakeholders in adopting architectural principles and best practices
- Deep understanding in the Retail Industry and the complexity of various phases of SAP implementation project and surrounding integration landscape
- Highly proficient in the SAP S/4HANA Capabilities and Technology areas: non-functional requirements, solutioning, technology architecture, infrastructure
- Proficiency in SAP S4 modules and integration knowledge to other technology areas, cloud technologies, data migration, security and user experience.
- Deep expertise in agile methodologies, frameworks, and practices.
- Experience coaching and mentoring individuals and teams and facilitating training sessions.
- Excellent communication skills to effectively engage with technical and non-technical stakeholders, translating complex concepts into understandable terms.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and address architectural challenges and recommend appropriate solutions.
- Familiarity with agile planning tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence).
- Adaptability and a willingness to learn new skills, technologies, and frameworks.
Other Qualifications / Core Competencies
- Experience delivering SAP S4/HANA in large scale project.
- Proven ability to operate within a team-oriented environment
- Demonstrated leadership and collaboration in a professional setting
- Experience supporting production applications including ensuring service level agreements, incident management, change management, request management, and problem management.
- Excellent Communication skills – written and verbal- for effective dialogue with bottlers, customers and system.
- High energy level and decisive
- Adept at managing change, comfortable with tight deadlines, and equipped with the ability to lead through influence.
- Able to work under pressure, result-oriented, excellent communication skills, self-motivated, responsive, and detail-minded.
- Comfortable working in a cross-cultural environment with a diversity of backgrounds and styles.
- Ability to build strong relationships with different teams and communicate effectively with internal and external parties.
- Proven ability to influence and set expectations.
- Self-motivated and team player
