IFS Solutions Architect

IFS Solution Architect

1-Year Fixed-Term Contract Salary: £80,000 - £90,000 + Benefits

Hybrid Working (2 - 3 days per week on site in the East Midlands)

**There is potential scope for this role to become perm at the end of the initial 12 months, likely in more of a 'Head of Business Systems' capacity**

The Opportunity

We're supporting a major UK-headquartered organisation as it enters the next phase of a large-scale business and technology transformation programme. Having invested significantly in a modern cloud ERP landscape, the organisation is approaching a pivotal stage in its transformation journey. Alongside the implementation of a new enterprise operating model, the business is looking for an experienced IFS Solution Architect to help shape the future evolution of its ERP and connected application landscape.

Importantly, this is not an ERP delivery role.

Instead, you'll focus on what happens after implementation, ensuring that the organisation's target operating model, business processes, data strategy and enterprise platforms continue to evolve together. Working across transformation, technology and business functions, you'll identify opportunities for continuous improvement, innovation and optimisation across a complex systems landscape.

This role would suit someone who enjoys operating at the intersection of business transformation, operating model design and enterprise architecture. This is also a fantast opportunity for someone who is working in the consultancy side that would like to see their work through to fruition and have full ownership for their efforts, rather than hopping from project to project.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess how business capabilities and value streams align with the current ERP and enterprise application landscape.
• Partner with business and transformation teams to translate future-state operating model requirements into technology roadmaps.
• Define how IFS Cloud and connected platforms should evolve to support future business processes and organisational capability.
• Build and maintain a prioritised technology improvement and innovation roadmap aligned to strategic business objectives.
• Conduct capability-to-system fit assessments, identifying opportunities to improve functionality, integration and automation.
• Provide architectural guidance during operating model and process design workshops.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and enhancement opportunities that could deliver measurable business value.
• Own and maintain technical risks, dependencies and architectural considerations associated with transformation initiatives.
• Assess integration, data flow and interoperability challenges across multiple connected applications.
• Support governance forums by providing clear recommendations on platform evolution, investment priorities and technical feasibility.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience as a Solution Architect within IFS Cloud environments.
• Strong understanding of ERP architecture across Finance, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Procurement, Planning and Logistics processes.
• Experience designing solutions across a multi-system enterprise landscape rather than a standalone ERP implementation.
• Strong integration architecture knowledge, including data flows, APIs, middleware and interconnected business platforms.
• Experience defining technology solutions that support business transformation or operating model change initiatives.
• Strong understanding of master data, enterprise data architecture and governance principles.
• Proven track record developing continuous improvement roadmaps for live enterprise platforms.
• Ability to engage effectively with senior stakeholders across business and technology functions.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to prioritise initiatives based on business value.

Desirable Experience

Experience within sectors such as:

• Manufacturing
• FMCG
• Industrial Products
• Automotive
• Engineering
• Distribution & Logistics
• Supply Chain-intensive businesses

Familiarity with:

• Value Stream Mapping
• Operating Model Design
• Process Improvement methodologies
• Enterprise Architecture frameworks
• Relevant IFS certifications.
• Experience of ERP transformation programmes involving multiple vendors and integrated technologies.
• Exposure to data governance, reporting architecture and analytics platforms.
• Experience of integration technologies such as Boomi, MuleSoft, Azure Integration Services or similar middleware solutions.

Personal Attributes

• Comfortable operating in fast-moving transformational environments.
• Pragmatic and commercially minded problem solver.
• Able to translate strategic objectives into practical technology outcomes.
• Confident communicator who can challenge constructively and highlight risks early.
• Self-sufficient and comfortable working within lean transformation teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and workshop facilitation skills.

What Success Looks Like

• A clear and prioritised roadmap exists for the ongoing evolution of the ERP and enterprise application landscape.
• Technology investments are visibly aligned to business capability and operating model objectives.
• Senior leaders are able to make informed decisions based on a realistic understanding of platform capability, constraints and opportunities.
• Risks, dependencies and architectural considerations are proactively managed and communicated.
• The ERP ecosystem continues to deliver increasing business value beyond initial implementation, supporting operational efficiency, scalability and future growth.