Data & AI Architect - Hawthorn East

We’ve been proudly serving Australian communities since 1914 and have grown to become a top 30-listed company on the ASX with a portfolio of iconic homegrown brands. At the heart of our continued success is over 115,000 team members working across the country, all contributing to bringing our customers smiles. You’ll not only get to see your work make a difference, you’ll be part of a team working together to help Australians eat and live better every day.

About the team

As the way Australians shop continues to evolve, our Data and AI Team keep Coles at the forefront of modern retail. We combine data, artificial intelligence, and applied engineering to reimagine how our stores, supply chain, and digital channels operate — creating smarter, more connected, and seamless experiences for our customers and team members.

Operating as a centralised development and enablement function within Coles Technology, the team unites product, engineering, and platform capabilities to deliver the intelligence layer of the enterprise. We serve every part of Coles — from computer vision applications that enhance in-store experiences and reduce loss, to forecasting, optimisation, and decision-support solutions that drive efficiency, accuracy, and agility across our supply chain, retail operations, and corporate functions.

The scale and impact of this work are significant. Coles serves millions of customers each week across more than a thousand stores nationwide, and our AI and data capabilities provide the intelligence that underpins how we plan, move, sell, and serve. By combining deep data capability with applied AI and modern engineering, we’re enabling Coles to become a truly AI-enabled enterprise, transforming how we operate and how Australia shops every day.

About the role

For this exciting position of Data and AI Architect within our Data and Artificial Intelligence team, we are seeking an individual to participate in practice management through a rotating roster covering internal architecture and broader technology cadence.

You will collaborate with architecture across Coles to lift awareness of Data & AI principles, standards, and patterns as well as contribute and collaborate in practice knowledge uplift through structured and adhoc learning and team development.

Working closely with the Senior Manager (Data and AI Architecture and Governance), your main responsibilities will include the following but not be limited to the below: 

• Identify opportunities for continual improvement across platforms, capabilities, practice, and delivery, supporting ongoing productivity improvements and TCO reduction.
• Maintain and continually uplift Data & AI patterns to support evolving best practice.
• Develop and maintain team knowledge sources and support development of use of AI productivity tools to boost personal and team productivity.
• Work across a number of projects, supporting 2-3 product and engineering teams in delivering Data & AI solutions to meet business needs.
• Develop solutions inline with enterprise, technology, and Data & AI principles, standards, and pattern libraries.
• Define new patterns in response to novel needs or emergent best practice and capability, enabling efficient reuse of architecture and design.
• Develop data models at all levels that promote data as a reusable enterprise asset.
• Support selection and implementation of data science techniques to match functional objectives.
• Influence technology and business leaders to align on architecture priorities.
• Embed within and support project teams and persistent product delivery squads in execution.

About you and your skills

• Proven experience in large organisations with complex data landscapes, designing and leading delivery of data, reporting, and analytics/AI technology solutions to solve business problems (real-time and batch).
• Experienced in one or more of information management, data modelling, data science, large scale data migration, or other similar relevant specialise focus areas.
• Knowledge and experience in data, reporting, and advanced analytics architectures, patterns and solutions and their deployment.
• Proven capabilities in leading technology decision making in the context of platform and project delivery.
• Hands on experience developing big data or AI platforms at scale, in hybrid-cloud environments.

Commercial Skills

• In-depth understanding of technology trends and roadmaps.
• Ability to understand business and IT strategy, environment, and trends across multiple functions.
• Translation and alignment of business strategies into IT solutions.
• Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders, delivery teams, and broader architecture functions (security, infrastructure, etc.) to achieve outcomes.
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing, and leadership skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem resolution skills.
• Tertiary qualifications in Information Technology or related business disciplines or relevant industry experience.
• Ability to innovate new processes within work areas.
• Strong appreciation of financial and risk management.
• Retail industry experience advantageous.

What’s in it for you?

• Flexible working options: We know that work is only one part of your life, so we actively encourage a positive work-life balance and provide hybrid working options to help you achieve it.
• Office perks: Take advantage of our gym facility and fitness classes, free parking, BBQ area, mini-Coles supermarket, fooderie hub where you can sample new products before they hit the shelves, school holiday program and so much more when you come in.
• Discounts: Eligible team members receive 5% discount all year round on your Supermarket and Liquor online and in-store purchases. We also offer additional periods of double discount (10%) at various times throughout the year. As well as hotdeals exclusive to team members that translate into additional savings.
• Reward through recognition: Give and receive recognition, linked to our Coles values, through our digital recognition platform ‘mythanks’. You can accumulate points to redeem in the online shop for exciting gifts and electronic gift cards from an extensive range of retailers.
• Opportunities for learning and development: No matter where you start within our diverse business, you’ll have experiences, exposure, and education to satisfy you. Discover and explore a variety of career development programs and job-specific training.
• Paid parental leave: We understand how important your life outside work is and offer permanent team members paid parental leave to support you in balancing work and family.
• Investment in your future: Our annual team member share plan offer allows eligible team members to make regular pre-tax salary sacrifice deductions to purchase Coles Group shares.

About the recruitment process

We’re continuing to build a gender equitable team, and a culture that is just as diverse, inclusive and welcoming as the communities we serve. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe and respectful for our team. We encourage applications from people of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), abilities, sexual orientation and gender identities.

We’re happy to adjust our recruitment process to support candidates with disability. For further information and additional contact details visit the ‘Our Recruitment Process’ section of our careers site or email inclusionrecruitment@coles.com.au

Job ID: 189559

Employment Type: Full time