Head of IT & Digital Transformation

Head of IT and Digital Transformation

Job Overview:

We are seeking a hands-on and business-oriented Head of IT & Digital Transformation to build and govern the Groupwide technology backbone. This role will lead group-wide IT strategy, business systems, ERP/CRM and workflow improvements, cybersecurity, infrastructure, vendor management, and practical digital transformation initiatives. The role will also drive adoption of AI, data analytics, and reporting tools where they improve productivity, operational visibility, and decision-making. The successful candidate must be able to translate business priorities into practical systems solutions, work closely with leadership and business units and operate effectively in a lean, fast-moving group environment.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic IT Leadership:

• Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team and Business Unit stakeholders to develop and implement IT strategies aligned with business objectives.

• Identify, evaluate, and adopt emerging technologies to enhance operational efficiency and business performance.

• Lead the transition of IT infrastructure from on-premise to cloud-based environments, driving the organization's digital transformation.

• Develop and maintain a group-level IT and digital transformation roadmap for its operating companies, prioritising business visibility, operational efficiency, cybersecurity, and scalable systems.

• Translate business priorities from leadership, finance, operations, logistics, commercial and management teams into practical IT, systems and digital initiatives.

2. Team Management & Development:

• Lead and mentor a high-performing IT team, promoting a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Set clear performance expectations and provide opportunities for professional development.

• Foster a learning environment to accelerate the adaptability of company personnel to technological advancements.

• Build the future IT operating model, including internal team structure, external vendor support, capability gaps and hiring/resource requirements.

3. Digital Transformation, AI & Data Analytics:

• Identify, pilot, and scale practical AI and automation use cases that improve productivity, reporting, customer service, operations, finance, and management visibility.

• Develop a robust data analytics framework to leverage business intelligence for better decision-making.

• Establish and oversee the organization's data architecture and governance, ensuring data accuracy, availability, and security across all systems.

• Promote the use of advanced analytics and AI to drive innovation and operational efficiency.

• Ensure digital, AI, and analytics initiatives are adopted by users and embedded into business workflows, not limited to technical experimentation.

4. IT Operations and Infrastructure:

• Oversee the daily IT operations, ensuring the stability, security, and reliability of all IT systems and services.

• Manage the IT infrastructure, including networking, server management, and cloud services, ensuring scalability and resilience.

• Implement best practices for IT operations, including monitoring, incident response, and disaster recovery.

5. ERP, CRM, and Business Applications:

• Manage and oversee the deployment, maintenance, and optimization of key business applications, specifically ERP and CRM systems on the Microsoft platform.

• Ensure that these systems are aligned with business needs and that they provide actionable insights through business intelligence tools.

• Own the design, implementation, integration, adoption, and continuous improvement of ERP, CRM, workflow, reporting, and business application systems.

• Work with business units to map current processes, identify system gaps, and standardise workflows where appropriate.

• Ensure business applications create reliable management visibility, accountability, and operational follow-through, not just system usage.

6. Cybersecurity and Data Governance:

• Develop and enforce robust cybersecurity policies and protocols to protect organizational data and systems from internal and external threats.

• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards, including data protection laws and PCI compliance.

• Lead initiatives around data governance, ensuring effective data stewardship and risk management.

• Implement and maintain practical IT controls, including user access rights, permission reviews, endpoint security, backup and recovery, incident response, vendor security risk, and data protection practices.

7. Project Management:

• Lead and manage IT projects from initiation to completion, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with strategic goals.

• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to achieve project objectives and ensure the seamless integration of new systems and processes.

8. Budgeting & Financial Management:

• Develop and manage the IT budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources for both operational and capital expenditures.

• Prepare and present budget proposals and financial reports to senior management, justifying investments and aligning IT spend with business priorities.

9. Vendor & Stakeholder Management:

• Manage relationships with external IT vendors and service providers, negotiating contracts and overseeing service level agreements to ensure quality service delivery.

• Act as the key point of contact between IT and business units, ensuring alignment with business needs and providing technical guidance when required.

• Hold vendors accountable for delivery quality, timelines, documentation, support responsiveness, and business outcomes.

10. Innovation and Emerging Technologies:

• Lead the exploration and adoption of emerging technologies, with a particular focus on AI, cloud computing, and data analytics, to drive business growth and efficiency.

• Continuously assess relevant technologies, including AI, cloud tools, automation, and analytics platforms, with a focus on practical business value, adoption feasibility, cost, security, and operational impact.

11. Other Responsibilities:

• Attend meetings, briefings, and training sessions as required.

• Perform any other reasonable duties as assigned by management.

Key Requirements:

• 8+ years of experience leading IT teams and managing IT operations, including ERP, CRM, and business applications (Microsoft platform preferred).

• 3-5 years of experience in AI, machine learning, and data analytics, with a focus on cloud-based AI/ML workloads (Azure).

• Strong expertise in data governance, data modeling, and data security, with hands-on experience building Data Lakes and Data Warehouses.

• Proven experience in managing IT infrastructure (on-premise and cloud) and transitioning to cloud-based environments.

• Knowledge of cybersecurity, regulatory compliance (GDPR, PCI), and risk management best practices.

• Experience managing vendor relationships, negotiating contracts, and overseeing service delivery.

• Excellent leadership and project management skills, with experience managing cross functional teams and overseeing IT budgets.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of interfacing with senior leadership.

• Experience operating in a multi-entity, group-level, regional, or multi-site business environment preferred.

• Strong business process understanding, with ability to work across finance, operations, logistics, commercial, and management teams.

• Hands-on operator comfortable working in a lean organisation, balancing strategic roadmap ownership with day-to-day execution.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience working in commercial industries such as trading, distribution, logistics, or e-commerce.