Head of Information Technology and Data

Role Overview

Reporting to the CFO, you will set technology direction and translate commercial priorities into practical solution architecture and delivery. This combines leadership of the IT function with hands-on involvement in business applications and integrations. Investment decisions need to balance business value, risk and available capacity, with accountability extending through implementation and ongoing support.

Your team brings capability across applications, data and operational support, complemented by specialist infrastructure and cyber security providers. Close partnership with Finance, Supply Chain, Sales and Retail will be central to agreeing priorities and resolving delivery constraints. The role connects internal specialists, implementation partners and business sponsors, making dependencies, business readiness and support responsibilities clear while developing capability within a lean function.

The roadmap spans B2B eCommerce, customer loyalty, supply planning and financial forecasting, supported by closer integration between ERP, digital channels and external partners. The opportunity is to improve existing platforms, strengthen data governance and reporting, and identify where automation or AI can remove manual effort. Alongside delivery, the role retains accountability for reliable services, security and the ongoing supportability of new solutions.

Responsibilities

• Deliver priority initiatives across eCommerce, customer engagement, supply planning and financial forecasting.
• Architect maintainable application integrations that connect ERP, digital channels and external partners.
• Lead and develop your team, bringing specialist service providers and offshore support together around shared delivery priorities.
• Prioritise technology investment with business leaders, making clear trade-offs between business value, cost, risk and delivery capacity.
• Direct data governance and reporting improvements with the Senior Data Manager.
• Manage specialist providers against agreed responsibilities, service levels, costs and delivery commitments.
• Oversee infrastructure resilience, cyber security controls and coordinated responses to major incidents.
• Own IT budgets, platform decisions and supplier agreements, keeping spending commercially accountable.
• Identify useful automation and AI applications, with appropriate governance and data protection.
• Embed business adoption, documentation and support arrangements so project benefits continue after implementation.

Candidate Profile

Your background combines a software development foundation with current, hands-on solution architecture and project delivery experience. This includes business applications, ERP environments and integrations using APIs and EDI, with the technical judgement to assess inherited solutions and make practical design decisions. Confidence taking solutions through implementation and into ongoing support is essential. A bachelor's degree in IT, computer science or a related discipline is required.

You bring the commercial judgement to balance competing priorities and explain the cost, risk and benefits of technology choices. Experience leading technology teams, developing people and managing external partners is supported by sound budget management and a record of delivering change with business stakeholders. Clear executive communication and credible oversight across applications, data, infrastructure and cybersecurity are essential.

An independent, collaborative approach and a willingness to stay close to delivery will suit this environment. Practical experience applying AI, generative AI and automation to business problems will be highly regarded, including exposure to agents or MCP integrations. Hands-on infrastructure and cybersecurity experience that supports provider oversight and technical coaching is also desirable, as are relevant project management qualifications.

Company, Culture & Benefits

You will join an international consumer goods business with operations spanning retail, eCommerce, wholesale and manufacturing. The organisation values practical ownership, open communication and colleagues who work constructively across functions and locations. An established internal team and specialist partners work closely with business stakeholders, with an emphasis on shared accountability and improvements that make day-to-day operations more effective.

• Hybrid working, generally two to three office days, with flexibility around key meetings.
• Direct CFO partnership and influence over technology investment decisions.
• Hands-on architecture and delivery alongside broader ownership of the IT function.

Apply

If this sounds like you, please send your resume by clicking the "apply" link below. The reference number for this role is DJ80207.