Job Overview: 

The Director Information Technology Retail Applications leads efforts in the long-term design, implementation, and operational support of IT Products and Services withing the retail function. This leadership position will lead the creation of the 1–3-year technology framework and provide technical leadership in support of UNFI’s Retail initiatives with the focus on the design of the systems and services that integrate into the business strategy.  

Job Responsibilities: 

Core Responsibilities

• Leads team to implement product/solution operational, tactical, and strategic planning in support of the business plan, monitors plan progress, reports variances and makes agreed-upon adjustments within our retail stores
• Develops departmental technology multi-year roadmaps and strategies for their corresponding solutions, products and services in collaboration with internal IT teams and the business stakeholders
• Collaborate with the assigned business area stakeholders or internal IT teams to determine technical feasibility of proposed changes for their assigned IT technical area, products, services, ensuring proper communication and alignment of capabilities with both our Business & external partners 
• Responsible for the organizational design of department which is aligned to organizational strategy, executing planned department goals, and the talent planning that supports strategy/goal execution
• Accountable for the performance results of multiple applications/products as assigned and overall user experience
• Responsible for product management from initiation through run state.
• Actively identifies and establishes metrics used to measure stability and consumption of the applications/products 

Business Partnership & Vendor Management

• Establishes and maintains strong working relations and partnerships with UNFI business teams, IT vendors and peers while addressing critical issues and opportunities to achieve organizational goals and objectives 
• Actively engages in understanding business satisfaction levels to proactively solve chronic problems and assign team to resolve and respond to business requests and needs.  
• Manages appropriate IT vendor relationship(s), understanding their products and services and aligning them with internal needs  
• Effectively manages the utilization of external services (e.g., product or platform vendors, service providers, contractors, consultants, outsourced functions)  
• Ensures appropriate IT vendor contracts are in place for corresponding products and services  
• Creates RFIs, RFPs, SLAs, SOWs and processes invoices in alignment with our UNFI and IT best practices  

Team Leadership and Management

• Coach and mentor managers on their assigned efforts and team responsibilities. 
• Ensures activities have proper coordination and collaboration when crossing multiple teams across IT, UNFI business areas or external IT vendors/partners  
• Participate as a strategy partner in the IT strategic planning processes defines roadmaps for their corresponding IT products and services often providing a more senior perspective and sharing across other IT teams  
• Provides leadership to IT teams through effective goal setting, performance management, recognition, associate engagement and ongoing team communication  
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:  

Education/ Certifications:  

• Bachelor’s degree in management information systems, computer science, or related discipline is required or combination of education and experience  

Experience:  

• 8-12 years of relevant IT and leadership experience 
• 5+ years of relevant Information Technology, modern integration and architecture experience is required  
• 5+ years of experience within a retail environment and working withing a product team structure

Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong customer focus and demonstrated ability to work in geographically dispersed teams  
• Ability to manage concurrent efforts with competing priorities while ensuring timelines and budgets are met  
• Ability to create process and process design where none or little exists  
• Ability to create strategic landscape that delivers against IT goals  
• Ability to build strong teams across dispersed work locations, including mentoring and providing developmental goals for internal employees and external IT partners  
• Track record of being a change agent, one who can drive new and commercial thinking across the organization and the behaviors supporting such, while engaging in a collaborative, inclusive leadership style  
• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.

Work Environment:  

Hybrid Role:  This position follows a hybrid schedule working in office 2 days per week. The acceptable split between onsite and remote work is determined by the manager. Hybrid associates may choose to work from an office on a more frequent basis than required.