Senior Manager - Technology Solutions - Adelaide

Senior Manager – Technology Solutions | CIO Succession Opportunity

Permanent | Torrensville, Adelaide | Executive Technology Leadership

Based in Adelaide (5 days in Office / No WFH)

An exciting opportunity has become available for an accomplished Senior Manager – Technology Solutions to join Drakes Supermarkets at their Head Office in Torrensville.

Reporting directly to the CIO, this is a senior technology leadership position with responsibility for leading key technology initiatives, managing and developing a high-performing team, and building strong relationships across the organisation and its technology partners.

Importantly, this role has been identified as a CIO succession opportunity. The successful candidate will act as Acting CIO during periods of CIO leave and will have the opportunity to develop broader executive-level technology leadership capability.

The Role

Drakes operates a diverse and fast-moving technology environment, with multiple major initiatives typically underway at any given time. These can span Point of Sale (POS), warehousing and supply chain, finance systems, BAU technology, vendor solutions, commercial contracts and technology transformation projects.

As Senior Manager – Technology Solutions, you will provide leadership across these initiatives while ensuring technology continues to effectively support the organisation’s operational and strategic priorities.

You will have 8 direct reports and work as a senior leader within a broader IT team of approximately 35 people.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the delivery of multiple significant technology projects and initiatives.
• Providing leadership, direction and mentorship to technology teams and developing internal capability.
• Partnering with business leaders to understand operational requirements and translate them into practical technology solutions.
• Managing senior stakeholders and building strong relationships across technology, operations, finance and other business functions.
• Overseeing strategic technology vendors, commercial relationships, contracts and negotiations.
• Providing leadership across technology operations and BAU priorities alongside major project delivery.
• Supporting the CIO with technology strategy, planning, governance and key business decisions.
• Identifying opportunities to improve technology capability, processes and service delivery.
• Acting as the CIO when required, providing leadership and executive-level oversight of the technology function.

About You

This role will suit an experienced technology leader who combines a strong technical foundation with outstanding people and stakeholder leadership skills.

You may have started your career in infrastructure, applications, software, architecture, systems or another technical discipline before progressing into technology management and leadership. While you need to understand technology at a meaningful level, this is not a hands-on technical position.

You will ideally bring:

• Significant experience leading technology teams in a complex commercial environment.
• A strong technical background with the ability to confidently engage with technical specialists, vendors and business stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience delivering large or business-critical technology projects.
• Strong people leadership skills with a genuine focus on coaching, mentoring and developing staff.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building capability.
• Experience managing technology vendors, contracts and commercial negotiations.
• Exposure to enterprise applications, infrastructure and operational technology environments.
• The ability to manage multiple competing projects and priorities.
• A pragmatic, collaborative and can-do approach to solving business and technology challenges.
• The credibility and leadership maturity to step into an Acting CIO capacity when required.

Experience within retail, FMCG, distribution, warehousing, supply chain or another high-volume operational environment would be highly regarded.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is more than a traditional technology management position. It provides the opportunity to join one of Australia’s well-established independent retailers, take ownership of significant business technology initiatives and work closely with the CIO while developing towards broader technology executive leadership.

For an experienced technology leader looking for their next step towards a CIO position, this represents a particularly compelling career opportunity.

Strong employee retention and culture: Drakes has a highly stable and loyal workforce, with 13% of employees having been with the business for more than 10 years. This reflects the organisation’s strong culture, employee commitment and long-term career opportunities.

If interested APPLY NOW, or call Aparna on 08 8228 1560 for a quick chat.