Application Portfolio Manager - Store Systems at Clicks Group

Introduction

Job purpose

• To lead the end-to-end ownership, stability, and continuous optimisation of Store Systems, ensuring highly available, secure, and scalable technology platforms that enable retail store operations and customer experience.
• The role is accountable for ensuring that core store applications (including POS, Front Shop and related systems) are reliable, well governed, cost-effective, and aligned to enterprise architecture standards and retail business strategy.

Job description

Job objectives

• Execute the Store Systems strategy and roadmap aligned to Group IT and Retail strategy
• Ensure end-to-end stability, availability, performance, and resilience of Store Systems (POS, store services, pharmacy front-end systems, and integrations)
• Lead the design, enhancement, and optimisation of store applications and operational platforms to enable scalability and operational efficiency
• Accountable for full application lifecycle management (design, build, deploy, operate, enhance, retire)
• Ensure strong governance, audit readiness, security, and regulatory compliance across all systems
• Manage delivery of system enhancements and releases, ensuring control over scope, timelines, cost, and quality
• Lead incident, problem, and change management processes to minimise disruption in live trading environments
• Lead and develop technical and functional teams (developers, analysts, and team leads)
• Partner with Store Operations, Pharmacy Operations, and Retail leadership to enable business performance and customer experience outcomes
• Ensure integration of Store Systems with enterprise platforms (ERP, CRM, Supply Chain, Digital and Reporting systems)
• Drive vendor performance, commercial optimisation, and cost efficiency across the application portfolio
• Contribute to enterprise architecture standards and ensure design compliance across systems

Job related knowledge

• Deep knowledge of Retail Store Systems and POS environments
• Strong understanding of end-to-end retail and pharmacy store operations
• Enterprise integration architecture (APIs, middleware, data flows)
• IT governance, risk, security, audit, and compliance frameworks
• Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Agile, DevOps methodologies
• ERP systems exposure in retail environments
• Cloud-based retail platforms and modern architecture patterns
• Data governance and analytics frameworks
• Automation (RPA), AI, and digital transformation in retail

Job related skills

• Leadership of mission-critical, high-availability systems
• Ability to translate business requirements into scalable technology solutions
• Strong stakeholder engagement across business and IT
• Delivery leadership across BAU and project environments
• People leadership of technical teams
• Vendor and service provider management
• Financial and cost management of IT portfolios
• Leadership of mission-critical, high-availability systems
• Ability to translate business requirements into scalable technology solutions
• Strong stakeholder engagement across business and IT
• Delivery leadership across BAU and project environments
• People leadership of technical teams
• Vendor and service provider management
• Financial and cost management of IT portfolios

Minimum requirements

Job experience

• 10 years’ experience in enterprise IT environments
• Strong exposure to retail store systems and POS platforms
• Experience managing technical and functional teams
• Proven delivery of system implementations, upgrades, or transformation programmes in live operational environments
• Experience engaging with business and IT executive stakeholders
• Retail, pharmacy, or omnichannel systems experience
• Exposure to AI governance or emerging technology adoption
• Experience modernising legacy retail systems

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field
• Project management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile/Scrum)

Job related competencies

• Leading and Supervising
• Working with people
• Adhering to Principle and Values
• Applying Expertise and Technology
• Presenting and Communicating Information
• Analysis
• Planning and Organising
• Delivering Results & Meeting Customer Expectations
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts