Director of Information Technology
1 day ago
Irving
• Own the end‑to‑end technology strategy and roadmap across store, corporate, and data/analytics systems., • Support business intelligence (BI) infrastructure and data pipelines to deliver timely, high‑quality data for decision‑making across stores and corporate functions., • Drive disciplined vendor and partner management, working with managed service providers to execute technology roadmap. Key Responsibilities 1. IT Strategy, Architecture, and Governance • Develop and own a 3‑year IT roadmap aligned to growth plan and value‑creation goals (store growth, M&A integration, margin expansion, data‑driven decisions)., • Define a pragmatic target architecture across:, • Core ERP and financial systems (currently Sage‑family ERP and related tools)., • Store systems: POS, pricing (e.g., Thrift OS), donation management, inventory, and logistics platforms., • Data and analytics stack (data models, integration pipelines, BI infrastructure and tools, reporting governance)., • Implement lightweight but effective IT governance: change management, incident/problem management, configuration standards, and access controls across store and corporate environments. 2. Applications, Data, and Reporting • Centralize disparate data into a single, trusted source of truth for sales, labor, inventory, and donation flows to support:, • Daily and weekly dashboarding (traffic, conversion, UPT/DPT, basket size)., • Store‑ and region‑level KPI reviews (e.g., Texas Thrift performance vs. budget, same‑store sales trends, margin drivers)., • Design, implement, and support business intelligence infrastructure and reporting layer, including:, • Semantic data models and governed datasets., • Data pipelines and integrations feeding the BI environment., • Security, distribution, and performance of dashboards and reports for field and corporate stakeholders., • Selection and implementation of specific BI tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, or similar), with flexibility to choose the right stack for needs., • Establish common data definitions and standards across functions (store operations, finance, merchandising, HR) to ensure consistent reporting and analysis. 3. Infrastructure, Store Technology, and Operations • Own the reliability, performance, and total cost of ownership of all infrastructure supporting :, • Store networking (WAN/LAN/Wi‑Fi), endpoints, POS stations, scanners, printers., • Corporate connectivity and collaboration (identity, email, SharePoint/OneDrive, conferencing)., • Oversee device lifecycle and depot operations in partnership with managed service providers (MSPs) and other external partners as needed., • Ensure robust monitoring, backup, and disaster recovery across store and corporate systems proportionate to the business’s scale and risk profile. 4. Security and Risk Management • Establish and maintain a pragmatic cybersecurity program that reflects the realities of a multi‑site, high‑volume retail business., • Manage key security controls across network, endpoints, identity/access, and data protection, with an emphasis on practical risk reduction and operational continuity., • Coordinate with third‑party partners on assessments, remediation plans, and ongoing risk management, ensuring maintains a credible and defensible security posture. 5. Leadership, Team Building, and Change Management • Build and lead a lean internal IT and data team that can support multi‑site retail operations (store support, applications, data/BI), starting with 0–3 direct reports and scaling as the business grows., • Provide clear direction and coaching to both internal staff and embedded/contracted resources., • Act as a trusted advisor to CEO and CFO on technology investments, trade‑offs, and risk., • Lead change management for front‑line store managers and associates, ensuring new systems are intuitive, well‑documented, and supported with training and job‑aids. Qualifications Required • 10+ years of progressive IT leadership experience, including multi‑site retail, restaurant, or multi‑unit services environments., • Demonstrated success owning an IT roadmap in an environment with legacy systems and incomplete data, and taking it to a more standardized, reliable, and data‑driven state., • Hands‑on experience with:, • ERP and financial systems in a retail or multi‑site environment, with a strong understanding of how to leverage their data for reporting and analytics., • POS / store systems and store‑level infrastructure in a high‑volume, operations‑intensive business., • Designing, implementing, and supporting business intelligence infrastructure (semantic models, data pipelines, and reporting tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar) in a distributed business., • Strong vendor‑management and negotiation skills, including experience overseeing MSPs, offshore/nearshore resources, and specialized consultancies., • Solid understanding of practical security fundamentals (network security, endpoint management, identity, and data protection) appropriate for a multi‑site retail business., • Exposure to AI/ML‑driven analytics or automation in a practical, operations‑focused setting (e.g., forecasting, labor optimization, pricing, anomaly detection)., • Familiarity with thrift, off‑price, or value‑oriented retail models.