Director, Information Technology (IT)/Research & Development (R&D)
1 day ago
Long Beach
Job Description We are looking to hire an Director, Information Technology (IT)/Research & Development that will support the Information Technology (IT) team in the Long Beach area. We offer industry training, medical, dental and vision insurance, performance bonuses, and a 401(k) match. Director, Information Technology (IT)/Research & Development (R&D), reporting to the Senior Vice President, Information Technology & Innovation, will lead critical technology functions across United Pacific including its retail fuel, convenience, car wash, food service and corporate channels, overseeing strategic initiatives that drive innovation, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the customer experience. This leadership role is responsible for solutions architecture, program management, marketing technology, mobile app, and change management. The Director plays a key role in aligning business and IT strategies and collaborates closely with other IT Directors and business leaders to support the company’s growth and digital transformation. We are a growing company and believe in providing a great place to work and grow. Our motto is “I Got It!” and if you’re looking for a stable, rewarding, challenging career then “I Got It!” Essential areas of the position include: • Source, deploy, and maintain scalable, secure, and high-performing solutions to support business systems., • Evaluate current and emerging technologies to support retail and fueling business needs., • Manage vendor integrations of legacy and modern platforms (e.g., loyalty systems, CRM, ERP, mobile apps, POS)., • Lead cross-functional projects, ensuring scope, timeline, and budget adherence., • Oversee full project lifecycle: planning, execution, quality assurance, and deployment., • Drive alignment between technical execution and business goals through clear OKRs, governance, and KPIs., • Identify emerging technologies and assess their potential impact on operations, customer engagement, and profitability., • Pilot innovative concepts (e.g., computer vision for checkout, predictive maintenance for fueling stations)., • Champion a culture of innovation across IT and business functions, • Own the strategy, selection, and management of the MarTech ecosystem (CDPs, email platforms, loyalty systems, digital signage, etc.)., • Work with Marketing and Loyalty team to enhance customer personalization, segmentation, and omnichannel campaigns., • Ensure data flows effectively across systems for analytics and insights., • Oversee continued development and maintenance of the branded mobile app for loyalty, fueling, and e-commerce capabilities., • Drive customer-centric enhancements through UX/UI best practices and analytics., • Coordinate with external vendors and internal stakeholders to manage roadmap and releases., • Develop and execute change management strategies for new systems and technologies., • Foster organizational readiness through communication, training, and stakeholder engagement., • Monitor adoption metrics and user feedback to improve transformation outcomes. The ideal candidate will possess the following: * Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems; MBA or Master’s preferred or equivalent years of experience. * 8 years of IT leadership experience, preferably in the convenience retail, fuel, or consumer retail sectors. 3 years of that experience in a director level role. * Proven success leading enterprise-level programs and cross-functional teams in a multi-unit (100+) retail company. * Excellent at managing vendors and contract negotiations. * Operations experience in C-Store, Retail, or Hospitality a plus. * Experience with cloud-based platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP). * Experience with legacy POS systems, ERP, mobile app ecosystems, marketing automation, and CRM systems. * Strong strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and team leadership skills. * Excellent communication skills and high EQ. * Ability to listen well and collaborate across executive, technical, and operational teams. The job qualifications described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. United Pacific is an EOE. Company DescriptionRocket is a part of United Pacific, an independent multi-billion dollar gasoline and convenience store retailer. Today, through its retail convenience locations, Rocket's network includes over 600 company-operated stores and 56 fee-operated locations. Rocket has established itself as one of the largest independent owners, operators of gas stations and convenience stores in the Western United States. The Company offers motor fuels products under the 76, Conoco, Phillips, Shell, Chevron and United Oil brands and convenience items through the Rocket brand. The company employs over 4,000 associates and operates its retail businesses in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska and Illinois.Rocket is a part of United Pacific, an independent multi-billion dollar gasoline and convenience store retailer. Today, through its retail convenience locations, Rocket's network includes over 600 company-operated stores and 56 fee-operated locations. Rocket has established itself as one of the largest independent owners, operators of gas stations and convenience stores in the Western United States. The Company offers motor fuels products under the 76, Conoco, Phillips, Shell, Chevron and United Oil brands and convenience items through the Rocket brand. The company employs over 4,000 associates and operates its retail businesses in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska and Illinois.