IT Application Manager

ROLES

• Lead and manage IT innovation initiatives covering AI, automation and business applications to improve productivity, business processes and user experience.

• Work with business stakeholders, Group IT and external partners to identify opportunities, define business requirements, prioritize initiatives and oversee delivery, adoption and the ongoing management of assigned applications.

• Focuses on business outcomes, stakeholder coordination and solution ownership, with technical development and implementation carried out by specialist IT teams or delivery partners.

• The role requires sufficient technical understanding to evaluate proposals, manage risks and make informed decisions, rather than hands-on development expertise.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

AI Initiatives & Solutions

• Work with business teams, internal IT and partners to assess business value, data needs, feasibility, risks and governance requirements.

• Lead assigned AI and Generative AI initiatives from use-case identification and evaluation through implementation and adoption.

• Coordinate proofs of concept and the responsible adoption of enterprise AI solutions with specialist IT teams, business partners and vendors.

Automation & Power Platform

• Lead automation initiatives using Microsoft Power Automate, Power Apps and Cyclone RPA.

• Identify opportunities to streamline manual processes, define business requirements and oversee the delivery of maintainable workflow and automation solutions.

• Oversee workflow and automation performance, integrations, data flows, exception handling, enhancements and operational support, coordinating technical work with IT teams, business partners and vendors.

Application & Solution Ownership

• Support the management of the Weaver platform and own selected workflow solutions.

• Co-own and manage assigned iOS / Android business applications, including IRM/S AIMS.

• Manage application lifecycle activities, incidents, change requests, solution documentation, vendors and service performance.

• Provide timely reports and reviews on incidents, changes and other application support activities to business users and management.

• Adhere to AHSEA ITSM policies and use ITSM tools to manage and close incidents, changes, and problems within SLA.

Project, Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Lead assigned technology projects and workstreams from planning through implementation and closure.

• Manage scope, milestones, risks, issues, dependencies, budget and stakeholder expectations.

• Deliver timely and accurate project status updates for management reporting.

• Comply with the Group IT Project Management Framework.

• Coordinate business users, IT teams, vendors and implementation partners, providing clear status updates and escalating material decisions when required.

Business Process, Data & Solution Analysis

• Understand end-to-end processes across Sales, Operations and Finance and translate business needs into functional and technical requirements.

• Work with business and technical teams to clarify business rules, data requirements, mapping, data flows and integration needs, and validate that proposed solutions meet business requirements.

• Gather and document business needs, then coordinate solution delivery with technical teams and vendors in line with AHSEA standards.

• Exposure to trade promotion, P&L, claims, financial reconciliation or transaction-matching processes is advantageous.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Apply intermediate financial literacy in business cases, budgeting, IT procurement and CAPEX / OPEX management.

• Assess solution costs, benefits and business value and support relevant procurement and vendor evaluation activities.

REQUIREMENTS

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science or Engineering, or an equivalent qualification.

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant IT work experience in business applications, automation, digital solutions, project delivery or related areas, with demonstrated capability in these areas.

• Experience leading technology projects or significant workstreams involving business stakeholders, technical teams and external vendors.

• Good understanding of project delivery, application lifecycle management, business analysis and solution implementation.

• Project management certification or knowledge (such as PMP or PRINCE2), and/or Scrum / Agile experience, is preferred.

Technical & Functional Skills

• Working knowledge of AI / Generative AI concepts and enterprise use cases.

• Experience managing or coordinating automation initiatives using Microsoft Power Automate; familiarity with Power Apps / Power Platform is preferred. Hands-on development is not required.

• Ability to understand business data requirements and discuss relational data concepts, data structures, mapping and data flows with technical teams; SQL coding expertise is not required.

• Conceptual understanding of APIs, application integration, workflow platforms and mobile or web business applications, sufficient to assess proposals and coordinate delivery.

• Ability to review solution proposals from a business and operational perspective, engage technical teams and vendors, and coordinate prototypes or proofs of concept.

• Business process knowledge across Sales, Operations and/or Finance; FMCG experience is advantageous.

Behavioural Competencies

• Strong ownership and ability to work independently with limited day-to-day supervision.

• Strong stakeholder management, communication, influencing and vendor-management skills.

• Structured problem-solving, sound judgement and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Proactive learning mindset, particularly in AI, automation, data and emerging technologies.

• Ability to communicate risks, decisions and progress clearly and escalate appropriately.

• Not afraid to speak up and stand up for the overall good.