Head of AI & Technology

Position Purpose

As a senior leader, the Head of AI and Technology will partner closely with the CEO and leaders across the organisation to identify, develop and implement AI-driven solutions that improve sales performance, productivity, customer experience, profitability and operational efficiency.

The Head of AI and Technology will oversee all technology functions while championing the transformation of the organisation into an AI-enabled retailer. This role is accountable for ensuring technology investments generate measurable business outcomes and position the company for long-term growth and competitive advantage.

The role combines strategic vision with execution and is responsible for embedding AI into every area of the business, creating sustainable commercial value through automation, insights and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Executive Leadership

• Develop and execute the organisation's AI, technology and digital transformation strategy.

• Act as a trusted adviser to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team on emerging technology opportunities and risks.

• Build a multi-year roadmap that aligns technology investment with business strategy and growth plans.

• Identify opportunities to improve competitive advantage through AI, automation and digital innovation.

• Lead enterprise-wide transformation initiatives that improve organisational effectiveness and efficiency.

• Present regular updates to the CEO and Board on technology, cybersecurity, AI adoption and investment outcomes.

Enterprise AI Leadership

• Develop and implement an organisation-wide AI strategy.

• Identify and prioritise AI opportunities across all business functions.

• Lead implementation of AI solutions that improve:

  • Sales performance

  • Customer service

  • Inventory management

  • Demand forecasting

  • Workforce planning

  • Recruitment and talent acquisition

  • Marketing effectiveness

  • Supply chain efficiency

  • Financial reporting and analytics

• Establish governance frameworks to ensure the ethical, responsible and secure use of AI.

• Evaluate emerging technologies and identify future opportunities for competitive advantage.

• Foster a culture of innovation and experimentation throughout the business.

Technology Leadership

• Lead all IT operations, systems, infrastructure and support services.

• Establish a modern and scalable technology architecture that supports future business growth.

• Oversee all business applications including:

  • ERP systems

  • POS systems

  • HRIS platforms

  • eCommerce platforms

  • Reporting and analytics environments

  • Collaboration technologies

• Ensure technology solutions meet business requirements and deliver operational efficiency.

• Manage technology budgets and investment planning.

• Lead strategic vendor partnerships and technology procurement.

Data, Analytics & Business Intelligence

• Develop an enterprise data strategy.

• Ensure business data is accessible, reliable, secure and actionable.

• Build advanced reporting and analytics capabilities that support decision making.

• Establish data governance standards and data quality frameworks.

• Deliver predictive analytics and AI-driven insights that enhance commercial performance.

• Create executive dashboards that provide real-time business intelligence.

Cybersecurity & Risk Management

• Lead information security, cybersecurity and technology risk management activities.

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, privacy and data protection requirements.

• Implement effective controls to protect company, employee and customer information.

• Oversee disaster recovery and business continuity planning.

• Monitor and mitigate emerging technology and AI-related risks.

Organisational Capability & Change

• Lead organisational AI adoption programs.

• Develop AI literacy and capability across all levels of the business.

• Establish training frameworks that enable employees to safely and effectively utilise AI tools.

• Build cross-functional partnerships to accelerate transformation outcomes.

• Support leaders in redesigning work processes and operating models to maximise productivity.

• Drive continuous improvement and innovation across all functions.

Leadership Responsibilities

The Head of AI and Technology is expected to:

• Operate as a strategic executive leader.

• Inspire innovation and challenge traditional approaches.

• Build high-performing technology and transformation teams.

• Drive accountability for delivering measurable business outcomes.

• Influence decision making through data and insights.

• Foster collaboration across all departments.

• Champion a culture of continuous learning and adaptability.

Key Performance Indicators

Financial & Commercial

• Delivery of technology and AI initiatives that improve profitability.

• Measurable productivity improvements across departments.

• Achievement of approved technology investment returns.

• Cost reductions through automation and process optimisation.

• Increased sales attributable to AI-enabled initiatives.

Technology

• System uptime and reliability targets achieved.

• Successful delivery of technology projects on time and within budget.

• Technology user satisfaction scores achieved.

• Cybersecurity compliance and risk metrics maintained.

AI Transformation

• Number and value of AI initiatives successfully implemented.

• AI adoption rates across the organisation.

• Percentage reduction in manual or repetitive processes.

• Measurable improvements in business productivity.

• Improvement in decision-making capabilities through AI insights.

Leadership

• Employee engagement within the Technology team.

• Leadership capability development and succession planning.

• Stakeholder satisfaction ratings.

• Achievement of strategic transformation milestones.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Senior executive experience leading technology, digital transformation or innovation functions.

• Demonstrated success delivering enterprise-wide technology and transformation programs.

• Strong understanding of artificial intelligence, automation and data analytics.

• Significant commercial and strategic planning capability.

• Experience leading technology budgets and vendor relationships.

• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and drive organisational change.

Desirable

• Retail, multi-site or customer-facing industry experience.

• Experience implementing Microsoft Copilot, generative AI and intelligent automation solutions.

• Experience with enterprise data and analytics platforms.

• Cybersecurity leadership experience.

• Relevant qualifications in Information Technology, Business, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence or related disciplines.

Success Looks Like

Within the first 24 months the Head of AI and Technology will:

• Establish a clear AI strategy and governance framework.

• Implement AI solutions across every major business function.

• Deliver measurable improvements in productivity and operational efficiency.

• Build a strong AI-enabled culture across the organisation.

• Modernise the technology environment to support future growth.

• Create data-driven decision-making capabilities across leadership teams.

• Deliver commercial outcomes through technology that contribute directly to sales growth, cost reduction and improved customer experience.