Technology Strategy Manager

Tech Our Way.
Primark Technology is about to embark on a transformation journey to support business strategy which includes modernising our operating model as well as technology architecture. As our Technology Strategy Manager, under the Tech Leadership Team you will have the opportunity to be our inhouse strategic thinker and advisor, and to develop and drive the transformation engine.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Build and develop the Tech Strategy management function and team
• Own and translate macro technology/IT strategy into its component parts and workstreams and develop overall transformation implementation plan
• Develop and support in development of strategy as an ongoing concern—be our inhouse thinker and advisor to drive Primark tech & innovation forward and provide business-led, tech-enabled, value-based strategies
• Generate an ongoing strategic pipeline of transformation opportunities, working with key stakeholders across Tech and the Business to prioritise and mobilise any associated projects
• Collaborate with key operational and programme leads to define and refresh roadmaps for core Transformation initiatives & runway, with clear, measurable OKRs
• Design a transformation demand management framework and front door to allow prioritisation and rapid, flexible deployment of centralised transformation resources in service of the Tech Transformation priorities
• Build out a world-class transformation office capability covering domains such as: portfolio design & value assurance, strategic planning and roadmap development, analytics & insights, commercial modelling, business cases & benefits working in collaboration with other functions/teams and CoEs
• Ensure orchestration, progression, and delivery of transformation across workstreams which will be ultimately owned by respective leadership team member
• Oversee a mix of discrete strategic projects and provide ongoing strategic support
• Track and sharing real-time progress and measuring the return on transformation investments
• Support the strategic planning of our workforce and capability sourcing to assess emerging gaps in Tech’s capability against the future shape of prioritised demand and evolving technologies and disciplines
• Build trusted relationships with key stakeholders (including the IT Leadership team, and Sponsors) to ensure alignment, focused on achieving joint value-base outcomes
• Identify and evaluate key emerging trends, scan for strategic opportunities, and risks, with existing and new partners
• Provide an external perspective and thought leadership to the Strategy & Performance team and wider business & tech function, leveraging a network of industry contacts to inform our strategy and help to accelerate Tech transformation journey.
• Collaborate cross functionally to inspire change in the business by identifying and implementing the best ways of working across the organisation
• Train and develop junior members of the team – junior and senior analysts/project managers – including providing skills training, coaching, development, and feedback

Skills & Experience:

• 10+ years of related experience in strategy consulting and / or similar role in a leading technology company, or other retail firms
• An appropriate degree, equivalent qualification, or experience (MBA is a plus)
• Experience leading, & mobilising multiple stakeholders (including top executives) and balance multiple demands in a multifaceted fast-paced environment
• Experience of successfully enabling change at scale - across people, process and technology domains, and a range of associated delivery frameworks, including agile
• Team management experience

Successful candidates will:

• Be a passionate and visionary technologist able to inspire others to challenge and disrupt the current reality to co-create a compelling technology-orientated future business by:

1. being able to scan potential technologies (established, emerging and emergent)
2. finding ways to translate that into business opportunities
3. and most importantly of all, able to take people along with you, empowering new ways of working and successfully executing on those opportunities

• Strategic Thinker: ability to think strategically and blend technical, operational, and commercial strategic considerations into decision making
• Bias to action - with an appetite for driving business impact/execution
• Strong leadership and organisational skills - capable of motivating and managing organisations or teams to deliver desired results
• Have excellent understanding of common project management terms and concepts
• Be a self-starter, dedicated and a team player.