Head of I&T Applications & Platforms Packaging

Head of I&T Applications & Platforms - Packaging

Location - Europe

Subject to Consultation

About the role

Reporting to thePackaging I&TDirectorthehead of Packaging I&TApplications & Platformsisresponsible forthestrategyarchitecturebuild& running of divisionalwideshared business applicationsand scope are asignificant numberof applications supporting all business functions across the packaging division based on a broad range of technologies and platforms.

TheHead of Packaging I&TApplications & Platformsprovides application specificanalysis and advisoryexpertiseleading andmanaging a distributed team of application specialists the application environment in alignment with the DS Smith business and functional strategies.

Key responsibilities for the Head of I&T Applications & Platforms are:

Strategy planning and Application Portfolio Management

• Owning the applicationlifecycleportfolio fortheapplicationsin scopemaintaininganup todateapplication catalogue and defining the strategy for each application.

• Delivering the ambitions of our applications standardisationstrategy

• Developingandmaintainingthedivisional applicationsystemdata architecture

• Owningthe design of new and the decommissioning of existingapplication services.

• Supportingservice design & acceptance ensuring effective handover toserviceteams.

• Key to success will be the experienced in building teamsshared service teams who can support multi-stakeholder and multi-country operations

Business engagementadviceand guidance

• Developingandleveragingcollaborative working relationships with all partners withinDS SmithIT and the business to delivercontinuously improvingend to end services.

• Leading as atechnicaldesign authority alongside their teamworkingclosely with the business to help realise the business potential of applications to improve business performance.

• Supporting divisional leadership and business partnersininitiatingideas developing businesscasesand successfully deploying IT projects.

• Actively managing application delivery activity as part of the I2I process and providing senior escalation for divisional application run and build activities

Application sustainability and optimisation

• Drivingservice continuityand improvement through the team and key user groups providingactivemonitoringidentifyingissues before theyimpactperformance and overseeing the introduction of change to new and existing systems.

• Responsible for the life cycle management working with relevant IT teams and vendors so that the required projects are planned and delivered to ensurecontinuous business operation.

• Build strategic relationships with partners to scale and serve the business

• Work collaboratively with suppliers and the business toidentifyand implementcontinuousimprovement recommendations to minimise costs andmaximise value.

• Manage the resolution ofmajor incidents keepingbusiness and IT stakeholders informed at that the team continuously improve performance

• Enable activeproblemmanagement processes to improve serviceperformance.

Supplier and contract management

• Ownership ofcore application vendorrelationship

• Ownership of key vendorcontracts ensuring governance ofkey performance indicators and agreed targetsare met overseeing issue resolution closely with I&T procurement as necessary on negotiations.

and manage People

• Solid Line reporting to the Packaging I&T Director

• Dotted line reporting to the group I&T Applications and Platforms Director

• Leading ateamwith theright structure peopleand skills to deliver effectively.(c60FTE under direct leadership with c 45 FTE under indirect leadershipthrough dotted lineengagedof theregional applicationteams)

• Lead and motivatetheteam providing coaching and guidanceboth to those directly under leadership and enablement of communities of practice within the wider packaging applications teams and group.

• Co-ordinate the Packaging Applications Community of Practice across regions with the aim of driving development and best practice within the teams

• Ensure your team are clear on their responsibilities receive regular feedback on performance and utilise the range of career development options available.

• Inspire your team to continually improve ways of working.

• Create an environment which rewards team success and job satisfaction

Budget

• Budget management responsibility for alldivisionalapplications and people related costs.(divisional application service under management contribute to c 10m p/aopexandcapex)

About you

• Highly experienced in IT and business/industry preferably in a multi-site multi-country manufacturing environment withknowledge of a broad range of business functions and technology platforms.

• A strategic thinker able to build and lead relationships internally with business and partner Executive leaders

• Specific expertise inapplicationmanagement withdemonstratedexperience drivingbusinessengagement andvalue creationas well as third party performance.

• Able to work in a matrix organisation with cross-functional teams.

• Excellent knowledge of incident problem management and change management tools

• Display a strongbusiness drivenbackground withvalueawareness understanding the business needs and excellent business judgement.

• Innovative attitude leading the division into Digital opportunities

• Possess strong interpersonal and influencing skills with excellent stakeholder management.

• Be able to manage relationships across the organisation at multiple levels.

• Strong leadership to inspire and motivate and strong ability to develop self and others through continuous learning sharing best practicesknowledgeandexpertise.

• Bachelor or MastersDegree in computer science information systems business administration or related field or equivalent work experience.