VP, Information Technology
VP, Information Technology
Roots is more than just an/the iconic Canadian retailer, we are a group of passionate employees who act with integrity, trust each other and do what is right. We work in a space where people can grow and develop, with a team of people who own results and are dedicated to seeing Roots win. We seek to build longstanding relationships with partners who share our commitment to maintaining high ethical standards of operation.
We are currently seeking a VP, Information Technology who will seek inspiration from our roots, can commit to achieving results the right way and loves to think big to join us on our journey.
The VP, Information Technology is a pivotal leader supporting the backbone of the business operations at Roots. Reporting to the CFO, this role will act as the strategic leader to ensure that the Company's technology stack will effectively and efficiently enable the growth of the business.
The VP, IT will work closely with all functional areas and provide quality services to the organization through the provision of a stable, proven and reliable infrastructure and set of IT services that removes business obstacles. In addition, this role will lead, motivate and mentor strong established teams overseeing IT infrastructure, cybersecurity and business continuity, and application development.
As the ideal candidate, you should be passionate about Roots and eager to support the profitable growth of the iconic Canadian brand. You have experience and technical knowledge in leading a broad IT function within a small to medium-sized enterprise and have built a best-in-class function fitting for the size of the company. You are comfortable leading through ambiguity and have a strategic mindset to provide recommendations that challenge the status quo. Finally, you have an entrepreneurial "do-what-it-takes" mentality with a drive to get things done and constantly looking for ways to improve current operations.
Functional Oversight Areas:
- Internal corporate and store IT infrastructure
- Cybersecurity and business continuity
- Data architecture and quality management
- Back and front-end application development
The VP, Information Technology for Roots will be responsible for the following:
Assessment of Current State
- Map and evaluate the current state of the Company's information technology landscape in comparison to best-in-class retailers of similar size and trajectory
- Complete risk assessment of current information technology infrastructure from a business continuity perspective
- Assess capabilities of the team and develop plan for building and mentoring a high-performing IT team, balancing team efficiency and scalability
- Establish KPIs to measure and monitor efficacy of the IT function
- Partnership with business functions to create best-in-class business practices through front-end (e.g., eCommerce platform) and back-end (e.g., ERP) systems development
- Establish processes, policies and procedures to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the IT infrastructure and team operations
- Ongoing prioritization and resolution of key business continuity risks and IT obstacles for key functional areas
Long-term Strategic Planning & Evolution
- Develop a 3-5 year IT strategic roadmap, considering current risk areas, industry trends, and business requirements to align with the Company's long-term growth strategy
- Partner with the Data Analytics function to maintain the data warehouse to strengthen business intelligence and predictive analytics capabilities
- Be a champion of change by advancing the Company forward through the adoption of new technologies and integration of AI/ML capabilities where appropriate
Leadership, People, and Talent Development
- Lead a team of IT professionals, creating a culture and work ethic that will maximize efficiency and performance in the organization.
- Guide, coach and mentor staff towards adopted methodologies and best practices of the organization.
- Create metrics and processes to move from supporting the business to enabling the business.
- Complete performance and talent management initiatives to ensure strong performance culture and business continuity
Top candidates for the VP, Information Technology role will have the following:
Professional Experience & Qualifications
- 8+ years in a leadership capacity overseeing a broad IT function, shaping organizational culture and managing change initiatives; experience within a retail environment is considered an asset
- Experience working with a mix of on-prem and cloud-based systems and integrations
- Demonstrated track record of leveraging the IT function to drive business change and establishing business processes
- Experience with front and back-end application systems design and development, from business requirements analysis through to project execution and delivery, considered a strong asset
- Demonstrated track record of successful IT project oversight, execution and delivery, acting as the key liaison between IT and other business functions
- Strong understanding of the IT industry within a retail setting, with a perspective on best-in-class practices and a genuine interest in the evolution of the function through exploration of new technologies and AL/ML capabilities
Education Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or equivalent.
Founded in 1973, Roots Canada is a publicly held Canadian lifestyle brand that sells apparel, leather bags, small leather goods, footwear and active athletic wear with over 100 retail stores in North America and Asia.
Other details
- Pay Type Salary