Job Overview The Director of Applications is responsible for the strategy, administration, support, and continuous improvement of the company’s enterprise applications and related technology platforms. This role leads the teams and vendors that support store systems, business applications, infrastructure integrations, and cloud services to ensure technology solutions are reliable, secure, and aligned with business objectives.  The Director of Applications partners closely with Operations, Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain, and Information Technology leadership to manage mission-critical systems such as point-of-sale (POS), loyalty, AS400, Microsoft 365, Azure, and application integrations.  This position plays a critical leadership role in ensuring that enterprise applications effectively support retail operations and corporate functions. The Director of Applications combines strategic vision with operational execution to deliver reliable, scalable, and innovative technology solutions.    Essential Duties  Application Leadership & Strategy  * Develop and execute the enterprise applications roadmap in alignment with business goals.  * Oversee day-to-day support, maintenance, and enhancement of all business applications.  * Ensure application performance, scalability, security, and availability.  * Lead the evaluation and implementation of new technologies and SaaS solutions.  * Establish governance, standards, and best practices for application management.  Store Systems Management  * Direct operational support for store systems and the Store Systems team.  * Oversee the support and management of the store systems ticket queue.  * Ensure rapid resolution of production issues affecting retail operations.  * Coordinate after-hours support and emergency response procedures.  Major Project Leadership  * Lead enterprise application projects, including POS upgrades, loyalty platform modernization, payment gateway conversions, and cloud migrations.  * Manage Project PawPoint, including:  * Oracle Xstore POS upgrade.  * Oracle Loyalty (CECS) upgrade.  * Aurus payment gateway implementation.  * Migration from on-premise infrastructure to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).  * Manage project scope, timelines, budgets, and cross-functional communication.  Infrastructure & Vendor Management  * Partner with Infrastructure and Network leadership to ensure applications are supported by stable hardware and connectivity.  * Conduct vendor negotiations, contract renewals, and quarterly business reviews.  * Manage relationships with technology partners such as Oracle, Microsoft, Dell, HP, Aryaka, Granite, ScaleFusion, and others.  Legacy Systems Oversight  * Oversee support and modernization planning for legacy systems, including AS400.  * Coordinate with internal and external resources to document and transition functionality to newer platforms.  Cloud & Microsoft Administration  * Oversee Microsoft 365 licensing, security, and administration.  * Manage Azure access, app registrations, Azure Data Factory, and Azure API Management.  * Ensure proper governance of Entra ID, enterprise applications, and integrations.  * Support data retention and backup policies.  Financial Management  * Manage application and software budgets.  * Review and approve recurring IT and SaaS expenses.  * Track technology spending and identify cost optimization opportunities.  Team Leadership  * Lead, mentor, and develop application support and engineering teams.  * Conduct regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and career development planning.  * Foster a collaborative and customer-focused culture.  Risk, Compliance & Security  * Ensure systems meet security standards and compliance requirements.  * Partner with cybersecurity and audit teams to address risks and controls.  * Maintain appropriate user access and segregation of duties.    Qualifications  Experience/Education  * Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business, or related field required.  * 7+ years of progressive IT experience.  * 5+ years in a leadership role managing enterprise applications.  * Experience supporting retail systems, POS, loyalty, payment processing, and ERP platforms.  * Proven experience with large-scale implementation and upgrade projects.  * Experience managing vendors and technology budgets.  Technical Knowledge  * Oracle Xstore POS and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).  * AS400/iSeries environments.  * Microsoft 365, Azure, Entra ID.  * Azure Data Factory and API Management.  * SaaS licensing and subscription management.  * ITSM tools such as KACE or ServiceNow.  * Payment gateways and retail technology integrations.  Competencies  * Strategic thinking and planning.  * Strong project and program management skills.  * Excellent communication and stakeholder management.  * Vendor negotiation and contract management.  * Problem solving and decision making.  * Financial and budget management.  * Team development and coaching.