Head of Applications

Xceltium; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

On-site parking

Salary + superannuation

20% target STI

Job summary

Xceltium in Sydney is seeking a Head of Applications to own the end-to-end Applications function, shaping strategy, architecture and vendor relationships.

You will lead a small team, work closely with the CIO, and drive proactive business partnerships to improve outcomes while managing risk and lifecycle decisions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience running enterprise Applications or Business Systems.
• Strong people leadership and the ability to develop capability.
• Broad understanding of enterprise applications, architecture, integrations and lifecycle management.
• Experience managing technology vendors, support arrangements, licensing and commercial considerations.
• Strong business partnering skills and the ability to understand processes beyond the technology.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day performance of the Applications environment and ensure it is well supported.
• Lead a lean Applications team (2–3 direct reports) and set clear priorities.
• Partner with the business to understand processes and drive improvements.
• Challenge technical recommendations when needed and manage vendor relationships.
• Balance strategy, architecture, and hands-on delivery to evolve the environment.

Skills

Enterprise applications

People leadership

Architecture & integrations

Vendor management

Business partnering

Financial & budgeting sense

Job description

This is an opportunity to take end-to-end ownership of an Applications function, while working closely with an experienced CIO to influence where it goes next.

You’ll inherit an established environment and roadmap, but you won’t simply be asked to maintain what exists or execute someone else’s plan.

Our client is an established Australian organisation looking to appoint a Head of Applications with accountability spanning operational performance, people leadership, architecture, business partnering and vendors.

The Opportunity

You’ll own the day-to-day performance of Applications, ensuring the environment is well supported, risks are understood, lifecycle decisions are managed and the team has clear priorities.

Support models can be improved. Documentation and operational discipline need to mature. Vendor arrangements need stronger ownership. The connection between Applications and the business can become more proactive.

Alongside this, you’ll contribute to Applications strategy, architecture and roadmap. You’ll need to understand the landscape, recognise dependencies and bring your own perspective to how the environment should evolve.

The Leadership Opportunity

You’ll lead a small Applications team, with approximately 2-3 direct reports, in a relatively lean technology environment.

Your leadership will be visible and you’ll remain close to the work, setting clear expectations, addressing issues and creating stronger ownership across the team.

You won’t need to be the technical expert across every application, but you can’t operate several layers above the detail either.

You’ll need enough technical and architectural depth to understand how the environment fits together, recognise integration and lifecycle dependencies, assess the implications of change and challenge technical recommendations when required.

At times, you’ll need to get closer to an issue and help move it forward. At others, you’ll need to establish direction and let your team deliver.

Understand the Business Behind the Technology

Strong business partnering will be central to your success.

This isn’t about collecting requirements and passing them to a vendor or delivery team.

You’ll work with stakeholders to understand the underlying business problem, how processes operate end-to-end and where technology can genuinely improve the outcome.

Sometimes that will require significant change. Other times, the better answer will be a relatively simple improvement or no technology change at all.

You’ll also take a commercial approach to external partners, ensuring support models, licensing and commercial arrangements are fit for purpose and vendors remain accountable for outcomes.

What You’ll Bring

This could suit an established Head of Applications, Enterprise Applications Manager, Business Systems leader or experienced Applications leader ready for broader accountability.

You’ll bring:

• Significant experience running enterprise Applications or Business Systems within a corporate technology environment
• Strong people leadership and the ability to develop capability
• Broad understanding of enterprise applications, architecture, integrations and lifecycle management
• Experience managing technology vendors, support arrangements, licensing and commercial considerations
• Strong business partnering skills and the ability to understand processes beyond the technology itself
• Sound financial and commercial judgement, including technology budgets and prioritisation

Above all, you’ll have a strong ownership mentality. When something lands with you, you’ll take responsibility for moving it forward rather than simply escalating the problem. You’ll be comfortable working through ambiguity, forming a view and coming back with a recommendation.

You’ll also bring curiosity and low ego. You’ll challenge constructively, back your judgement and be equally comfortable changing your position when someone else has the better answer.

The role is based in St Leonards, with parking available onsite, and offers hybrid working with three days onsite and two days WFH. An attractive base salary + superannuation is available, together with a 20% target STI.