Head of IT

Gema Group; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Gema Group, a family-owned hospitality and catering business, seeks a Head of IT to be the first dedicated technology leader across national venues, stadia, aviation lounges, and greenfield events. You will shape the tech roadmap, ensure robust systems, and enable scalable performance with strong commercial acumen.

The role partners with Finance, Operations, Procurement, Payroll, and Venue teams to drive measurable business outcomes and premium customer experiences.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in IT with at least 3 years in a senior or leadership role.
• Experience supporting multi-site or field-based operations; hospitality or events industry advantageous.
• Familiarity with workforce management, event management, or venue technology platforms is a strong advantage.
• Solid grasp of cloud infrastructure, networking, endpoint management, and cybersecurity fundamentals.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, operationally driven environment.
• Able to work autonomously and structure unclear environments.
• Excellent communicator; able to translate tech to non-technical teams.
• Tertiary qualifications in IT, Computer Science, or related discipline (or equivalent experience).

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of Gema's technology roadmap across multi-site national operations.
• Manage and support core business systems including Human Force, Momentus, Cooking the Books, POS platforms and NetSuiteERP.
• Oversee infrastructure, networks, cloud environments, and end-user devices across locations.
• Lead IT onboarding and provisioning for new staff, including device setup and system access.
• Manage cybersecurity posture, data protection practices, and access controls.
• Evaluate and implement new technology to support efficiency and growth.
• Build and maintain relationships with external vendors and MSPs.
• Develop IT governance, policies, and disaster recovery procedures.
• Provide hands-on support and leadership during incidents or outages.

Skills

IT leadership

Cloud infrastructure

Cybersecurity fundamentals

Communication

Education

IT / Computer Science degree

Tools

Human Force

Momentus

Cooking the Books

POS platforms

NetSuiteERP

Job description

Gema Group is a family-owned hospitality and catering business established in 1984.
Over forty years, we've grown into one of Australia's most respected event catering partners, operating across 16 venues in 3 states and delivering catering for marquee events including the Australian Open, Formula One Grand Prix, Supercars Championship Series, and the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. From stadia to aviation lounges to airshows, our team shows up to represent and we do it from a kitchen on wheels just as well as from a world-class venue.

The Role

As Head of IT, you'll be the first dedicated technology leader in the business, a foundational role with real influence. The role is a strategic and operational leadership role responsible for enabling scalable business performance through technology, systems integration, data visibility, and operational innovation across Gema Group’s national venues, stadia, aviation, and greenfield event operations.

This role is accountable for the overall technology ecosystem across the business, ensuring Gema’s systems, infrastructure, reporting capability, and operational technologies support the company’s continued growth, operational excellence, and premium customer experiences.

The role combines strategic leadership with strong commercial and operational acumen and requires a proactive leader capable of partnering closely with Finance, Operations, Procurement, Payroll, and Venue teams to ensure technology delivers measurable business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of Gema's technology roadmap across multi-site national operations
• Manage and support core business systems including Human Force (rostering & workforce), Momentus (event bookings & venue management), Cooking the Books (recipe costing & menu management), POS platforms and NetSuiteERP.
• Oversee infrastructure, networks, cloud environments, and end-user devices across office and venue locations
• Lead IT onboarding and provisioning for new staff, including device setup and system access
• Manage cybersecurity posture, data protection practices, and system access controls
• Evaluate, recommend, and implement new technology to support operational efficiency and business growth
• Build and maintain relationships with external vendors and managed service providers
• Develop and maintain IT governance, policies, and disaster recovery procedures
• Provide hands‑on support and leadership during incidents or outages

About You

• 8+ years in IT, with at least 3 years in a senior or leadership capacity
• Experience supporting multi-site or field-based operations, hospitality, events, retail, or similar industries highly regarded
• Familiarity with workforce management, event management, or venue technology platforms is a strong advantage
• Solid grasp of cloud infrastructure, networking, endpoint management, and cybersecurity fundamentals
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, operationally driven environment
• A practical problem-solver who can work autonomously and build structure where there isn't much yet
• Excellent communicator, able to translate tech into plain language for a non-technical team
• Tertiary qualifications in IT, Computer Science, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience)

What We Offer

• A rare opportunity to build an IT function from the ground up in an established, well-respected business
• A genuine family business culture, values-led, people-first, and proud of it
• The chance to work across some of Australia's most iconic venues and events
• Competitive salary package commensurate with experience