Applications & Data Leader: AI-Driven Retail Tech

Candela Search; New Jersey; On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Candela Search is partnering with a leading multi-site retail business to appoint an Applications & Data Leader to shape a simpler, AI-ready digital core. The role spans the US applications and data landscape, aligning with the global technology roadmap and supporting growth across the store network.

The leader will own POS, inventory, ERP/finance, payroll, and digital platforms, drive API-led integration, improve data quality, and build a high-performing team across onshore, offshore, and

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading enterprise applications and data in a complex, high-transaction, multi-site environment.
• Deep knowledge of point of sale, inventory, ERP and finance applications.
• Strong grounding in integration architecture, APIs, data pipelines and modern cloud data platforms such as Microsoft Azure and Power BI.
• Hands-on experience taking AI use cases into production.
• Experience in a matrixed or global organization, balancing local and global priorities.
• A track record of delivering major transformation programs while keeping business-critical applications running.
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Define and deliver a US applications and data strategy aligned to the global technology roadmap.
• Own the application portfolio across point of sale, inventory, ERP and finance, payroll and digital platforms.
• Lead the move from flat-file to API-led integration across store, ERP and partner systems.
• Improve data quality, governance and master data to deliver a single, trusted view of store performance.
• Establish AI governance and take practical AI and agentic use cases into production.
• Integrate new stores and acquisitions quickly into the US technology landscape.
• Build and lead a high-performing team across onshore, offshore and partner resources, with strong vendor and commercial management.

Skills

Enterprise applications leadership

Data governance

APIs & data pipelines

Cloud platforms (Azure)

Power BI

AI governance & production

Global/matrix organization experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems or CS

Tools

Microsoft Azure

Power BI

Job description

Candela Search is partnering with a leading multi-site retail business to appoint an Applications & Data Leader to shape a simpler, AI-ready digital core. The role spans the US applications and data landscape, aligning with the global technology roadmap and supporting growth across the store network.

The leader will own POS, inventory, ERP/finance, payroll, and digital platforms, drive API-led integration, improve data quality, and build a high-performing team across onshore, offshore, and