Manager IT Application Operations

Academy Sports + Outdoors; Katy (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Academy Sports + Outdoors in Katy, TX seeks an experienced IT leader to oversee enterprise application support across WMS, TMS, LMS, and associated platforms. You will drive reliability, security, and performance while aligning with business goals.

The role requires managing teams including contractors, ensuring SOX/PCI compliance, implementing observability roadmaps, and delivering measurable improvements in incident prevention and service quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent work experience.
• 8+ years of related management experience in retail IT or a similar domain.
• Experience leading teams across enterprise-grade IT platforms (WMS, TMS, LMS) and related business domains.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership across assigned enterprise application support teams and platforms.
• Manage the application lifecycle for WMS, TMS, and LMS.
• Oversee IT interface with automated material handling equipment; ensure high availability.
• Maintain inventory data sources as it moves through supply chain to store systems.
• Ensure service reliability and governance for incidents, problems, and changes.
• Hire, train, coach, review performance, and manage budget for staff and contractors.
• Set tasks, metrics, and accountability for staff; mentor for continuous learning.
• Maintain SOX, PCI, ISO compliance and internal control documentation.
• Define observability roadmaps (logs/metrics/traces) and drive alert hygiene across tools.
• Own DR/BCP readiness and lead tests with the DR team.
• Translate business priorities into operational plans with PMO/product teams.
• Represent service posture to executives and publish health narratives.

Skills

People leadership

Enterprise applications

24/7 on‑call support

Observability/Automation/AI

Vendor management

Budgeting

Communication

Cross-functional coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Tools

Splunk

Dynatrace

Grafana

ITGC

Job description

Who We Are

At Academy Sports + Outdoors our vision is to be the best sports + outdoors retailer in the country — but what truly sets us apart is our people. We’re a passionate, purpose-driven team that’s as committed to each other as we are to our customers.

We’ve spent over 80 years building a culture that puts people first. We believe in creating opportunities for growth, fostering meaningful connections, and supporting every Team Member’s journey. What fuels us? Our belief in the power of fun.

Here, you won’t just help customers gear up for their next adventure — you’ll launch one of your own. Whether you're starting out or leveling up, Academy is a place where fun can’t lose!

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study or equivalent years of related work experience required.

Work Experiences

• At least 8 years of related management experience in the retail industry IT field.
• Prior people leadership experience, including management of employees, contractors, and/or managed service providers
• Experience supporting enterprise‑scale applications across one or more business domains (e.g., Supply Chain, Retail Operations, Finance, Digital, Corporate Systems)

Skills

• Possess the capability to manage direct reports who may be contractors as well as employees in a managed services environment
• Experience managing a technical staff with a variety of technical skills, administering and supporting a portfolio of enterprise applications and systems
• Experience managing a technical team providing 24/7 on‑call support
• Experience supporting enterprise application platforms across one or more business domains, with oversight to related support towers such as Stores, BI/Reporting, Financials, or Digital as required.
• Experience in building and maintaining a comprehensive Application Catalog of applications and business customers
• Working knowledge of the latest technological trends, including observability, automation, and AI.
• Coordinate with project managers, business analysts, development managers, and the Infrastructure teams on new application projects, and ensure application and database performance and stability
• Provide regular and proactive communication to senior IT management on project status, potential risks, concerns, team successes and challenges, as well as the progress of individual performance
• Maintain current knowledge on new IT tools, hardware, software, and technology, and make recommendations to meet current and future business challenges
• Must possess excellent customer service, inter-personal, leadership, conflict resolution, and problem‑solving skills
• Must be able to work in a fast‑paced environment and ensure Business SLA’s and project deadlines are met
• Experience in product‑based IT Operations and SRE principles is a plus
• Acceptable level of hearing and vision to perform job duties
• Communication - effective listening, speaking, and writing

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership across assigned enterprise application support teams and platforms
• Manage the application lifecycle for Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Transportation Management Systems (TMS), and Labor Management Systems (LMS)
• Oversee the IT interface with automated Material Handling Equipment (conveyors, sorters, robotics, and ASRS). Ensure high availability for mission‑critical distribution center hardware/software interfaces
• Maintain the "source of truth" for inventory data as it moves through the supply chain into Merchandising and Store systems
• Maintains smooth and efficient operation of assigned departments
• Responsible for service reliability, cross-functional incident/problem/change governance
• Performs general managerial duties, including hiring, training, coaching, reviewing, performance, compensation, and termination for regular and contract associates as applicable
• Able to enumerate and assign tasks to staff and establish metrics to assess performance
• Mentor team members to ensure continuous learning and engagement, maximizing individual talents and strengths where they serve the team(s) best, and report on these to management
• Maintains budget including project expenses, salaries, training, travel & entertainment
• Own execution of IT General Controls (ITGC) for assigned application portfolios; lead quarterly access reviews and ensure Segregation of Duties (SoD) is maintained
• Maintain internal control documentation, effectively perform assigned internal controls, remediate internal control exceptions, and respond to internal and external audit requests
• Ensure adherence to all Academy standards and policies and effectively maintain SOX, PCI, ISO, and other compliance standards where assigned
• Define and manage observability roadmaps (logs/metrics/traces, AIOps); drive alert hygiene and signal‑to‑noise across Splunk/Dynatrace/Grafana.
• Define and manage self‑healing and diagnostics automation; quantify value (hours saved, incidents avoided, risk reduced).
• Own DR/BCP readiness for critical apps; validate playbooks, RTO/RPO targets, and periodic exercises in partnership with the DR team.
• Supports the corporate goal of Academy – For All, For Less
• Continuous reviews and, when necessary, realigns department strategies to fit the changing business needs of the company
• Guards against the installation of any technology that does not have a direct business benefit associated with it
• Own MSP/SaaS vendor scorecards, QBRs, penalties/incentives, and remediation plans; ensure RCAs and SLAs are contractually upheld.
• Manage OpEx budgets, forecasts, and cost‑to‑serve; optimize onsite/offshore mix and licensing/observability spend.
• Represent service posture to executives and business leaders; publish simple, actionable health reports and narratives.
• Translate business priorities into operational plans; align intake/prioritization with the Product team and PMO.
• Required to learn company policies, procedures, and safety rules
• Duties may change, and associates may be required to perform other duties as assigned

Physical Requirements & Attendance

• Acceptable level of hearing and vision to perform job duties
• Adhere to company work hours, policies, procedures, and rules governing professional staff behavior
• Regular in‑office attendance is required

Equal Employment Opportunity

Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate with regard to employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law.