IT Director - Supply Chain Platforms

Brambles; Durban; Hybrid; USD 80 000 - 120 000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Supply Chain Platforms Lead to drive innovation and efficiency in their supply chain applications. This pivotal role involves managing supply chain technologies and teams, ensuring quality and performance while aligning with business objectives. You'll collaborate with stakeholders to shape strategies and develop solutions that enhance operational effectiveness. With a focus on governance and best practices, you will lead a skilled team in a hybrid remote environment, fostering a culture of service excellence. If you're ready to make a significant impact in a global organization, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in supply chain management and technology leadership.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing and logistics processes.
• Experience with cloud-native services supporting supply chain applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead supply chain platform services and strategies across the organization.
• Manage vendor relationships and ensure compliance with governance processes.
• Recruit and develop a skilled technical team for supply chain initiatives.

Skills

Supply Chain Management

Technical Leadership

Vendor Management

Cloud Services (AWS, Azure)

Communication Skills

Governance Processes

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Master's degree preferred

Tools

JDA

Blue Yonder

SaaS Solutions

Job description

You'll direct the creation of value through supply chain applications by ensuring quality, performance, and value-driven governance. You will align the supply chain platform functions across the business to promote and facilitate optimisation, stability, security, and efficiency.

It is essential that you have prior exposure to elements of both the Blue Yonder and JDA product suite, as these are used in this area.

Your responsibilities include managing Brambles' supply chain technologies and teams, along with staying informed about external market innovations in the function. The Supply Chain Platforms Lead is accountable for the day-to-day execution of platform services, including development, data governance, support, and strategic direction across the Brambles landscape. You will evaluate and monitor all supply chain services, ensuring they deliver business benefits through resilient, responsive, and stable platform usage for a growing global user base. Additionally, you will collaborate with the wider TS organization, primarily the Supply Chain Programme function, on portfolio demand and delivery performance metrics.

You will maintain and facilitate governance methods, standards, and principles across all processes related to supply chain platforms. These standards will be developed, adopted, and embedded across all business units, integrating supply chain data with complementary systems and personnel. Governance processes include supply chain service management, vendor management, risk management, platform upgrades and modernization, service catalog, project support, and reporting.

Key Accountabilities

1. Provide leadership by setting clear objectives and priorities aligned with the Supply Chain Programme, defining supply chain platform services, strategies, and roadmaps, and communicating these effectively.
2. Partner with functional business leadership and key stakeholders to shape strategy, identify opportunities, leverage industry trends, and develop solutions that enhance financial effectiveness and simplify processes.
3. Develop best practices and foster a culture of service excellence across Technology Services, Data & Digital, Supply Chain, and the wider organization.
4. Advise on performance metrics to support operational objectives of existing and new supply chain platform services.
5. Provide technical coaching and influence global technology adoption.
6. Ensure applications are consistent, scalable, and secure by working closely with support and development teams.
7. Manage vendor and partner relationships through performance metrics and action plans.
8. Act as the primary contact and escalation point for incidents across supply chain platforms, leading process improvements post-incident.
9. Collaborate with platform teams to identify continuous improvement areas.
10. Ensure compliance with internal governance, policies, and processes.
11. Develop organizational structures that enable key initiatives.
12. Recruit, develop, motivate, and retain a skilled technical team through talent management and succession planning.
13. Implement and monitor an effective risk framework for the supply chain platform.
14. Deliver initiatives on time, within budget, and according to success criteria.

Experience

1. Extensive experience managing or influencing technical teams, transformation projects, or significant BAU change initiatives.
2. Proven success in supply chain design, strategy, and linking business platforms to organizational objectives.
3. Strong knowledge of manufacturing, plant, freight, and logistics processes.
4. Experience supporting, implementing, and delivering supply chain applications, including SaaS solutions.
5. Experience migrating to new or existing supply chain platforms (e.g., JDA, Blue Yonder).
6. Experience with cloud-native services (e.g., AWS, Azure) supporting supply chain applications.
7. Leadership of remote, cross-functional teams across multiple continents within a multi-partner ecosystem.
8. Ability to build relationships and influence at senior management/executive levels.
9. Understanding of application financial management, business case development, and budgeting.
10. Strong communication and presentation skills, with an executive focus.
11. Capability to establish strategic, operational, and technical decision-making functions aligned with organizational priorities and risk appetite.
12. Experience in governance of operational estate, change controls, and security for supply chain platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or related field.
• Master's degree preferred or equivalent experience.

Preferred Education

Preferred Level of Work Experience: More than 10 years

Remote Type: Hybrid Remote

We are committed to diversity and equal opportunity. We do not discriminate based on race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.