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.

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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.

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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.

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The Chance

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Leadership Opportunity

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

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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.

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You won't need to be the technical expert across every application,



but you can't operate several layers above the detail either.

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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.

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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.

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Understand the Business Behind the Technology

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Strong business partnering will be central to your success.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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What You'll Bring

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

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You'll bring:

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

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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.

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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.

📌 Head of Applications (New South Wales)
🏢 Xceltium
📍 New South Wales