Senior Manager - Data & AI Architecture & Governance - Hawthorn East

We’ve been proudly serving Australian communities since 1914 and have grown to become a top 30-listed company on the ASX with a portfolio of iconic homegrown brands. At the heart of our continued success is over 115,000 team members working across the country, all contributing to bringing our customers smiles. You’ll not only get to see your work make a difference, you’ll be part of a team working together to help Australians eat and live better every day.

About the team

As the way Australians shop continues to evolve, our Data and AI Team keep Coles at the forefront of up-to-date retail. We combine data, artificial intelligence, and applied engineering to reimagine how our stores, supply chain, and digital channels operate — creating smarter, more connected, and seamless experiences for our customers and team members.

Operating as a centralised development and enablement function within Coles Technology, the team unites product, engineering, and platform capabilities to deliver the intelligence layer of the enterprise. We serve every part of Coles — from computer vision applications that enhance in-store experiences and reduce loss, to forecasting, optimisation, and decision-support solutions that drive efficiency, accuracy, and agility across our supply chain, retail operations, and corporate functions.

The scale and impact of this work are significant. Coles serves millions of customers each week across more than a thousand stores nationwide, and our AI and data capabilities provide the intelligence that underpins how we plan, move, sell, and serve. By combining deep data capability with applied AI and modern engineering, we’re enabling Coles to become a truly AI-enabled enterprise,



transforming how we operate and how Australia shops every day.

About the role

For this challenging opportunity of a Senior Manager – Data and AI Architecture and Governance within our Data and Artificial Intelligence team, we are seeking an individual to be responsible for the below:

- Define, communicate, and gain executive leadership and commitment for the overall Coles’ Responsible AI and Enterprise Data Governance expectations and compliance, ensuring alignment with business objectives and risk appetite.
- Establish, maintain, and oversee the enterprise-wide Responsible AI and Enterprise Data governance framework, associated policies, standards, and governance structures, in adherence to industry regulations, ensuring effectiveness and compliance.
- Lead the strategic development and maturation of organisational Responsible AI and Enterprise Data governance capabilities, including people (talent, skills), process (operating models, frameworks), and technology controls (architecture, tools), anticipating future needs and new regulations.
- Provide overall leadership and direction for all Data and Analytics functions (e.g., D&AI; Hub & Spokes teams) and broader business and tech owners of Data & AI enabling applications, providing training, support and ensuring effective adoption and compliance of Responsible AI and Data Governance expectations and guardrails.




- Oversee the development and management of the AI & Enterprise Data governance functions’ budget, ensuring optimal utilisation of resources, tools and technology, demonstrating return on investment for Responsible AI and Data governance initiatives.
- Engage, influence, and advise senior executive stakeholders (C-suite, Board Committees, GMs) on AI & Data risk exposure, remediation and/or maturity uplift roadmaps as required, major initiatives, and investment decisions.

About you and your skills

- Extensive senior management experience (typically 10+ years) in developing and executing enterprise-wide AI/Data Governance strategies, framework, associated policies, and standards, and programs within large, complex organisations, ensuring they align with the organisation's risk appetite.
- Proven track record of leading the strategy for managing AI/Data compliance with all relevant legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations (e.g., Privacy Act, SOCI Act, PCI-DSS, OAIC).
- Significant experience in managing AI/Data risk assurance functions, including control effectiveness testing, metrics, and executive reporting to provide visibility of the organisation’s ai/data risk posture to leadership and the Board.
- Having established and overseen organisation-wide AI/Data governance awareness, behaviour, and culture programs to foster AI/Data risk compliance-conscious workforce.
- Strong experience in directing end-to-end third-party AI/Data risk mgmt. program, from procurement to off-boarding, to ensure the AI/Data compliance of the suppliers/partner ecosystems.
- Demonstrated experience leading and developing senior leadership teams and building organ

📌 Senior Manager (Melbourne)
🏢 Coles
📍 Melbourne