Job Introduction

Card Factory is the UK’s leading specialist retailer of greetings cards, dressings, and gifts with over one thousand stores across the UK and Ireland. In 2020 we launched our exciting 5-year business strategy including our vision of becoming a technology-enabled Omni-channel retailer. This strategy sees significant investment into our IT team with a number of opportunities available to join a fast-paced environment and be part of our IT and digital journey. Our vertically integrated business will provide candidates the opportunity to work across multiple technology disciplines and to provide innovation for the next phase of our growth. If you are passionate about technology and how that can deliver real business value, now is the time to join Card Factory and be part of our exciting journey!  

Job Purpose:  

The Application Manager will lead the Applications Team in the development, support, and maintenance of key business applications in use across the Card Factory Group. Taking responsibility for delivering product releases and changes in line with the application roadmap and ensuring new functionality is impact assessed for business risk versus benefit.   

Role Responsibility

• Work with the IT Architecture Team to define product roadmaps for key business applications in line with IT Strategy   

• Manage and plan a schedule for the safe introduction of new application releases/patches to meet service requirements   

• Act as a subject matter expert and work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure that existing applications are optimised to meet business needs.   

• Manage the 3rd line support of key business applications, liaising with other IT teams and suppliers as required to ensure resolution of issues and service requests within SLA’s.   

• Identify areas for application improvement, working with the IT Service Manager to provide input into the IT Service Improvement Plan.   

• Provide weekly operational reports to show performance against SLA’s/KPI’s, identifying trends and highlighting areas for problem management investigation on key business applications.   

• Collaborate with the wider IT team and suppliers on the review, development, and testing of new applications or changes to existing modules.   

• Work closely with the Service Manager to identify application support requirements to facilitate the successful transition of new services into support.   

• Help train users on the operation of changes to key applications   

• Help manage environments across systems for development and testing   

• Organise forums with system users to maintain a working awareness of end-user operational processes, issues, and training gaps to ensure best practice use of key business applications.   

• Undertake Team Leadership activities for Applications Team including 1:1; s, objective setting, performance reviews, personal development plans, etc.   

• Work with other Teams and help drive a culture of collaborative working across the IT Department with the single aim of delivering high-quality services to the wider business.   

The Ideal Candidate

• Have proven experience in applications management, preferably in an Omni-channel retail environment   

• Demonstrable knowledge of major enterprise business software applications i.e. ERP, Online commerce Platforms   

• Have excellent verbal and written communication skills; including the ability to communicate technical information clearly to a non-technical audience   

• Proven experience in system and application/integration issue management and resolution.   

• Ability to analyse complex problems and provide solutions, requiring hands-on approach when required.   

• Have experience in database management - primarily MS SQL   

• Good organisational skills with the ability to successfully coordinate and train staff  

• Understanding of Project Management principles  

• Flexibility required to provide support outside of core business hours to assist in the resolution of major incidents and to support peak trading.   

• Be a motivated and enthusiastic individual with a positive ‘can-do attitude.   

• A full clean driving license essential as travel between group sites is required  

Desirable:  

Experience or exposure to the following systems is preferable:   

• PCMS Vision Commerce Suite – POS   

• Microsoft Dynamics AX (2009 /2012)   

• Dell Boomi   

• Salesforce Commerce Cloud   

• OneAdvanced Suite – OpenAccounts, OpenHR & OpenPeople.   

This role is very flexible as the tasks are varied. Travel between business sites may be required at times. This role is flexible in terms of location and whilst there is no formal requirement to be office based, attendance will be required at times as dictated by the needs of the project(s) or the function. The jobholder must maintain confidentiality and respect of personal information at all times due to the nature of the work. 

About the Company

In return we offer a wide range of benefits to support your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

• 33 days annual leave entitlement (inc public / bank holidays)
• Save as you Earn scheme
• 15% Staff Discount
• Discounted Gym Memberships
• O2 open mobile contracts
• Salary Finance
• Pension 
• Discounted Car Leasing
• Employee Care
• Flex My Day
• Card Factory Foundation
• MyCardFactory App: discounts at leading retailers

This is an exciting role with genuine prospects for the right candidate. If this role describes you and your career aspirations, click apply now.

For any questions email: vacancies@cardfactory.co.uk (we do not accept CVs/Applications via email) 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once sufficient suitable applications have been received. We advise applying early to avoid disappointment as applications will be reviewed regularly. 

No agencies please.

Sportswift Ltd T/A cardfactory