Vice President, Information Technology

AutoZone has embarked on a journey to transform our customer engagement and create best-in-class experiences. To this effect, we are looking for a Senior Technology Leader who is customer-focused and approaches business problems from a “products” mindset rather than “projects.”

The Vice President of Technology will be responsible for creating a framework, platform, and processes to enable the company to deliver on strategic growth initiatives. With extensive knowledge and understanding of the evolving digital and physical customer engagement landscape, the VP of Technology will act as a thought leader on emerging trends related to technology and business with specific focus on delivering a best-in-class experience. S/he will be a passionate champion of fueling AutoZone’s digital growth and bringing the brands to life across all touch points in the customer journey. S/he will develop high-performing teams where a diversity of perspectives is valued and will champion cross-functional teamwork and break down silos.

S/he would also serve as a key member of the IT Senior Leadership Team driving improvements across the whole IT organization, and as a member of our CEO Team driving improvement across the whole company.  Accordingly, the successful candidate will be a “transformational business leader” first, and computer scientist second.

In addition, this executive will have a high level of knowledge and experience designing, developing, and supporting highly complex, mission critical systems using digital and physical commerce and/or supply chain technologies. It will be important that this person has also successfully developed and implemented at a large scale and understands the importance of delivering with a capability mindset that can be leveraged across our diverse landscape. Ideally, the applicant will have an understanding of supply chain execution processes and systems and how these support the in-stock position in retail stores.

Functional Responsibilities

• Recommends and enables strategies to increase traffic and revenue. Works closely with executive management in both Technology and the business units to ensure efforts are integrated seamlessly into short and long-term business plans.
• Sets technology standards and directs the execution of initiatives from inception through implementation.
• Synthesizes needs across business units to define a holistic roadmap for the enterprise.
• Defines key metrics and analytics for measuring the performance of the development teams.
• Aligns, tracks, and ensures proper execution of applications, business process changes, and operational readiness in alignment with transformation initiatives.
• Champions priorities through IT investment portfolio governance process to ensure alignment of projects with business objectives.
• Acts as escalation on critical business concerns, involving executive management as appropriate.
• Understanding of Warehouse Management Systems and automation would be preferred.
• Drives rapid concept testing.
• Responsible for formulating and executing sourcing strategies and approaches including the optimization of internal resources and consideration of vendor selection and approach (e.g., supplemental, managed service and managed capacity).
• Develops and maintains a network of partners, vendors, and consultants to ensure global thinking and best-in-class capabilities.

General Qualifications

Professional Attributes

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering or equivalent
• Master’s in Business Administration highly preferred
• 15 or more years of leading transformation efforts in an Ecommerce/Digital Organization
• Omni Channel Retail experience highly desirable
• Mobile development experience
• Hands on programming experience in career
• Applications and data architecture experience
• Process reengineering experience
• Big data and machine learning experience
• Management of teams consisting of in-house and third-party staff
• Agile development management
• Proven track record of achievement
• Translates vision into outcomes
• Demonstrates high potential for increasing responsibilities

Personal Attributes

• Cares about people
• Develops staff
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Highly collaborative
• Values diversity
• Builds strong relationships
• Inspires engagement
• Able to motivate
• Strong work ethic
• Demonstrates strong critical thinking skills
• Demonstrates passion for the work
• Excellent leadership skills
• Strategic thinker