IT Manager - Data Architecture, Engineering and Analytics

Associated Wholesale Grocers•Kansas City, KS

About The Position

AWG is seeking an Information Technology (IT) Manager to provide leadership oversight for strategic, business-transformation projects in IT service and support. This role assists with the prioritization of needs and serves customers across all enterprise business areas by partnering with stakeholders such as Merchandising, finance, operations, marketing and distribution & logistics You will use your business-process understanding, critical thinking, as well as planning and organizational skills to build a team that delivers solutions that meet critical business objectives across the enterprise. You will align people, processes, and technology as a high impact leader in our IT organization, managing projects that involve data engineering and analytics.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in management information systems, Computer Science or equivalent combination of education and experience
10+ years of experience iIn Information Technology – Data management and analytics space
5+ years of experience in leading data architects, data engineers, Data Scientists, data analysts, visualization developers
5+years of hands-on technical experience in data architecture, data modelling/mapping, engineering and analytics
Proven experience in Data Governance process/framework/implementation to drive data quality at the enterprise level
Strong experience in Azure Data factory, Data bricks, DevOps, CI/CD, Data Lake, Delta Lake, Synapse Analytics, Python/PySpark/Notebooks, data bricks workflow, Unity Catalog
Good understanding of AI/ML data solutions for predictive/prescriptive analytics
Extensive experience in solid data management practices, error handling, data quality exceptions
Demonstrated deep experience in building enterprise analytics via PowerBI/Tableau that enables scalable analytics (action/exception based, drill down/up, interactive and multiple personas)
Though understanding Azure/Cloud infrastructure, security and networking to enable a solid data platform
Deep understanding of Lakehouse architecture, Data Governance principles, DevOps, Role based accessibility, CI/CD (Terraform), version control of software
Experience in Real time Analytics implementation over Azure Event Hub, Azure Functions/Logic Apps, Apache Spark fundamentals/SparkSQL/ DataFrames
Strong experience in ERWin pyhiscal conceptual and semantic modelling

Nice To Haves

Experience delivering data and analytics solutions within retail, wholesale, or CPG environments
Background in professional services or consulting, particularly in analytics modernization or data-driven transformation
Demonstrated ability to coach and develop analytics talent, including data engineers, analysts, and data scientists
Strong planning and execution skills, with the ability to break down ambiguous business problems into structured analytical approaches
Highly analytical, metrics-driven mindset, including KPI definition, measurement, and insights generation
Experience with effort estimation, vendor management, and financial oversight for analytics initiatives
Cross-functional mindset with experience partnering closely with business, IT, and product teams
Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable business insights
Strong customer focus, delivering insights that drive measurable business outcomes
Process improvement and critical thinking mindset, including data quality, governance, and self-service enablement
Ability to balance strategic data and analytics vision with practical, scalable execution
Self-directed leader who drives accountability, clarity, and results across analytics programs.
Microsoft Fabric a plus

Responsibilities

Refine & Deliver Strategy (15%)
Develop a strong understanding of current Data Architecture, Engineering and Analytics technologies, solutions, and relevant trends.
Lead and drive Data platform modernization using Cloud technologies (Azure), ensuring a profound scalable Data Engineering Design, architecture and pipelines and built with repeatable frameworks.
Provide a consultative approach to obtain current state information from stakeholders and shape the vision and roadmap for business functional areas
Responsible for business partner relationship, including communication and alignment on system operations and project delivery.
Educate and Drive Data Science/Machine Learning/AI product solutions for predictive/prescriptive analytics
Shape the vision and roadmap to the business functional areas.
Influence, promote, drive quality improvements, service enhancements, cost reductions, and productivity increase for the team and business systems.
Demonstrate strong business partnerships, model effective teamwork and be an advocate for the business in all aspects of project and team management.
Deliver Reliable Solutions & Technology (30%)
Review project status with project managers and assist in planning and organizing resources assigned to each project.
Deliver Data Architecture, Engineering and Analytics solutions with the highest quality and on time, on budget.
Drive change through influence, personal advocacy, vision, and consensus building.
Evaluate technology acquisitions designed to optimize feature/function for long term supportability, vendor viability and total cost of ownership.
Engage in day-to-day relationship management with vendors, hold them accountable for service quality/delivery and assist with creating cost-efficient & comprehensive contracts that protect AWG.
Communicate the Data Platform Modernization roadmap and its relationship to the organization's mission, vision, and goals. Clarify actions needed to implement roadmap projects.
Operational Support & Service Management (30%)
Responsible for the stability, availability, and operational effectiveness of Data Architecture, Engineering & Analytics solutions
Responsible for changing implementation practices that reduce business risk and overall downtime (pre-deployment testing, implementation plan, post implementation verification, backout plan)
Implement and manage operational and solution health and SLA metrics, set performance objectives and take corrective action where needed.
Seek customer feedback regularly to ensure services and support are efficient and effective; surface and identify repeat problems or service challenges, crafting and driving improvement plans to close gaps, ensure ticket status communication.
Ensures the team follows implementation standards/processes/procedures, collaborates, and shares best practices.
Financial & Performance Management (25%)
Responsible for performance management practices that drive the growth, development, and overall performance improvement of the team. Hold direct reports accountable and take corrective action where needed.
Grow a high-performance team by selecting high potential talent, training, coaching, and providing developmental assignments.
Participate in financial budgeting/planning processes, work with teams to estimate project total cost of ownership. Partner and prepare benefit cases to establish justification for solutions and priority.
Manage actuals to budget and timely communication of budget exceptions and development of plans to close gaps.
Motivate team members to achieve business goals, develop their capabilities and fulfill their personal potential. Build capabilities mentoring.
Management & Leadership
Coach, mentor, and develop staff, including overseeing new employees onboard and providing career development planning and opportunities.
Empower employees to take responsibility for their jobs and goals. Delegate responsibility and expect accountability and regular feedback.
Lead employees use a performance management and development process that provides an overall context and framework to encourage employee contribution and includes goal setting, feedback, and performance development planning.
Lead employees to meet the organization's expectations for productivity, quality, continuous improvement, and goal accomplishment.