Technology Strategy Director (Ashford)

Job Description

Sysco are recruiting for a

Technology Strategy Director – Enterprise , (partnering Finance, HR and Legal) to join the European Technology team on a full-time permanent basis.

You’ll be reporting directly to the VP of Technology, CIO Europe and will work to define the Europe Technology strategy for Finance, HR and Legal.

You’ll achieve an optimised mix of project investments, improve communication and ways of working across the markets, create and maintain International Europe Roadmaps, whilst maximising the use of all resources in delivering value and return from projects and programs within the portfolio.

This role has Indirect budget responsibility for initiatives at the Europe level that are across markets, supporting vendor partnerships and aligning roadmaps to achieve cost targets.

You’ll lead a team of 4 colleagues at manager level across GB, Sweden & France.

This role is hybrid working 3 days per week from either our

Ashford, Kent or Hemel Hempstead sites and will require the successful candidate to travel as necessary across Europe to meet with key stakeholders and team members.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Work to define the technology strategy for Enterprise Systems (Finance, HR & Legal) across Sysco Europe.
• Validate in-Country Roadmaps, ensure alignment to Sysco technology and drive for simplification.
• Explore opportunities for sharing resource, knowledge, best practice across the wider team.
• Engage in-Country and US teams on project requirements, project timelines ensuring requirements, timelines can be met.
• Support with cross country project conflict resolution where required.
• Ensure adherence to the appropriate governance functions relating to the portfolio, in accordance with the organisation’s guidelines, policies and practices.
• Drive the development and maintenance of communications and reporting about the portfolios, their contents and the performance of individual initiatives to stakeholder and governance councils, steering committees, the teams involved, and senior executives.
• Validate and assess the technology roadmap, project portfolio, execute change and re-prioritisation as necessary to meet business needs identified through reviews with Technology Leadership Team and business partners, stakeholder committees, the steering committee and other relevant bodies.
• Provide criteria for prioritisation and sequencing at the appropriate level aligned to the goals of the Technology Leadership Team, PMO, and steering committees.
• Identify and resolve dependencies across the initiatives in the portfolio and across portfolios.
• Conduct regular updates with the senior executive bodies and business partners to communicate any performance issues and provide and implement recommendations.
• Ensure and balance the availability of the required skills and competencies across project and program teams within the portfolio, as mandated and resourced by leadership.
• Lead and develop a team of strategic professionals with the ultimate goal of optimising technology to drive accelerated business outcomes.
• Provide thought leadership to business partners, including the Senior International Leadership Team, and other functional leaders on a broad range of business-critical topics.
• Demonstrate strong leadership and significant influence management skills with the ability to gain credibility with Senior Leadership while challenging the status quo.

About you

You will have significant experience in Technology transformation, with a strong background in technology strategy, governance, portfolio management, and roadmap development, ideally across Enterprise functions, within global organisations.

A strategic thinker, you can turn complex business and technology challenges into clear, actionable plans that drive growth, efficiency, and competitive advantage.

You will have a proven track record of leading large-scale strategic initiatives, influencing senior stakeholders (SELT), and delivering results in complex matrix environments.

Strong communication and business partnering skills are essential, with the ability to challenge, collaborate, and build alignment at Executive Leadership Team level.

Experience working across Europe would be advantageous as this role will be partnering with GB, Ireland, Sweden and France.

Equally important, you are an experienced people-focused leader who is passionate about developing high-performing teams.

You create an inclusive, supportive environment where people feel empowered to grow, succeed, and perform at their best, while fostering a culture of engagement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

You can expect to receive a competitive base salary, attractive car allowance (or company car), annual incentive schemes, private healthcare for you and your family, an additional holiday purchase scheme, award-winning products at virtually cost price and a range of range of perks through our online benefits platform.