Applications Lead

the ideal candidate

• Some hands-on experience or a strong interest in working with Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and associated administrative tools
• Awareness or working knowledge of access management, device management tools (such as Intune), and cloud governance principles
• Interest in or exposure to cloud-based file sharing and collaboration tools such as SharePoint and Azure Blob Storage
• A logical thinker with strong attention to detail and a willingness to learn through hands-on experience
• Basic knowledge of bespoke business systems or databases hosted in the cloud is an advantage
• A team player who communicates clearly and works well with internal and external stakeholders
• Experience or interest in the retail or FMCG industry would be beneficial
• A proactive, self-motivated individual with a passion for technology and customer service
• Eager to grow and develop a career in cloud infrastructure and IT operation
• Customer focussed/obsessed

about us

itsu is the healthy eating, Asian inspired quick service retail & grocery brand with over 80 stores in the UK and a leading grocery business across Europe and beyond. Renowned for its best-in-class food made fresh in every shop every day, itsu has huge global ambitions with a commitment to continue to open many more stores and intensify the growth of its already thriving grocery arm. With its best-is-class healthy food, latest technology, innovation, and talented workforce, itsu is the future of fast food.

itsu [grocery], which this role falls under, takes the itsu brand into supermarkets, health food stores, online, wholesale and internationally with products such as crispy seaweed thins, frozen gyoza & bao, brilliant’broth, rice’noodles & miso’easy to name a few…

D&I statement:

itsu [grocery] is committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation. We encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply for all of our opportunities.

When applying for a role with us, please remove your: full name, name of University/School, address, email address and any photos of you on your CV and covering letter. non-anonymised CVs may not be reviewed.

main responsibilities

• Manage the daily operation and ongoing improvement of ERP, Anaplan, and other core business systems from an IT perspective
• Maintain application integrity by ensuring consistent and accurate masterdata across platforms
• Assume the role of IT expert for [grocery] business systems to ensure that all Enterprise Application decisions consider the needs and implications on the Grocery business users
• Own system configuration and integration touchpoints (EDI, FTP, APIs) and troubleshoot where required
• Coordinate and define user access rights and security roles across Grocery systems in accordance with IT policy and support the administration of access where required
• Act as Anaplan system administrator, managing user provisioning, data loads, and minor UX updates (escalating more complex changes to partners or the group team)
• Liaise with software vendors and integration partners for issue resolution and system changes
• Provide internal support and guidance to [grocery] users on the appropriate use of business applications
• Produce and maintain technical documentation and configuration records, with the adoption of DevOps standards and tools
• Support testing and change control processes for system upgrades or new functionality
• Participate in and influence future platform decisions, ensuring fitness for purpose and alignment with group standards, of [grocery] architecture and application ecosystem
• Ensure compliance with IT policies around access, data security, and software lifecycle management
• Ensure that all changes, enhancements, or new implementations are aligned with the application lifecycle and roadmap owned by the Enterprise Applications Manager
• Work as part of the wider Enterprise Applications Team to share knowledge and promote a consistent approach to masterdata, user access, and integrations
• Contribute to system planning and decision-making, offering visibility into grocery- specific requirements while upholding group-wide governance and platform design
• Focus on ensuring data quality, system readiness, and robust integration of applications to enable self-service reporting and analytics by the business

scope of the role

 The role of the Applications Lead is to own and manage the core business applications used across itsu [grocery] – with a focus on stability, integration, governance, and scalability. It will have two key stakeholders within a matrix structure: the Enterprise Applications Manager, in Group IT, who the role will report in to, and itsu [grocery] Financial Director. The successful candidate will ensure that the design, implementation, and management of applications such as ERP, Anaplan, and related systems are consistent with itsu’s cloud-first, security-led, and data-driven approach. 

• Business applications ownership: Take responsibility for the applications used within the Grocery business with consideration of the stability, integrations, and technical upkeep of key business platforms including ERP, Anaplan, and related tools.
• Application governance: Ensure masterdata, configuration, and usage standards are maintained across systems, aligning with best practice and group-wide guidelines.
• Integration and lifecycle management: Manage application integrations (e.g. EDI, FTP), user access controls, and coordinate enhancements or changes with external vendors.
• Strategic alignment: Work closely with the Enterprise Applications Manager to ensure that new systems, updates, or configurations for [grocery] applications align with the broader Group technology roadmap.
• User support and documentation: Act as second-line support for [grocery] application-related issues, own internal documentation, and lead on systems onboarding and guidance.

perks and benefits

• Competitive salary
• Competitive bonus scheme
• 25 days holiday+ bank holidays (two bank holidays are interchangeable for other religious holidays)
• Hybrid working (2 days wfh)
• Health insurance
• Company pension scheme
• The chance to work directly with the co-founder of itsu & Pret
• 50% employee discount in itsu shops
• Free itsu lunch 
• Discounts at major retailers
• A sizeable training budget to support your ongoing development