Overview of role

Company: Allied Bakeries

Location: Near Liverpool

We’re looking for a dynamic Chief Information Officer to unite technology and business ambition across our Grocery Group and Allied Milling & Baking divisions. You’ll lead a talented team of around 50 IT professionals at our Grocery Service Centre near Liverpool, steering both day-to-day excellence and forward-thinking transformation.

As the Group’s senior IS leader, you’ll work closely with the CEO, CFO, Directors, and the ABF CIO—building trusted relationships, bringing commercial insight, and shaping the future of our digital landscape.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership
• Set and deliver an IS strategy aligned to divisional and business-unit goals.
• Partner with senior leaders to prioritise technology initiatives.
• Lead digital transformation that boosts performance and customer experience.

Team Leadership
• Inspire, mentor, and develop a 50-strong IS team.
• Drive recruitment, training, and performance excellence.
• Champion an innovative, collaborative culture across the GSC.

Stakeholder & Relationship Management
• Build strong partnerships across ABF Business Technology Services.
• Collaborate closely with IS teams across the wider ABF Group.

Technology Ownership
• Ensure secure, reliable, scalable IT infrastructure in partnership with ABF central services.
• Oversee key systems including ERP, CRM and business-critical applications.
• Manage external vendors and service providers.

Project Delivery
• Lead major IT projects end-to-end, ensuring delivery on time and on budget.
• Embed best-practice project management, including Agile.
• Keep senior stakeholders informed with clear progress reporting.

Budget & Resources
• Manage the IS budget with cost-effective stewardship.
• Drive efficiency opportunities and ensure regulatory and financial compliance.

Risk & Cyber Security
• Oversee policies and controls aligned to ABF standards.
• Run risk assessments and mitigation plans.
• Maintain robust business continuity and disaster recovery readiness.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement
• Track emerging technologies and bring forward opportunities for innovation.
• Champion continuous improvement across the IS function.

The Right Person

• Proven senior IT leadership experience across multi-discipline teams.
• Strong people leadership with a track record of high performance and collaboration.
• Strategic thinker with excellent project and programme management capability.
• Experience designing and delivering enterprise-wide IT strategies.
• Deep understanding of infrastructure, enterprise applications, cybersecurity and emerging tech (AI, Cloud, digital transformation).
• Hands-on experience leading major ERP and transformation programmes.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Expertise in IT budgeting, financial planning, and cost optimisation.
• Skilled in vendor management, negotiation and SLAs.
• Experience in complex, devolved or international organisations.
• Confident engaging and influencing senior leaders to secure alignment and momentum.