Manager IT Application Operations

Who We AreAt Academy Sports + Outdoors our vision is to be the best sports + outdoors retailer in the country — but what truly sets us apart is our people. We’re a passionate, purpose-driven team that’s as committed to each other as we are to our customers.We’ve spent over 80 years building a culture that puts people first. We believe in creating opportunities for growth, fostering meaningful connections, and supporting every Team Member’s journey. What fuels us? Our belief in the power of fun.Here, you won’t just help customers gear up for their next adventure — you’ll launch one of your own. Whether you're starting out or leveling up, Academy is a place where fun can’t lose! Education:Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study or equivalent years of related work experience required.Work Experiences: At least 8 years of related management experience in the retail industry IT field.Prior people leadership experience, including management of employees, contractors, and/or managed service providersExperience supporting enterprise‑scale applications across one or more business domains (e.g., Supply Chain, Retail Operations, Finance, Digital, Corporate Systems)Skills: Possess the capability to manage direct reports who may be contractors as well as employees in a managed services environmentExperience managing a technical staff with a variety of technical skills, administering and supporting a portfolio of enterprise applications and systemsExperience managing a technical team providing 24/7 on-call supportExperience supporting enterprise application platforms across one or more business domains, with oversight to related support towers such as Stores, BI/Reporting, Financials, or Digital as required.Experience in building and maintaining a comprehensive Application Catalog of applications and business customersWorking knowledge of the latest technological trends, including observability, automation, and AI.Coordinate with project managers, business analysts, development managers, and the Infrastructure teams on new application projects, and ensure application and database performance and stabilityProvide regular and proactive communication to senior IT management on project status, potential risks, concerns, team successes and challenges, as well as the progress of individual performanceMaintain current knowledge on new IT tools, hardware, software, and technology, and make recommendations to meet current and future business challengesMust possess excellent customer service, inter-personal, leadership, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skillsMust be able to work in a fast-paced environment and ensure Business SLA’s and project deadlines are metExperience in product-based IT Operations and SRE principles is a plusAcceptable level of hearing and vision to perform job dutiesCommunication - effective listening, speaking, and writingResponsibilities: Provide leadership across assigned enterprise application support teams and platformsManage the application lifecycle for Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Transportation Management Systems (TMS), and Labor Management Systems (LMS)Oversee the IT interface with automated Material Handling Equipment (conveyors, sorters, robotics, and ASRS). Ensure high availability for mission-critical distribution center hardware/software interfacesMaintain the "source of truth" for inventory data as it moves through the supply chain into Merchandising and Store systemsMaintains smooth and efficient operation of assigned departmentsResponsible for service reliability, cross-functional incident/problem/change governancePerforms general managerial duties, including hiring, training, coaching, reviewing, performance, compensation, and termination for regular and contract associates as applicableAble to enumerate and assign tasks to staff and establish metrics to assess performanceMentor team members to ensure continuous learning and engagement, maximizing individual talents and strengths where they serve the team(s) best, and report on these to managementMaintains budget including project expenses, salaries, training, travel & entertainmentOwn execution of IT General Controls (ITGC) for assigned application portfolios; lead quarterly access reviews and ensure Segregation of Duties (SoD) is maintainedMaintain internal control documentation, effectively perform assigned internal controls, remediate internal control exceptions, and respond to internal and external audit requestsEnsure adherence to all Academy standards and policies and effectively maintain SOX, PCI, ISO, and other compliance standards where assignedDefine and manage observability roadmaps (logs/metrics/traces, AIOps); drive alert hygiene and signal-to-noise across Splunk/Dynatrace/Grafana.Define and manage self-healing and diagnostics automation; quantify value (hours saved, incidents avoided, risk reduced).Own DR/BCP readiness for critical apps; validate playbooks, RTO/RPO targets, and periodic exercises in partnership with the DR team.Supports the corporate goal of Academy – For All, For LessContinuous reviews and, when necessary, realigns department strategies to fit the changing business needs of the companyGuards against the installation of any technology that does not have a direct business benefit associated with itOwn MSP/SaaS vendor scorecards, QBRs, penalties/incentives, and remediation plans; ensure RCAs and SLAs are contractually upheld.Manage OpEx budgets, forecasts, and cost-to-serve; optimize onsite/offshore mix and licensing/observability spend.Represent service posture to executives and business leaders; publish simple, actionable health reports and narratives.Translate business priorities into operational plans; align intake/prioritization with the Product team and PMO.Required to learn company policies, procedures, and safety rulesDuties may change, and associates may be required to perform other duties as assignedPhysical Requirements & AttendanceAcceptable level of hearing and vision to perform job dutiesAdhere to company work hours, policies, procedures, and rules governing professional staff behaviorRegular in-office attendance is requiredEqual Employment OpportunityAcademy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate with regard to employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by law.​SummaryLocation: Headquarters - Katy, TXType: Full time