Enterprise Applications Manager

Enterprise Applications Manager (EMEA) | Up to £95k + 8% Bonus | Hybrid - Cheltenham or London

A leading defence and advanced technology organisation is looking for an Enterprise Applications Manager to head up a newly formed Business Systems team across their EMEA operations. This is a genuinely rare opportunity to build something from the ground up - shaping the enterprise applications strategy for a complex, mission-led environment with real scope and influence.

You’ll sit within the EMEA IT leadership team, at the intersection of technology and business strategy, with a remit spanning the full application lifecycle - from roadmap definition through to optimisation and retirement. Hybrid, based out of Cheltenham or London, with up to 25% travel across the region.

Why this role stands out:

• Define and own the enterprise applications roadmap from day one, with genuine influence over long-term technology direction
• Lead and develop your own team of application specialists, backed by the structure of a global organisation

• High-visibility role within the EMEA IT leadership team, with direct exposure to senior stakeholders and strategic decision-making
• Define and deliver a strategic roadmap for enterprise applications aligned to business priorities
• Lead the end-to-end application lifecycle - selection, implementation, upgrades, optimisation, and retirement
• Ensure reliability, availability, and performance of critical business systems
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of application specialists
• Partner with business units, IT service lines, and external vendors to deliver value-driven solutions
• Embed governance, security, and compliance standards across all enterprise applications
• Proven experience in senior applications management or IT leadership
• Strong technical knowledge across enterprise ecosystems - ERP, PLM, BI, SaaS, integration technologies, Atlassian, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, or ServiceNow
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and influence across matrixed organisations
• Strong stakeholder engagement, vendor management, and project delivery skills
• Excellent communication, analytical, and organisational skills
• Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related discipline
• Eligible for UK Government SC clearance (UK nationals only)
• Desirable: experience in manufacturing, engineering, or production environments, including secure or classified settings
• Flexible working, including compressed fortnight option
• Holiday buy and sell scheme
• Career development and progression programmes