IT Application Analyst/Owner

IT Applications Analyst/OwnerUp to £60,000 + 10% bonus | Hybrid | Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire (2-3 days on site)This is NOT a technical support or engineering role. Part of a small team that own the applications that power one of the UK's most diverse retail & hospitality organisations. Our retail client is undergoing a technology transformation across a complex multi-brand estate. With a portfolio of over 140 applications across operational, commercial, HR, finance, and digital teams, they are building a more strategic, business-aligned Applications function. To support this, we're hiring a business-facing IT Applications Analyst - someone who understands how applications underpin day-to-day operations, can confidently engage with business teams and third-party vendors, and who thrives in a role combining application ownership, lifecycle governance, process improvement, and change adoption. This is NOT a technical support or engineering role. This is an applications ownership and business/supplier engagement role. What You'll Be Doing Own and Evolve Key Business ApplicationsManage the full lifecycle of core applications - onboarding, enhancements, maintenance, and retirement.Assess product roadmaps, upcoming releases, and their impact on operations.Coordinate regression testing and support the retirement of legacy systems and introduction of modern SaaS platforms. Vendor & Partner ManagementAct as the primary liaison for third-party vendors, ensuring strong performance and value for money.Support contract oversight, SLAs, licensing structures, performance reviews, and escalations. Business Process Improvement Across Multiple BrandsWork closely with business owners (in an environment without a formal BA function) to define requirements, refine processes, and ensure systems support operational needs.Advise on application suitability for new initiatives and help shape options with internal and external delivery partners. Strengthen Governance, Controls & DocumentationEnsure applications adhere to governance, security, compliance, MFA, and access control frameworks.Maintain clear application documentation, lifecycle records, and audit-ready artefacts. Champion Adoption & Continuous ImprovementBecome the SME for your application areas, raising awareness of new features and promoting effective usage.Support change projects, digital initiatives, process simplification, and automation opportunities.

An ideal candidate will have:Experience in a business-facing applications role, ideally in retail, hospitality, or multi-site environments.Vendor management expertise and confidence working with third-party partners.Understanding of application lifecycle management, roadmaps, releases, and structured governance.Strong communication and stakeholder skills - translating technical topics into business-friendly language.Commercial awareness and operational pragmatism.A collaborative mindset, comfortable working across multiple brands and business units.

This role is NOT suitable for candidates with predominantly IT support, development, or infrastructure backgrounds. What's on OfferUp to £60,000 salaryAnnual bonusHybrid working: 2-3 days per week in the officeTravel across UK sites as neededRetail & hospitality discountsPension, perks, and continuous development pathwaysA chance to shape a newly created Applications function and influence how technology supports a nationwide retail operation Why This Role MattersYou'll be joining at a pivotal moment, supporting initiatives such as:Retiring legacy applicationsImplementing new SaaS and cloud-based toolsStrengthening lifecycle governance and maintenance processesEnhancing supplier managementSupporting data, integration, and digital evolutionImproving operational processes across multiple brands This is a high-impact opportunity for someone who wants to shape how a complex, multi-brand retail organisation uses technology at scale.