Head - Information Technology (IT Head)

Job description

Head - Information Technology (Gurgaon) Lenskart is India's biggest and fastest growing eyewear brand, with over 2000+ stores. The brand takes pride in being India's first D2C (Direct to Consumer) company, which designs, creates and sells its products directly to consumers across the country, without any middlemen. Apart from India, Lenskart now has presence in South East Asia, USA and Middle East. We aim to transform the way people see and experience the world by building eyewear experiences for everyone and every purpose. We’re building Lenskart as a fashion destination for eyewear and are passionate about introducing design-led concepts and innovation that can deliver breakthrough eyewear products and experiences. We are looking to hire a Head of Information Technology, who is a strategic thinker and has a deep understanding of technology with proven ability to lead teams towards achieving organizational objectives. This role will report directly into our CIO and will be based in Gurgaon. Impact in this role: As Head of Information Technology, you'll lead the IT department, developing and executing strategic plans across retail, plant, and corporate environments. Manage IT budgets, ensure network security, and oversee global infrastructure. Collaborate with other departments, aligning technology with business objectives. Lead IT teams, foster innovation, and stay current with industry trends. Drive efficiency, implement new technologies, and ensure the organization's IT infrastructure meets operational needs across 2000+ stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and technical expertise are key. What will you be responsible for: ● Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute IT strategies aligned with organizational goals. Provide visionary leadership to the IT department, guiding long-term technology decisions. ● Team Management: Lead and mentor IT teams, fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture. Oversee recruitment, training, and performance evaluations for IT staff. ● Technology Infrastructure: Ensure the reliability, security, and scalability of the organization's IT infrastructure across stores, plants, and corporate hubs. Implement and maintain hardware, software, and network systems to meet operational needs. ● Retail & Expansion Operations: Build and standardize "Store-in-a-Box" deployment models for rapid store rollouts with automated network, POS, iPad/tablet, and edge-device setup. Ensure high availability and offline resilience across all retail outlets. ● Manufacturing & Supply Chain IT: Oversee high-availability network, SCADA/IoT, and hardware infrastructure across automated manufacturing facilities, prescription processing labs, and regional distribution centers (RDCs). ● Budgeting and Resource Management: Develop and manage IT budgets, ensuring cost-effectiveness and resource optimization. Evaluate and recommend investments in technology to enhance efficiency and productivity. Implement strong control over IT assets spread across the country to ensure ZERO pilferage—implement systems to track assets and monitor usage. ● Project Management: Oversee the planning and execution of complex IT projects, including M&A tech integrations and global site expansions, ensuring timely delivery within budget. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement technological solutions. ● Security and Compliance: Implement and maintain robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive data. Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards (ISO 27001). Conduct regular System Audits to strengthen IT Security—Infra as well as Applications—collaborate with Application owners/administrators. ● Stakeholder & Vendor Collaboration: Collaborate with executives, department heads, and pan-India telecom/ISP vendors to understand business needs, enforce SLAs, and align IT strategies accordingly. Communicate IT initiatives and achievements effectively to non-technical stakeholders. ● Infrastructure Operations: Responsible for planning, implementation, and operations of all technology infrastructures: Data centres, Network and Server services, ISP, Google Workspace/collaboration services, Service monitoring, User support/Helpdesk, Servers, Storage & related software. ● Tooling & Network Expertise: Must have deep operational knowledge of Cybersecurity tools like Web Application Firewall (WAF), Privileged Identity Access Management (PAM), SIEM, ZTA Micro-segmentation, and Encryption. Hands-on understanding of Endpoint Network Security technologies like EDR, Firewall, IDS/IPS, SSL VPN, and SD-WAN. ● Support Framework: Build and run a 24x7 support framework and DR/BCP strategy for stores, manufacturing plants, and logistics hubs. What we are looking for ● Bachelor's or Master's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field. ● 12+ years of experience in a senior IT leadership role with at least 5 years of direct people management experience. ● Demonstrated experience in high-growth Retail, D2C, Quick-Commerce, or Consumer Electronics/Manufacturing sectors managing 1000+ remote sites or retail outlets. ● Extensive experience in managing cross-functional IT teams and overseeing complex, enterprise-wide projects. ● In-depth knowledge of IT systems, hybrid/cloud infrastructure, edge computing, and emerging technologies. ● Familiarity with cloud computing, cybersecurity, data management, and OT/plant infrastructure integration. ● Ability to inspire and drive innovation within the IT team. ● Ability to communicate effectively and partner across cross-functional teams and executive stakeholders. ● Ability to translate technical concepts into understandable terms for non-technical stakeholders. ● Ability to adapt to evolving technologies and industry trends and flexibility to navigate a dynamic and fast-paced work environment. ● Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Proven track record of making sound decisions in challenging situations.