Head of IT Business Partnering, Motors
Purpose of the Job
To act as the senior IT Business Partner for the Motors, serving as the strategic interface between Motors leadership and Group IT.
This role is responsible for identifying digital and technology needs, and translating commercial strategy into a prioritised technology portfolio that delivers measurable values, ensuring the effective delivery and adoption of digital capabilities that support growth, customer experience, and operational efficiency across the dealership network, with a strong awareness of the China/APAC motors industry landscape.
Responsibilities
Business–IT Partnership & Strategic Alignment
- Serve as the primary technology partner to the Motors senior leadership team, deeply understanding business strategy, priorities, and P&L drivers.
- Translate business objectives into clear, prioritised digital and technology demands, ensuring alignment with Group IT strategy, architecture, and delivery capabilities.
- Co-own selected business KPIs that are enabled by technology (e.g. digital sales contribution, customer experience metrics, service efficiency), with accountability for value realisation rather than system delivery.
- Advise and influence business stakeholders on the scope, sequencing, and value of technology initiatives to ensure optimal commercial outcomes.
Demand Management & Portfolio Governance
- Identify the Motors IT need, develop and execute a 3–5 year business digital capability roadmap for Motors with Group IT standards.
- Prepare and sponsor business cases for technology investments, clearly articulating expected benefits, risks, and ROI.
- Facilitate regular business–IT planning, prioritisation, and value-tracking forums.
Technology Advisory & Capability Shaping
- Advise the business on the application of digital technologies (e.g. DMS, CRM, digital retail tools, data & analytics, AI-enabled use cases) to improve customer engagement, operational efficiency, and decision-making.
- Continuously scan and synthesise market and industry best practices from automotive retail, OEM standards, and direct-to-consumer models, bringing relevant insights into the Motors technology agenda.
- Represent Motors business interests in Group IT architecture, data, security, and investment discussions, ensuring regulatory and data privacy considerations (including China-specific requirements) are appropriately addressed.
Delivery Sponsorship & Adoption
- Act as business sponsor for Motors-related technology initiatives delivered by Group IT and external partners.
- Provide business leadership input into vendor evaluations and solution design, without directly managing delivery teams or BAU operations.
- Support technology-related aspects of post-merger integration (PMI) from a business perspective, coordinating closely with Group IT on system, data, and process alignment.
Requirements
Must Have
- 10+ years of experience in senior technology-facing roles, with significant experience operating as an IT Business Partner or equivalent role bridging business leadership and enterprise IT.
- Strong understanding of automotive dealership operations and profit drivers (New/Used Vehicles, Aftersales, Parts, F&I) and the associated technology landscape (e.g. DMS, CRM, OEM systems, digital retail platforms).
- Proven ability to translate business strategy into prioritised technology demand, influence investment decisions, and govern a complex initiative portfolio without direct delivery ownership.
- Demonstrated success in building compelling business cases and tracking value realisation from digital and technology investments.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the credibility to challenge and advise senior business leaders.
-Solid understanding of enterprise technology concepts, including architecture principles, data governance, and cybersecurity, sufficient to engage effectively with Group IT teams.
- Experience working in or with Asia/China markets, with awareness of local regulatory and data considerations.
- Proficiency in English and Mandarin is mandatory.
Highly Desirable
- Experience advising on the use of data, analytics, and AI-enabled capabilities to drive commercial or operational improvement.
- Exposure to EV, connected vehicle, or direct-sales business models and their technology implications.
- Experience supporting post-merger integration (PMI) from a business-facing technology or transformation perspective.
- Strong commercial mindset with the ability to balance innovation ambition with operational pragmatism.