IT & Data ManagerArchitect our data foundation and lead AI-driven transformation in beauty retailLocation: On-Site / HybridEmployment: Full-Time, ExemptSalary Range: $95,000 – $125,000Reports To: CEO / COOWe are a growing beauty retail company operating multiple retail locations, with plans to expand into e-commerce and build a digital presence from the ground up. Our customers trust us for expert product curation, personalized beauty advice, and a shopping experience that reflects genuine care and deep product knowledge.We are launching an initiative to build a unified data foundation and digital infrastructure that will power AI-driven personalization, smarter inventory management, and a seamless omnichannel customer experience. This role is the leadership hire that makes it all happen.The OpportunityWe are looking for a hands-on IT & Data Manager to architect, build, and lead our entire technology and data infrastructure. This is a greenfield opportunity: you will evaluate our existing systems, design the right data architecture, select the tools and platforms that fit our scale, and build the digital capabilities we need — including a brand-new e-commerce platform and website from scratch.Our current technology footprint includes a Lightspeed X-Series POS across our retail locations. Everything beyond that — the data architecture, integration strategy, database platform, e-commerce stack, analytics pipeline, and AI roadmap — is yours to design. We have ideas and direction, but we are hiring you to make the technology decisions and own the outcomes.You will be the first dedicated technology leader in the company, reporting directly to the CEO/COO with a mandate to build and lead a small, high-impact IT team.What You'll DoData Architecture & Infrastructure DesignEvaluate our existing Lightspeed POS data and design the data architecture from the ground up, selecting the database platform, integration tools, and pipeline strategy that fits our scale and growth trajectoryArchitect a unified data model connecting in-store POS transactions, customer profiles, product catalogs, inventory, and future e-commerce and web analytics into a single source of truthDesign and implement identity resolution to create a single golden customer record from fragmented data across all channelsBuild the integration layer between Lightspeed POS and the central data platform with near-real-time sync, monitoring, and alertingEstablish data governance policies: quality standards, naming conventions, access controls, and documentationE-Commerce & Digital PlatformLead the evaluation, selection, and build of our e-commerce platform and brand website from scratchEnsure the e-commerce platform integrates deeply with the data architecture from day one: shared customer profiles, unified inventory, consistent product data across channelsImplement analytics and behavioral tracking to capture browsing and purchase data that feeds into AI modelsBuild the digital foundation for personalized experiences: product recommendations, beauty profile-driven content, and intelligent searchAI Strategy & Agentic AI ReadinessDesign and build the AI Feature Store — pre-computed customer and product features powering recommendation engines, churn prediction, demand forecasting, and personalized marketingDevelop the AI roadmap, identifying high-impact use cases: personalized recommendations, virtual consultations, intelligent inventory replenishment, and automated customer engagementEvaluate and plan for adoption of Agentic AI technologies — autonomous agents capable of multi-step workflows such as customer service resolution, order management, supplier communication, dynamic pricing, and proactive inventory reorderingStay current with rapidly evolving AI capabilities; assess emerging tools and frameworks for practical application; build infrastructure flexible enough to support future AI agent integrationEstablish model monitoring, evaluation, and retraining protocols to keep AI systems accurate as data and conditions evolveTeam Leadership & Vendor ManagementHire and manage a small IT team: Database/Integration Engineer, E-Commerce Developer, Data Analyst, and IT Support Technician, scaled to business needsManage vendor relationships with Lightspeed, hosting providers, e-commerce partners, and contract consultantsSet and manage the IT budget with build-vs-buy recommendations grounded in ROI and scalabilityCoordinate with store managers to improve POS data capture and train staff on customer profile completionSecurity & ComplianceDefine and enforce data security policies for customer data across all current and new systemsEnsure PCI DSS compliance across retail locations and the new e-commerce platformDesign the customer consent framework and maintain compliance with applicable privacy regulationsRequired Qualifications5+ years in IT management, data engineering, or a hybrid technical leadership roleDemonstrated ability to design data architectures from scratch: evaluating platforms, selecting integration tools, building scalable pipelines for multi-channel retail or e-commerceStrong database expertise (SQL Server, PostgreSQL, or cloud-native) including schema design, query optimization, and ETL/ELT developmentHands-on experience with POS system integrations and retail transaction data flowsExperience leading the build or major overhaul of an e-commerce platformWorking knowledge of data quality frameworks, deduplication, and identity resolutionUnderstanding of AI/ML concepts and strong interest in emerging technologies including agentic AI, autonomous workflows, and intelligent automationTrack record managing cross-functional technical projects with milestones, budgets, and deliverablesExperience managing a small technical team (2–5 direct reports)Exceptional communication: able to translate architecture decisions for store managers and AI capabilities into business cases for executivesPreferred QualificationsExperience in beauty, cosmetics, or specialty retailFamiliarity with Lightspeed X-Series POS and its API/integration ecosystemHands-on experience deploying AI agents, LLM-powered tools, or intelligent automation in a business contextExperience with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP) and migration planningBackground in recommendation systems, customer segmentation, or predictive analytics for retailPCI DSS compliance experienceKnowledge of CCPA or state-level privacy regulationsHow You'll Be MeasuredData architecture designed and approved within first 60 daysCore data platform operational with POS data flowing reliablyE-commerce platform launched, fully integrated with data architectureMajority of customers identified across channels via identity resolutionHigh data quality scores on completeness, validity, and consistencyIT team key roles filled within first 6 monthsAI Feature Store operational and agentic AI roadmap definedYour First 90 DaysDays 1–30: Audit Lightspeed POS data across all locations.
Document data sources, structure, and quality. Meet store managers to understand pain points. Evaluate database platforms, integration tools, and e-commerce solutions. Draft the data architecture and technology roadmap.Days 31–60: Present recommended architecture and stack to leadership. Finalize e-commerce platform selection and begin the build. Start hiring.
Establish data governance standards. Begin Lightspeed-to-data-platform integration.Days 61–90: Launch first data pipelines. Begin customer deduplication. Advance e-commerce toward launch timeline. Implement automated data quality checks. Deliver progress report with updated roadmap and agentic AI opportunity assessment.Why This Role Is DifferentMost IT Manager postings hand you a fixed stack and ask you to maintain it.
This role hands you a blank canvas and asks you to design what comes next. You will choose the database, architect the pipelines, select the e-commerce technology, and define how AI — including autonomous AI agents — will shape how we serve customers and run our business. If you have ever wished you could start from scratch and do it right, this is that opportunity.What We Offer