Applications Manager

Who are we?

Backed by Swire, Argent Energy is a leading European waste-based biodiesel producer with a vision to help decarbonise transport worldwide. We believe in using waste materials only and continuously search for new waste to be turned into higher value products. We invest in people and their development as well as R&D to drive innovation in products, technologies and operational excellence. We have sites in England and Amsterdam.

Main Purpose of the Role

The IT Applications Manager is responsible for leading, developing, and motivating the Applications team, ensuring clear direction, strong collaboration, and high standards of delivery across all application services.

The role has direct accountability for the planning, governance, and successful delivery of application projects and enhancements, primarily through external delivery partners. Acting as the hands-on delivery lead, the role ensures projects are well scoped, actively managed, and delivered on time, on budget, and to agreed quality, with a particular focus on Oracle-based initiatives.

Alongside delivery leadership, the role sets and drives the applications strategy and roadmap, aligning technology investment to business priorities and return on investment. The IT Applications Manager will work closely with business stakeholders across UK sites and with colleagues in the Netherlands to understand demand, prioritise work, and ensure applications are stable, well governed, and continuously improving.

The role combines strong people leadership, practical project management, and effective partner oversight to ensure the applications landscape supports efficient, compliant, and scalable business operations.

Your key responsibilities will be:

1. Lead, coach, and develop the Applications team, creating a collaborative, high-performing culture with strong ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement across the UK and NL.

2. Own the applications strategy and roadmap, ensuring investment is focused on initiatives that deliver the greatest business value, efficiency, and risk reduction.

3. Manage the end-to-end delivery of application projects and enhancements, primarily through external delivery partners, ensuring quality, pace, and value for money.

4. Act as delivery lead and project manager for application initiatives, coordinating internal teams, third-party suppliers, and business stakeholders.

5. Provide strong governance over application delivery, including architecture alignment, change control, security, and compliance with internal standards.

6. Own vendor and commercial management for application partners, including budgets, performance, contracts, and service outcomes.

7. Drive improvements in application management and delivery processes, embedding best practice and reducing complexity, cost, and operational risk.

8. Lead internal and external audits related to applications, ensuring appropriate controls, documentation, and evidence are in place and issues are resolved promptly.

9. Proactively engage with the business to identify opportunities for automation, simplification, and process improvement, including the effective use of Power Platform and Appian where appropriate.

Your key relationships will be:

• You will work with stakeholders across UK sites and with colleagues in the Netherlands to understand demand, prioritise work, and ensure applications are stable, well governed, and continuously improving.

• Third party suppliers to manage end to end application delivery.

• Internal IT team.

Requirements

Skills and behaviours you will need to be successful:

• Proven experience in an IT applications or delivery management role within a complex business environment.

• Significant experience delivering application change through third-party delivery partners, including project management and supplier governance.

• Strong experience with enterprise applications, with Oracle ERP delivery experience highly desirable.

• Knowledge of automation and low-code platforms such as Microsoft Power Platform and Appian, with hands-on experience beneficial but not essential.

• Experience owning application budgets, managing vendor commercials, and driving value and ROI from technology investment.

• Solid understanding of IT governance, security, and compliance, including experience leading or supporting internal and external audits.

•  Demonstrable people management experience, with a strong track record of developing and nurturing teams.

• A collaborative, improvement-focused mindset with a strong emphasis on teamwork, continuous improvement, and practical delivery.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage business leaders, translate requirements, and balance delivery priorities.

What we offer:

• 33 days holiday inclusive of bank holidays.

• Medicash

• Enhanced Company Sick Pay

• Cycle to work scheme

• Employee Assistance Program

• Enhanced Company pension scheme

• Life Assurance

• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Pay

• Flexible Hours and Hybrid Working Policies

• Free on-site parking