Head of AI and Machine Learning Platforms

Brighter Futures Start Here

At Kmart it’s not just what you do, it’s who you are that makes every day living brighter.

You’ll be joining a diverse team who come together to collaborate globally around tech. With six purchases made every second, you’ll feel the impacts of the work you’ll do for our millions of customers every day.

We’re focusing on being a customer-led, digitally enabled retailer. Our teams are working with really cool tech from AI/machine learning, IoT, cloud first solutions, to 3D virtual reality product checks and human sized robots named Tory. Join our team, choose your own path and work on projects that excite you.

Join our team

Kmart Group Technology is investing in the platforms and capabilities that will shape how AI is adopted across our business.  From stores and supply chain through to corporate functions and customer experience, demand for AI continues to grow rapidly and this role will be central to ensuring that growth is scalable, governed, and delivers measurable business value.

We're looking for a Head of AI & Machine Learning Platforms to lead the strategy, operation, and evolution of our enterprise AI platform.  This is a highly visible leadership role with significant executive engagement across Technology, Merchandise, Finance, Marketing, People & Capability, and the broader business.  You'll play a key role in defining how AI is enabled across Kmart Group, balancing innovation and speed with governance, risk management, operational excellence, and commercial outcomes.

Leading teams across Melbourne and Bengaluru, you'll establish the platform, operating model, and ways of working that move Kmart from individual AI adoption toward a secure, trusted, and enterprise-scale capability.  This is a role for someone who is comfortable making decisions in ambiguity, engaging senior executives, and building momentum in an environment that continues to evolve rapidly.

What you’ll be doing 

• Defining and executing the strategy for Kmart Group's AI platform capability.  
• Leading and developing a distributed team across Melbourne and Bengaluru, building a high-performing platform organisation.  
• Establishing the operating model, governance frameworks, and platform guardrails that enable responsible and scalable AI adoption.  
• Owning platform reliability, security, availability, performance, and operational readiness.  
• Partnering with Technology, Cyber, Data, Legal, Risk, Procurement, Finance, and business leaders to drive adoption and alignment.  
• Leading AI FinOps capability, including cost visibility, forecasting, consumption monitoring, optimisation, and vendor management.  
• Managing relationships with strategic AI vendors and partners, including commercial negotiations and platform optimisation initiatives.  
• Creating visibility into platform usage, business value, risk, and adoption through reporting and executive engagement.  
• Balancing demand for rapid AI innovation with appropriate governance, compliance, and enterprise controls.  
• Acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, translating complex technical decisions into clear business outcomes.

To be successful in this role you’ll have:

• Extensive experience leading enterprise technology, platform engineering, cloud, AI, or large-scale enablement platforms within complex organisations.  
• Proven experience building and leading high-performing technical teams, including geographically distributed teams.
• Strong executive presence, with the confidence to engage and influence senior stakeholders across Technology and the broader business.
• Experience balancing innovation with governance, risk management, security, and operational controls.  
• Strong commercial acumen, including vendor management, contract negotiations, budgeting, forecasting, and FinOps disciplines.  
• Experience establishing platform operating models, reusable services, standards, and governance frameworks.  
• An understanding of AI, cloud platforms, and emerging technologies, with the ability to translate technical concepts into business value.  
  
• A collaborative leadership style and demonstrated ability to achieve outcomes through stakeholders and peer groups outside your direct control.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity, making decisions, and creating clarity in fast-moving environments.  
• Experience in retail, consumer, supply-chain-intensive, or other large-scale operational environments is advantageous. 

Perks and benefits we’ll offer you:

• Flexible hybrid working options through our Flex Where, Flex When, Flex Well policy, spending 80% of your week in our National Office
• We’ll provide multiple ways for you to learn from online micro-credentialing in Udemy, support to gain certifications to tech community events and more.
• Great career opportunities across the broader Wesfarmers Group.
• We offer inclusive leave and ongoing support for team members of all backgrounds and family circumstances.
• Free onsite parking when you’re required to come into the office.
• We want you to feel rewarded for your commitment and hard work that's why everyone gets the opportunity to participate in a bonus program.
• A team member discount card that gives you a discount at Kmart, Target, Bunnings, and Officeworks.
• A free OnePass membership offering free delivery across Kmart & Target on eligible products.
• Access to the Brighter Benefits program which entitles you to exclusive discounts and benefits in the areas of entertainment, travel, lifestyle, and health – with over 60 suppliers!
• Reflection room, space for prayer, meditation, or time for yourself.
• Wesfarmers is Kmart’s parent company and each year eligible employees can elect to purchase shares through a salary sacrifice arrangement.

A place you can belong

We celebrate the rich diversity of the communities in which we operate. We are committed to creating inclusive and safe environments where all our team members can contribute and succeed. We believe that all team members should feel valued, respected and safe, and strive to ensure our recruitment process is accessible and welcoming, with applications encouraged from all candidates.

We encourage you to tell us about any workplace adjustments that you would like, by emailing kmartgroupcareers@kmart.com.au

Excited about this role, but not sure if you meet 100% of the criteria? We would still love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.
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