About the Role

Sodexo is seeking an experienced Retail Innovation & Capex Manager to lead the identification, development and delivery of innovative retail solutions and capital projects across our national retail portfolio. This role is responsible for driving retail transformation through emerging technologies, automation, digital retail, unattended retail solutions, store enhancements and strategic investment projects that improve customer experience, operational efficiency and commercial performance.

Reporting to the Head of Retail Australia, you will work across Operations, Finance, Commercial, Supply Chain, IT, HSE and client teams to develop business cases, secure investment approvals and deliver projects from concept through to implementation and benefits realisation.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of retail within Sodexo, bringing innovative ideas to life across some of Australia's most unique and remote operating environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Sodexo's retail innovation roadmap, aligning emerging opportunities with business strategy and customer needs.
• Identify, evaluate and implement innovative retail solutions including digital retail, vending, automation and unattended retail concepts.
• Lead innovation pilots, trials and proof-of-concept initiatives from ideation through to implementation and scale-up.
• Manage retail capital projects end-to-end, including business case development, investment approval, delivery and benefits realisation.
• Build robust financial models, ROI analyses and investment proposals to support strategic decision-making and capital allocation.
• Analyse commercial, operational and customer data to identify opportunities that improve sales, profitability, productivity and customer experience.
• Establish and maintain strong partnerships with suppliers, technology vendors, clients and internal stakeholders to drive successful outcomes.
• Monitor retail trends, competitor activity and emerging technologies, ensuring Sodexo remains at the forefront of retail innovation and continuous improvement.

About You

You are an innovative and commercially minded professional with a passion for transforming customer experiences and improving business performance through technology and capital investment.

You will bring:

• A strong track record delivering innovation initiatives and capital projects within retail, hospitality, FMCG or related sectors.
• Commercial acumen and the ability to translate ideas into practical, scalable business outcomes.
• Strong analytical capability and confidence developing business cases, financial models and investment recommendations.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across multiple functions.
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Curiosity, creativity and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong project management, organisational and communication skills.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 5-7 years' experience in retail innovation, project delivery, FMCG, convenience retail, hospitality, vending, unattended retail or a similar commercial environment.
• Demonstrated experience delivering projects from concept through implementation and benefits realisation.
• Experience building business cases, managing budgets and evaluating return on investment.
• Strong understanding of retail operations, customer experience, merchandising, profitability and operational performance drivers.
• Experience with retail technology platforms, POS systems, automation, digital retail or innovation programs is highly desirable.
• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Business, Commerce, Retail Management, Project Management, Technology, Supply Chain or a related discipline are desirable.
• Willingness to travel nationally, including remote and regional site locations.

Why Join Sodexo?

At Sodexo, we are committed to creating a better everyday for our teams, clients and consumers. This role provides a unique opportunity to influence the future direction of our retail business through innovation, technology and strategic investment.

You will have the opportunity to lead high-profile initiatives, trial emerging technologies, deliver impactful capital projects and play a key role in shaping the next generation of retail solutions across Australia's largest and most diverse remote-site retail network.