Applications Manager - Full Time - Headquarters

Join Friedman’s, where our mission is to Deliver the Human Side of Home Improvement. Named a “Best Place to Work” and voted Sonoma County’s Best Home Improvement Store 14 years in a row, we’re built on a positive, team-oriented culture built on decades of trust and service.

We offer bundled benefits; eligibility for a discretionary bonus; 401(k). You’ll also enjoy a generous employee discount and tuition reimbursement to support your career path. At Friedman’s, you’re not just starting a job, you’re joining a team that leads, grows, and builds something bigger together.

Summary:

The Applications Manager is a hands-on, values-based technology leader responsible for the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of all enterprise applications across Friedman’s — including Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, eCommerce (Sana Cloud Commerce), Retail POS, Warehouse Management, Business Intelligence and other integrated corporate systems.

Reporting to the VP of Technology, this role combines strategic leadership with tactical execution. The Applications Manager will ensure the reliability, scalability, and agility of critical business systems that power Friedman’s retail, supply chain and digital operations.

The ideal candidate thrives in a lean, fast-paced environment, leads with curiosity and empathy, and embraces software and reliability engineering principles, agile practices, and automation to eliminate repetitive toil and deliver measurable business value.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the overall applications portfolio — including Dynamics 365, eCommerce (Sana Cloud Commerce), POS, Warehouse Management, Business Intelligence and other integrated systems — ensuring reliability, scalability, and value delivery
• Partner with business and functional leaders to identify needs, define requirements, and deliver scalable, value-driven technical solutions
• Act as a hands-on technical leader, designing, configuring, and developing enhancements and integrations across Dynamics 365 F&O and other applications
• Oversee Power BI, Power On, data visualization, and reporting environments, ensuring data quality, accuracy, governance, and performance to enable data-driven decision making across the organization
• Apply agile methodologies and iterative delivery practices to manage projects, prioritize workloads, and continuously improve processes
• Champion monitoring, observability, and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) principles to ensure proactive issue detection, performance optimization, and system uptime
• Drive automation of repetitive operational tasks and processes to improve efficiency and reduce manual effort
• Oversee application releases, upgrades, and vendor-delivered enhancements, ensuring quality and adherence to change management standards
• Manage vendor relationships, ensuring external partners meet timelines, budgets, and service-level expectations
• Build, lead, and mentor a lean, high-performing team of Application Specialists, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and technical excellence
• Provide accurate budgeting and forecasting for application-related initiatives and vendor services
• Lead root cause analyses and implement corrective actions to continuously improve system stability and business continuity
• Support special projects, reporting, and other duties as assigned in alignment with company goals

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent; or 8 years of applicable work experience in lieu of a degree
• 6 years of experience with Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (D365 F&O)
• 4 years of experience in a retail or omnichannel environment
• Experience supporting or managing Business Intelligence (BI) solutions, including reporting, data modeling, ETL processes, data governance and visualization tools such as Power BI and Power On
• Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert (strongly preferred)
• Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance Functional Consultant Associate (strongly preferred)
• A combination of education and experience that demonstrates the required qualifications and skills will be considered

Required Qualifications:

• Strong technical and functional expertise in Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, with emphasis on architecture, customization, integration, and troubleshooting
• Proven success managing enterprise-scale projects and IT initiatives; experience in home improvement lumber/building materials environments is a plus
• Experience with Business Intelligence environments including Power BI, Power On, ETL pipelines, data warehousing, data lakes, or Azure Synapse Analytics.
• Demonstrated ability to translate data into actionable insights, metrics, executive dashboards and ensure data accuracy and governance.
• Familiarity with Agile, SRE, and DevOps practices, including use of observability tools such as Azure Application Insights or similar
• Experience with automation frameworks such as Power Automate, RPA, or Copilot (strongly preferred)
• Detail-oriented, with strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Strong customer service orientation and ability to follow issues through to resolution
• Proven project management skills and success leading cross-functional process improvement initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and grow a technical team while fostering strong cross-functional relationships
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced, high-growth environment
• Exceptional communication skills — able to translate complex technical concepts into clear, business-friendly language for diverse audiences
• Strong documentation discipline, with a commitment to maintaining accurate, accessible technical and process documentation to ensure continuity and transparency
• Highly organized and process-oriented, with a proactive mindset for continuous improvement and operational excellence

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Work environment will be stationed at Headquarters, in Petaluma, CA
• Must be able to travel to retail locations and Distribution Center in Northern California region as needed

What’s in Friedman’s toolbox for Team Members:

• Employee discount on all merchandise
• Store bonus eligibility
• Team Member of the Quarter opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement to further career path
• 401(k)

Friedman’s Home Improvement is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. Friedman’s Home Improvement will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal convictions in a manner consistent with AB 1008.