Director IT, Internal Audit

We're transforming the grocery industry At Instacart, we invite the world to share love through food because we believe everyone should have access to the food they love and more time to enjoy it together. Where others see a simple need for grocery delivery, we see exciting complexity and endless opportunity to serve the varied needs of our community. We work to deliver an essential service that customers rely on to get their groceries and household goods, while also offering safe and flexible earnings opportunities to Instacart Personal Shoppers. Instacart has become a lifeline for millions of people, and we’re building the team to help push our shopping cart forward. If you’re ready to do the best work of your life, come join our table. Instacart is a Flex First team There’s no one-size fits all approach to how we do our best work. Our employees have the flexibility to choose where they do their best work—whether it’s from home, an office, or your favorite coffee shop—while staying connected and building community through regular in-person events. Learn more about our flexible approach to where we work. Why this role is on the menu Instacart is building a best-in-class Internal Audit function from the ground up, and this role is central to it. This leader would add the structure, rigor, and technical depth required to deliver risk-based IT audit engagements at executive-quality standards. Reporting directly to the Head of Internal Audit, this Director will own end-to-end IT audit delivery while building the function's technology capability and strategic priorities. This role is for a seasoned Internal Audit professional who combines deep technical judgment with strong business acumen, excellent communication skills, a collaborative approach, and the drive to build something meaningful. What you'll cook up in your first year Audit Delivery & Reporting • IT audit and advisory engagements are delivered end-to-end with executive-quality standards, clear ownership, and defensible scope. • Independent audit judgment is applied consistently across engagements. Scope is calibrated to actual risk exposure, root cause analysis is rigorous, and conclusions are well-evidenced — not driven by checkbox compliance. • Risk and control frameworks are applied with sound judgment, and findings are translated into clear, actionable narratives that resonate with both technical and non-technical audiences. • Hands-on expertise with cloud and data platforms — including AWS, GCP, Datadog, and Okta — is applied to assess controls and design practical, effective solutions across key environments. Team Leadership & Development • A high-performing audit team is developed through structured coaching, clear expectations, and tailored development plans, with a culture of excellence, continuous learning, and proactive problem-solving taking hold. AI, Technology & Innovation • AI risk and governance considerations — including GenAI and agentic AI model risk, bias, transparency, and data privacy — are integrated into the audit approach. • AI-enabled tools and data analytics are adopted to expand coverage, improve efficiency, and enhance audit impact. Tools & Process Improvement • The Workiva platform is fully implemented and administered, anchoring the function's first-time build of a risk-based Internal Audit operating model aligned to IIA Standards. • Controls are streamlined, manual effort is reduced, and operational efficiency across the audit function improves. Stakeholder Partnerships • Productive relationships are built and maintained with business leaders and cross-functional partners — including Finance, Legal, ERM, Compliance, IT, Engineering, and Security — to implement scalable controls. • This role serves as a trusted advisor across technology and data teams, shaping audit approaches for complex, AI-driven environments. The secret ingredients we're looking for Must-have pantry staples (Minimum Qualifications) • 12-15 years of progressive professional experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role overseeing IT risk-based audits at a high-growth, global company. • Demonstrated experience building a risk-based Internal Audit function from the ground up, with working knowledge of IIA Standards and the ability to apply them in practice. • Track record of delivering risk-based audits in a fast-paced, agile technology environment with competing priorities and evolving risk landscapes. • Exceptional written communication skills. Able to produce executive-quality audit reports with minimal revision and translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable narratives. • Collaborative, relationship-oriented approach with the ability to influence and partner effectively across all levels of the organization. • Translate deep technical expertise into impactful, actionable insights that resonate with both technical and non-technical audiences. Optional garnishes (Preferred Qualifications) • CISA, CRISC, or CIA certification. One or more of these designations is strongly preferred for this role. #LI-Remote Instacart provides highly market-competitive compensation and benefits in each location where our employees work. This role is remote and the base pay range for a successful candidate is dependent on their permanent work location. Please review our Flex First remote work policy here. Offers may vary based on many factors, such as candidate experience and skills required for the role. Additionally, this role is eligible for a new hire equity grant as well as annual refresh grants. Please read more about our benefits offerings here. For US based candidates, the base pay ranges for a successful candidate are listed below. CA, NY, CT, NJ $245,000—$258,500 USD WA $235,000—$248,000 USD OR, DE, ME, MA, MD, NH, RI, VT, DC, PA, VA, CO, TX, IL, HI $224,000—$236,500 USD All other states $204,000—$215,500 USD