It Director Manufacturing Systems Operations Apply
IT Director Manufacturing Systems & operations
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
Work Location: on-site (Manufacturing location close to Memphis, MO)
Position Summary:
This Head of IT Manufacturing systems will be responsible for defining, deploying and operating all IT/OT platforms/solutions including Shopfloor connectivity. This is a green field initiative and looking for a hands-on technical leader who can bring the vision and deliver all required systems & solutions.
This role requires strong technical expertise, exceptional managerial skills, and the ability to collaborate with various teams to achieve organizational objectives.
This role will lead all the manufacturing systems teams to ensure a stable and secure IT systems for this newly established battery cell manufacturing entity. A critical element of this role is the responsibility for the budget planning and execution to that budget. This Head of Manufacturing systems must align with the business leaders across the organization, to understand current and forward-looking opportunities, to support the Manufacturing systems vision and roadmap. This must include active portfolio management, setting priorities and aligning managers and staff within IT to meet those demands. Alignment and collaboration with Infrastructure, business applications, Data & CISO is key to ensure optimum delivery of services to the boarder business, ensuring safety of applications, data and cyber protections.
Essential functions
- Ownership of Manufacturing Systems (MES, SCADA, QMS, shopfloor connectivity, etc.). Technology solutions supporting manufacturing operations, spanning both IT and OT domains.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive manufacturing systems (IT/OT) strategy aligned with business goals, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security.
- Collaborate with peers and contribute to the overall IT strategic planning process aligned to company goals and objectives, including fostering innovation, planning projects, along with organizing and negotiating the allocation of resources.
- Responsible for the hiring, building, and maintaining a professional IT/OT team, setting stretch performance goals and monitoring effectiveness throughout the year.
- Lead and manage a manufacturing systems team and support professionals, providing guidance, coaching, and performance evaluations.
- Manage an effective team in the support of day-to-day operations of manufacturing systems, working collaboratively with all managers, to ensure business operations are maintained and run properly.
- Lead and oversee IT/OT manufacturing systems projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and meet quality standards.
- Oversee new design, architecture, deployment, and maintenance of manufacturing systems, including and not limited to MES, SCADA, shopfloor connectivity, QMS, Plan Maintenance, Plant Warehouse, EH&S, Integrations among and with Manufacturing systems, etc.
- Monitor and analyze manufacturing systems performance, identifying areas for improvement and implementing appropriate solutions.
- Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies, evaluating their potential impact on the organization and recommending relevant upgrades or enhancements.
- Establish and maintain relationships with vendors, negotiating contracts and ensuring service level agreements are met.
- Manage the procurement of Manufacturing systems software, licenses & services, evaluating vendors and negotiating contracts for cost-effective purchases.
- Manage Manufacturing systems budgets, ensuring cost-effective utilization of resources and adherence to financial targets.
- Manage the process and protocol with the Cybersecurity team on implementing all technical solutions to ensure the IT system is well protected with needed security solutions and tools and is in compliance with ISO27001 and NIST standards.
- Identify and address potential cybersecurity and other risks enacting measures to protect the organization's data and systems.
- Work with application team leaders on software project planning and provide needed infrastructure resources and plan.
- Conduct annual IT audits and work with external security firms on infrastructure security penetration testing and come up with improvement plans.
- Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and industry best practices related to infrastructure management, data security, and privacy.
- Develop business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for IT spending and initiatives.
- Establish and enforce IT policies and procedures to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.
- Monitor to ensure compliance by IT staff in all change management requests and activities to ensure business needs are met, and risk mitigations are in place as part of the process.
- Keep current on industry and technology landscape to lead the company and its business customers to understand their technology options.
- Collaborate with the Head of Infrastructure to ensure availability, reliability, and security of the applications and data within it.
- Manage all financial aspects of the IT/OT Manufacturing systems group, in the budget planning, and daily management of the spend related to software, services, consulting and other related areas to support the business.
Education and Experience:
- Experience in development, deployment and operations of IT, OT, MES, SACDA and IIoT/I4.0 systems, applications, and technologies in a manufacturing environment.
- Sound understanding of IT application development processes Agile and Waterfall
- Industry domain experience in Automotive/ Battery Manufacturing/ related industries
- Change Management in Manufacturing
- Knowledge in Manufacturing with regulatory requirements and standards such as TS16949, MESA, ISA 95, and industry best practices
- Know-how of emerging technologies Gen AI, Computer Vision, Data & Analytics etc.
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Ability to sense risk and plan mitigation
- Prior experience in Battery manufacturing is a plus
- Experience with SAP platform is a plus
- BS/BA in Computer Science or Information Technology, or related work experience.
- Minimum 15+ years relevant Manufacturing systems experience, with increasing responsibilities along the career path in IT/OT.
- Experience as a Head of Manufacturing systems, specifically >$1B manufacturing enterprises.
- Over 8 years of experience in managing technical teams across manufacturing systems.
- Familiarity with the ITIL framework and project management methodologies is highly advantageous.
- Proven experience in leading and managing a team of technical professionals, fostering a positive work environment, and promoting professional growth.
- Experience with IT technologies and business processes for a manufacturing and distribution company.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, to interact professionally and in business language with all levels of business leaders and subject matter experts.
