Director - IT

Job Description

• Manage the multisite IT team and lead the IT function to the next level of strategic performance by partnering closely with business mangers
• Manage IT department strategic and operational planning, including business requirements, project planning, and organizing and negotiating the allocation of resources.
• Develop and maintain an appropriate IT organizational structure that supports the needs of the business.
• Establish IT departmental goals, objectives, and operating procedures.
• Ensure continuous delivery of IT services through oversight of service level agreements with end users and monitoring of IT systems performance.
• Manages the internal information systems function, including Enterprise Systems, Business Applications programming, Help desk, networks, and computer operations.
• Analyzes the needs of functional departments (e.g., manufacturing, marketing, human resources) and establishes priorities for feasibility studies and systems design and implementation to develop new and/or modify the company's information processing systems.
• Coordinates with functional departments involved in system requirements, techniques, and controls. May manage business continuity and recovery of company's information systems, including needs analysis, design, plan development, implementation, and documentation.
• Identify opportunities for the appropriate and cost effective investment of financial resources in IT systems and resources, including staffing, sourcing, purchasing, and in house development. Selects, develops, and evaluates personnel to ensure the efficient operation of the function.
• Develop, track, and control the information technology annual operating and capital budgets. Review hardware and software acquisition and maintenance contracts and pursue master agreements to capitalize on economies of scale.
• Establish and maintain regular written and in person communications with the organization's executives, department heads, and end users regarding pertinent IT activities.
• Oversee negotiation and administration of vendor, outsourcer, and consultant contracts and service agreements.
• Creatively and independently provide resolution to technical problems in a cost effective manner.

Requirements

• Experience in strategic planning and execution.
• Substantial exposure to data processing, hardware platforms, enterprise software applications, and outsourced systems.
• Proven experience in IT planning, organization, and development.
• Demonstrated ability to apply IT in solving business problems.
• Must be skilled as both a people and project manager.
• Excellent analytical, problem solving, and troubleshooting skills are required.
• Possess the self-initiative to be given general guidance on an objective and to achieve that objective with minimal guidance from senior management.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal) are required.
• This position requires ~ 25+% travel in North America (US and Canada).
• Bilingual in French and English is a strong plus.

Education / Experience Requirements:

• BS degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field is required. MS or MBA preferred. 
• 10+ years’ experience as a leader in the IT function, with at least 5 years in a Director equivalent position, for a multisite ERP and CRM environment
• Proven experience in business process change management and business support in a manufacturing environment, preferably including international experience.
• Experience managing remote teams.
• Knowledge of MS suite of software is required.
• Experience with ITIL strongly preferred; experience with project management tools and methodology required
• Knowledge of the Visual ERP and / or Netsuite CRM environments would be an asset.