VP, IT

This is an opportunity to lead the information technology and organizational transformation of businesses looking to set a course for the future and be innovation leaders in its industry. We are in a period of rapid change and growth. The IT Leader will guide business leadership through this journey and build a team and processes to deliver technology solutions.

Reporting to the CFO and in collaboration with business leadership, the VP will lead how technology projects are envisioned, prioritized, and delivered. They will promote continuous improvement, be a leader in modernizing the way we work and make us an industry leader in bringing technology solutions to our customers. Ideal candidate will have global experience in 50-300M manufacturing or logistics company.

Ideal candidate to be based in Chicago area and be available to meet in loop on occasion and travel but primarily can be remote based.

Summary

• Lead a team of 5-10 IT professionals augmented by professional services partners.
• Determine the best organization to serve the current and future needs of the business.
• Work with the business user community and business unit leadership to identify, estimate and prioritize technology initiatives. Coach them through process to build business cases gain funding approval for projects.
• Lead and/or participate in workouts to ensure technology investment is applied to strong processes.
• Review process and technology direction in flight around new product development.
• Develop and execute a strategy around core operating platforms and assist business leadership in defining how the business systems should communicate to external customers and suppliers.
• Develop and execute a strategy around cloud vs. on-premise computing.
• Oversee core technology (server/cloud, network, client services, security).
• Participate, as member of senior leadership team, in other initiatives as required.

Requirements

• At least ten years’ experience as a technology leader with a proven track record of escalating responsibilities.
• Demonstrated expertise in partnering with senior business executives.
• Demonstrated expertise building, negotiating, and maintaining an information technology budget.
• Demonstrated experience building and maintaining operational processes and organizations.
• Demonstrated exposure to complex business process workouts.
• Demonstrated experience building business cases for technology initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to take IT projects from concept to implementation.
• Experience with waterfall and agile SDLC.
• Proven track record of oversight on multiple large-scale technology projects with complex dependencies.
• Exposure to a wide range of application technologies. Experience with Microsoft Dynamics and MS Power Tools a plus.
• Diverse exposure and knowledge of the IT security landscape.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain technology plainly to people with a wide range of experience (developers to non-technical senior executives).
• Demonstrated ability to attract and develop team members using tools such as learning plans, succession planning and effective delegation. Demonstrated background mentoring employees.
• Ability to work across organizational boundaries and lead by influence.
• Occasional travel (10%) required.