Director, Plant IT Infrastructure and Operations

Position Summary:

This role entails leadership and management responsibilities for the information technology systems utilized across all manufacturing plants. Further, this position supports the digital transformation of our manufacturing operations by translating technical and operational requirements into targeted infrastructure solutions that align with our broader data fabric, technology roadmap, and enterprise architecture. The ideal candidate is passionate about leveraging IT and OT Infrastructure to enable Plant Manufacturing and Engineering to drive efficiency, reduce costs, and increase throughput.
You will ensure that projects are executed on time, within budget, and in alignment with the company’s objectives. Your leadership will be crucial in developing the technology roadmap, managing IT infrastructure, and fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovation. This role focuses on enabling the IT/OT infrastructure and applications necessary to support next-generation manufacturing and engineering capabilities, Industry 4.0 technologies, smart factory systems, and advanced analytics.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Leadership of the regionally distributed IT Infrastructure team and lifecycle management of the technology supporting plant operations.
• Play a key role in delivering a top-tier Smart Manufacturing ecosystem and advancing Industry 4.0 initiatives across the enterprise. Collaborate with Plant Operations, Engineering, IT Applications, and IT Security to securely deploy advanced digital tools like MES/SCADA, IIoT, robotics, label printing, and advanced analytics, enhancing manufacturing efficiency, resilience, and data-driven decision-making.
• Project delivery of IT Infrastructure projects supporting plant operations.
• Develop and assist in implementing IT standards, policies and procedures.
• Responsible for advancing and adhering to IT department administrative functions, including service management, change management, problem management, vendor management, budget management, and assisting in the preparation of capital and operational expenditure requests where required.
• Additional responsibilities as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred. 
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in IT, with a proven track record of driving large-scale technology initiatives and managing IT teams supporting a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in developing and executing IT strategies that support manufacturing technology evolution, innovation, and operational efficiency. 

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated understanding of networking technologies (LAN/WAN, Wireless, Firewalls, etc.).
• Strong experience with IT Infrastructure technology (Servers, Storage, Cloud, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to manage IT project execution, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and aligned with business objectives. 
• Strong understanding of IT governance, risk management, and compliance frameworks. 
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage and influence senior executives, stakeholders, and external partners. 
• Familiarity with Azure, AWS, OT/IT convergence, and data analytics/AI platforms.
• Understanding of manufacturing applications, ERP, MES, WMS systems and their integration within complex business environments. 
• Certifications in ITIL, PMP, CISSP, or similar are a plus.