Business Partner, IT Solutions

Job Description

Employee: Business Partner, IT & Digital Solutions - Americas

FLSA Status: Exempt/Bonus Eligible

Reports To: President

Department: IT & Digital

Job Purpose: The Head of IT will be responsible for overseeing all IT functions in the USA and Americas region, including infrastructure, applications, security, and support. This role involves implementing the global IT strategy set by headquarters in Germany and acting as a proactive and strategic partner to business units to ensure IT initiatives support and enhance business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Implement the global IT strategy set by the headquarters in Germany.
• Act as a proactive and strategic partner to business units, ensuring IT initiatives support and enhance business objectives.
• Support continuous business process optimization by identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing technology solutions that enhance efficiency and productivity.
• Monitor daily operations, including server hardware, software, and operating systems, to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
• Coordinate technology installations, upgrades, and maintenance to ensure smooth and efficient operations.
• Select and purchase new and replacement hardware and software when necessary, ensuring alignment with company standards and budget constraints.
• Oversee the management of IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, and cloud services.
• Ensure the security of IT systems and data by implementing robust cybersecurity measures.
• Lead and mentor the IT team, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Manage IT budgets, ensuring cost-effective solutions and efficient allocation of resources.
• Collaborate with other departments to understand their technology needs and provide appropriate solutions.
• Stay abreast of technological advancements and integrate relevant innovations into the company's IT operations.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and standards, including data protection and privacy laws.
• Develop disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
• Oversee vendor management and negotiate contracts with technology providers.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in implementing IT strategies and working in a global, interdisciplinary team.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in IT management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Extensive experience with SAP modules and processes in a manufacturing company.
• Strong knowledge of IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and enterprise applications, particularly Microsoft technologies.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with IT budget management.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to execute IT strategies that support business objectives.
• International Interdisciplinary Skills: Proven ability to work effectively in a global, cross-functional team environment.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing team.
• Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, SAP modules, and Microsoft technologies.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical skills and a proactive approach to identifying and addressing challenges.
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and external partners.

Knowledge and Skills

Windows Environment, Domino/Lotus Notes, A+, Active Directory, MCP, Help Desk, Phone systems, TCP IP, basic telephony, computer hardware and troubleshooting ability; Cisco Certification a plus.

Education and Work Experience

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

ADA - CHECKLIST FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES & REQUIREMENTS, VISUAL ACUITY, AND WORKING CONDITIONS OF THE POSITION

Position Title: Business Partner, IT & Digital Solutions

Department: IT & Digital

1. The physical activity of this position. (Please check all blocks that apply)

( ) A. Climbing. Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized. This factor is important if the amount and kind of climbing required exceeds that required for ordinary locomotion.

( ) B. Balancing. Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling and walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.

(x) C. Stooping. Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.

(x) D. Kneeling. Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.

(x) E. Crouching. Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.

(x) F. Crawling. Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.

(x) G. Reaching. Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

( ) H. Standing. Particularly for sustained periods of time.

( ) I. Walking. Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

( ) J. Pushing. Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.

( ) K. Pulling. Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.

(x) L. Lifting. Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.

(x) M. Fingering. Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

(x) N. Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

(x) O. Feeling. Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

(x) P. Talking. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

(x) Q. Hearing. Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.

(x) R. Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.

2. The physical requirements of this position. (Please check only one block)

( ) A. Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

(x) B. Light work. Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

( ) C. Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

( ) D. Heavy work. Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

( ) E. Very heavy work. Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

3. The visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception, and field vision. (Please check only one block)

(x) A. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection); using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes.

( ) B. The worker is required to have visual acuity to perform an activity such as: operates machines, such as lathes, drill presses, power saws, and mills where the seeing job is at or within arm's reach; performs mechanical or skilled trades tasks of a non-repetitive nature, such as carpenter, technicians, service people, plumbers, painters, mechanics, etc.

( ) C. The worker is required to have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment.

( ) D. The worker is required to have visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned (i.e., custodial, food services, general laborer, etc.) or to make general observations of facilities or structures (i.e., security guard, inspection, etc.)

4. The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position. (Please check all blocks that apply)

( ) A. The worker is subject to environmental conditions. Protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes.

( ) B. The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions. No effective protection from the weather.

( ) C. The worker is subject to both environmental conditions. Activities occur inside and outside.

( ) D. The worker is subject to extreme cold. Temperatures typically below 32°ree; for periods of more than one hour. Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions, such as wind and humidity.

( ) E. The worker is subject to extreme heat. Temperatures above 100°ree; for periods of more than one hour. Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions, such as wind and humidity.

( ) F. The worker is subject to noise. There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above ambient noise level.

( ) G. The worker is subject to vibration. Exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body.

( ) H. The worker is subject to hazards. Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, moving vehicles, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.

( ) I. The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions. One or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system of the skin: fumes, odors, dust, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.

( ) J. The worker is frequently in close quarters, crawl spaces, shafts, man holes, small enclosed rooms, small sewage and line pipes, and other areas that could cause claustrophobia.

( ) K. The worker is required to function in narrow aisles or passageways.

(x) L. None. The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (such as in typical office or administrative work.)