Applications Development Manager

SunSource and its family of companies represent 200+ locations and 3,000+ employees making up one of North America’s leading value-add industrial distribution companies. We provide customers with products and solutions within Fluid Power, Fluid Process, Fluid Conveyance, General Industrial Components, and Industrial Service & Repair. SunSource is seeking an experienced and results-driven Applications Development Manager to lead and coordinate the development, support, and continuous improvement of our ERP platforms: Infor , Epicor Prophet 21 (P21), and Kerridge Mincron. In this leadership role, you will manage three distinct development teams—each composed of Developers and Business Analysts—to deliver scalable, efficient, and business-aligned ERP solutions across various departments, including Sales, Inventory, Finance, and Supply Chain.The Applications Development Manager is responsible for accomplishing results through the management of a team or department in an effort to establish and implement new application systems and programs and enhance existing systems in coordination with the Business Team. The overall objective of this role is to drive applications systems analysis and programming activities.The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of ERP development lifecycles, excellent leadership and communication skills, and the ability to work cross-functionally with IT, business stakeholders, and external partners.Key Responsibilities:Team Leadership & Management· Lead and manage three ERP development teams, each supporting a different platform (, P21, Mincron).· Provide coaching, mentoring, and performance management for Developers and Business Analysts.· Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across all teams.Execute on Strategic ERP Strategy & Support ERP Governance· Develop and execute a unified ERP applications strategy while aligning each platform’s roadmap with business objectives.· Prioritize development and support efforts based on business impact, complexity, and resource capacity.· Ensure consistency in development practices and documentation across all ERP systems.Project & Process Management· Oversee end-to-end ERP software development lifecycle (requirements gathering, design, development, testing, deployment, support).· Coordinate cross-functional projects involving multiple ERP systems and business units.· Ensure solutions are compliant with corporate standards, scalable, and aligned with enterprise architecture.Stakeholder Engagement· Partner with business leaders to translate business needs into effective ERP enhancements or new capabilities.· Serve as the primary point of contact for ERP application escalations and critical incident resolution.Innovation & Technical Leadership· Promote innovation and adoption of best practices within ERP development, including automation, integration, and modernization.· Guide the teams in leveraging APIs, middleware, and integration tools to streamline operations across disparate systems.Vendor & Resource Management· Liaise with ERP vendors (Infor, Epicor, Kerridge) for support, licensing, upgrades, and product roadmaps.· Manage external consultants and third-party resources when required.Required Qualifications:· Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related discipline; Master’s preferred.· 7+ years of experience in ERP application development or support, with at least 5 years in a team leadership or management role.· Hands-on experience with at least one of the following ERP systems: Infor , Epicor P21, or Kerridge Mincron.· Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent ERP projects or development teams.· Familiarity with SQL-based development, REST/SOAP APIs, scripting, and ERP-specific toolsets. Pro2SQL, Progress Database, & AS400 Development experience is highly valued.· Strong understanding of business processes in distribution, inventory management, supply chain, and finance.Preferred Qualifications:· Direct experience managing cross-platform ERP environments (, transitioning between or integrating multiple ERPs).· Exposure to ERP modernization projects, cloud migrations, or custom module development.· Understanding of warehouse management, inventory management, procurement, order processing, and customer relationship workflows as handled within ERP systems.Key Competencies:· Strategic Planning & Execution· Team Leadership, Talent Development, & Accountability· Cross-Functional Collaboration· Agile and Iterative Development Practices· Business Process Mapping / Functional & Technical Requirements· Change Management· Vendor and Contract NegotiationReporting Structure:· Reports to: CIO of UDG· Supervises: 3 ERP Development Teams (Developers and Business Analysts)Location & Travel:· Location: [Adddison, IL. or Houston, TX]· Travel: Occasional travel to company sites (