Sr Director, IT Business Partner - Manufacturing

Work Location: ​Chicago​

Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.

Want to make an impact?

Technology powers Ferrara’s transformation of iconic brands into a world-class global business. Following a successful S/4HANA go-live, our IT organization is leading the next phase of digital evolution—scaling platforms, advancing data and analytics, and partnering closely with the business to deliver measurable impact. This is a chance to join a highly innovative IT team with strong executive sponsorship and influence across the enterprise.

Manufacturing excellence is core to how Ferrara Candy Company delivers quality at scale. As Sr. Director, IT Business Partner – Manufacturing, you will define the digital future of our manufacturing network—driving modernization, automation, and smart factory capabilities.

Reporting to the CIO and serving as a member of the Manufacturing functional leadership ecosystem, you will align technology investments with operational performance, plant productivity, quality, and compliance goals.

This role combines strategy, execution, and transformation leadership at enterprise scale.

Ways you will make a difference

Strategic IT Leadership & Smart Factory Roadmap

• Act as senior IT advisor to Manufacturing leadership.


• Build and lead a multi-year digital roadmap focused on plant digitization, automation, quality systems, and real-time analytics.


• Evaluate and introduce emerging technologies (IoT, AI, RPA, predictive maintenance, MES enhancements).


• Develop business cases and mobilize $10–25MM capital programs.


• Align initiatives with safety, compliance, and regulatory requirements.

Transformation & Portfolio Governance

• Oversee enterprise manufacturing technology programs including SAP S/4HANA, MES, plant systems integration, and analytics platforms.


• Ensure delivery within scope, budget, and timelines.


• Establish KPIs tied to OEE, downtime reduction, cost optimization, and quality improvements.


• Mitigate risks and ensure regulatory compliance.


• Serve as executive escalation point for portfolio risks.

Technology & Vendor Management

• Maintain full inventory and lifecycle management of manufacturing systems.


• Manage $10MM+ annual operating expenses.


• Negotiate contracts and SLAs with software and system integration partners.


• Ensure external partners operate as extensions of Ferrara’s IT organization.


• Optimize total cost of ownership across plant technologies.

Leadership & Change Management

• Lead and develop a team of IT Business Partners.


• Drive adoption of digital tools within plant environments.


• Champion enterprise digital literacy and change readiness.

Skills that will make you successful

• Deep understanding of manufacturing systems (MES, automation, quality systems, plant integration)


• Strong SAP ECC and S/4HANA expertise


• Smart factory and Industry 4.0 knowledge


• Strategic investment planning and capital governance


• Executive-level communication and stakeholder alignment


• Regulatory and compliance awareness


• Proven ability to lead large-scale transformation


• Strong vendor governance and negotiation capability

Experiences that will support your success

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience)


• 12+ years of IT and business experience


• 10+ years in enterprise IT with 5+ years supporting Manufacturing in a large CPG company or manufacturing-focused consulting firm


• Experience deploying large-scale transformational platforms


• 5+ years leading teams and managing enterprise portfolios


• Certifications such as ITIL, Agile, APICS, CPIM preferred


• Demonstrated accountability for $10MM+ run budgets and $10–25MM capital programs


• Experience supporting audit, regulatory, and compliance environments


• Exposure to M&A integrations and plant system harmonization

What We Offer

At Ferrara, we’re proud to support our employees by providing comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, dental insurance, a 401(k), and paid time off (PTO).  Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Candy-2025-OE-QR

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $162,940 - $228,116 annually.