We have been exclusively retained by a well-established, vertically integrated food manufacturing organization to hire a Director of IT to modernize how technology supports the business and to bring greater structure, clarity, and execution to IT strategy and business systems.

This is not a corporate CIO seat. The business needs a practical, hands-on IT leader who understands manufacturing environments and can translate real operational needs into workable, right-sized technology solutions. This role is about elevating IT from a reactive support function to a true business enabler across Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, Procurement, Logistics, Innovation, and Finance.

The organization is evolving how IT operates and is seeking a leader who can strengthen governance, improve execution discipline, and strategically oversee both infrastructure and core business applications without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy.

This is a full-time, direct-hire position that is fully onsite in Lakeland, Florida.

The Role You’ll Play

This role owns both the strategic direction and day-to-day leadership of IT for a mid-sized manufacturing operation. You will lead a team of four (including a Sr. IT Manager), oversee vendors and partners, and ensure systems are stable, secure, and continuously improving.

More importantly, you will bring structure and strategic oversight to how technology decisions are evaluated, implemented, and adopted across the business.

You will:

• Set and execute an IT strategy aligned to business goals, right-sizing solutions for a mid-sized manufacturing environment

• Lead and develop the IT team through hiring, coaching, accountability, and performance management

• Own the IT budget (CapEx and OpEx), ensuring effective allocation of resources and measurable ROI

• Provide strategic oversight of core business applications, including ERP, demand planning, CRM, finance automation, and other operational systems

• Evaluate new tools and automation opportunities, ensuring technology investments solve real business problems before implementation

• Drive increased operational efficiency through thoughtful automation and better use of existing systems

• Lead structured vendor evaluation, build-versus-buy analysis, and application governance to avoid tool sprawl and optimize current platforms

• Establish practical, right-sized project management discipline, ensuring clarity of ownership, accountability, and execution without overengineering process
  

• Oversee cybersecurity, including policies, monitoring, incident response, and disaster recovery planning

• Direct infrastructure reliability across networks, servers, storage, and manufacturing technology environments

• Build strong cross-functional relationships and serve as a trusted advisor who translates business needs into actionable technology solutions
  
  

This role requires both strategic thinking and hands-on engagement. The Director must be able to assess whether systems such as ERP, demand planning, or automation tools are truly aligned with business objectives and guide the organization toward better outcomes.

Background Profile:

The ideal candidate is a manufacturing-minded IT leader who operates strategically while still rolling up their sleeves when needed. They are confident, low ego, and capable of influencing strong personalities without becoming defensive, overly technical, or rigid.

They understand that in a mid-sized organization, success requires balance: enough structure to improve execution, but not so much process that it slows progress.

• 10+ years of IT leadership experience with direct people management and accountability
  Bachelor’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or related field (MBA preferred)

• Manufacturing IT experience required (food and beverage strongly preferred)

• Deep ERP leadership experience, with the ability to evaluate system capabilities, identify gaps, and align ERP functionality to business requirements, regardless of platform (Sage X3 experience is a strong plus but not mandatory)

• Demonstrated experience overseeing business applications and ensuring they integrate effectively across operations, supply chain, finance, and sales

• Proven ability to drive automation and operational efficiency initiatives

• Strong project management discipline, able to scale execution appropriately for a mid-sized organization

• Solid technical foundation across infrastructure and cybersecurity, with the ability to lead through vendors and internal resources

• Exceptional executive communication skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional leaders and translate complex technology concepts into practical business language

• Experience improving decision-making and operational efficiency by leveraging existing systems and data before introducing new tools

• The successful candidate will bring clarity, discipline, and partnership to an evolving IT function and help position technology as a proactive driver of business performance.