Job Description

PURPOSE OF POSITION:        

To provide leadership, coordination, support and expertise for the assigned Infrastructure team supporting a 24x7 high-availability computing environment.  This includes performing and/or coordinating the planning, design, specification, configuration, customization, testing, documenting, delivery, and support of environments, systems software and hardware solutions that support the Foster Farms business.  Insure timely, accurate issue resolutions and/or support for assigned infrastructure environment.  To provide project management and coordination for assigned Infrastructure team.  Additionally, this position plans and forecasts IT Expense and Capital; and insures all IT invoices are properly managed.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

BASELINE SUPPORT:

Coordinate the timely, efficient and effective support activities for Foster Farms’ Infrastructure teams as directed.  This may include troubleshooting, diagnosis, and resolution of problems as well as performing routine systems administration, system maintenance checks and corrective actions.

PROJECT/ENHANCEMENT SUPPORT:

Coordinate the ongoing system improvement and enhancement efforts as directed.  This may include performing or coordination of the collecting of requirements from business systems project personnel, researching available solutions, developing and documenting design alternatives, the effective communication of these designs, writing of technical specifications and coordinating any development work, building and configuring prototypes and prototype documentation, communicating to and educating business systems personnel, conducting unit testing, conducting and coordinating integration and acceptance testing, working with security teams to ensure appropriate system authorization, migrating to production, preparing comprehensive and thorough design, policies and procedures documentation, providing post-implementation support efforts interacting regularly with business systems personnel and potentially end users, engaging in troubleshooting and root cause analysis of production issues, and providing continuous improvements to all aspects of design and processes.

HUMAN RESOURCES:                                                         

Coordinates the work assignments of the infrastructure staff as directed. Provides input to career plans and coordinates appropriate development opportunities for the assigned staff. Serves as a role model, mentor and coach for assigned team. Builds teamwork and commitment to IT Department goals and values.  Recommends personnel actions for assigned staff members. Recommends organizational structure changes to improve the service level, efficiency and effectiveness of assigned functions.

PLANNING AND ORGANIZING:

Coordinates the planning, execution and support of the assigned functions. Insures plans are in accordance with overall IT strategic and tactical plans. Coordinates the evaluation, design and implementation of cost effective infrastructure solutions within assigned area, ensuring that solutions are evaluated from a long-term perspective. Coordinate with Infrastructure teams, enabling future needs to be built into expense and capital budgets. Insure plans are understandable and actionable by Sr. Management. Insure detailed task plans are consistently developed and utilized for all projects, and develop and implement other project controls as necessary to insure their accurate and timely completion.  

COMMUNICATIONS:

Communicate effectively and frequently with IT management, peers, subordinates and clients. Develop and make effective presentations to IT and Business Management regarding topics in the assigned functions. Consult with IT staff and user organizations regarding the most effective use of tools, products and services of assigned functions.

LEADERSHIP:       

Present a positive, optimistic and upbeat image even when coordinating activities or implementing decisions that are not popular with IT or client staffs. Maintain an in-depth awareness of current and emerging technology trends regarding assigned functions. Provide coaching to assigned staff. Function in a leadership capacity in regards to assigned functions.

FINANCIAL:

Performs all financial duties for IT department, both SG&A and capital.  These duties include development of budgets, ongoing management of actual expenses and forecasting of full year actual expenses against budget. Insures that actual expenses are equal to or less than established budgets unless special dispensation is approved.

Coordinates with all IT Departments and their management to insure that all functions/departments and projects are correctly budgeted, that actual expenses are properly accounted for, and that accurate forecasts of spending, both capital and expense, are prepared.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred.

Must be capable of developing and managing to a structured work plan with aggressive milestones and have strong problem-solving skills, sound judgment, critical thinking, and decision-making ability.

Must be highly goal and results oriented.

Must be highly self-motivated and driven – must be capable and willing to learn complex systems (infrastructure environments, hardware and systems software) with minimal supervision.

Extensive experience with software development lifecycle phases and activities.

Extensive experience learning and documenting complex processes.

Demonstrated project management experience is required.

Must be effective teacher/mentor capable of educating other team members in project management capabilities and best practices.

Must possess excellent critical thinking skills and be capable of envisioning creative solutions to complex and challenging process/technical issues.

Must be able to communicate effectively with varying levels of management, users, and team members, both written and verbal.

Excellent technical skills (e.g. MS Windows, Unix, SQL Server, Oracle, hardware configuration – enterprise-level servers, storage systems, networking – SAP Basis, programming, etc.)

At least 10 years total information technology experience, 4 years of which are related to systems administration and infrastructure management, 2+ years of which are related project management, strong preference for infrastructure experience in an SAP environment

Must possess specific and in-depth skills, knowledge, and experience with multiple facets of infrastructure management and administration

Should possess familiarity with scripting and/or programming language and various customizing techniques.

Must possess thorough knowledge of accounting, budgeting and forecasting or both expenses and capital.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Foster Farms is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minorities, Females, Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Foster Farms participates in E-Verify during the hire process at all locations for all new employees.