Director of Information TechnologySummary:The Director of Information Technology will lead the strategic planning, implementation, and management of all information technology systems supporting a high-volume battery manufacturing facility in North Carolina. This role is responsible for aligning IT strategy with operational and business objectives, with a critical focus on the integration and optimization of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform with a Manufacturing Execution System (MES).
The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, deep manufacturing IT experience, and hands-on expertise in ERP-MES integration to support operational excellence, scalability, cybersecurity, and data-driven decision-making in a regulated, safety-critical manufacturing environment.
The Director of Information Technology will report to the President of Forge Battery and Chief Financial Officer for corporate compliance and alignment.
Essential Functions:Strategic Leadership & Governance
- Develop and execute the IT strategy to support manufacturing operations, supply chain, quality, engineering, and corporate functions.
- Serve as a strategic partner to operations, engineering, quality, finance, and executive leadership.
- Establish IT governance, policies, standards, and best practices across the facility.
- Manage IT budgets, vendor relationships, and technology roadmaps.
ERP & MES Integration
- Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing integration of the ERP system with the MES to ensure seamless data flow across production, inventory, quality, maintenance, and financial systems.
- Collaborate with manufacturing, process engineering, and quality teams to define system requirements and workflows.
- Ensure real-time visibility into production performance, traceability, genealogy, and compliance data.
- Oversee system upgrades, enhancements, and scalability as production volumes increase.
Manufacturing & Operational Systems
- Support plant-floor systems including MES, SCADA, PLC interfaces, data historians, and industrial networks.
- Ensure high availability and reliability of manufacturing systems in a 24/7 production environment.
- Drive digital manufacturing initiatives such as automation, analytics, and Industry 4.0 capabilities.
Cybersecurity & Infrastructure
- Ensure robust cybersecurity practices across enterprise and operational technology (IT/OT) environments.
- Oversee infrastructure including networks, servers, cloud platforms, data centers, and endpoint devices.
- Implement disaster recovery, business continuity, and backup strategies.
Team Leadership & Development
- Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing IT team, including internal staff and external partners.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure appropriate training and knowledge transfer for both IT staff and system users.
Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, quality, and data security requirements relevant to battery manufacturing.
- Manage IT risks and audits, including vendor and system risk assessments.
Required Skills & Experience: - Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
- 5-10 years of progressive IT experience, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership or director-level role.
- Proven experience in manufacturing environments, preferably high-volume or process manufacturing.
- Demonstrated success in integrating ERP platforms with MES systems in a production setting in cloud and on-premise environments.
- Strong understanding of IT/OT convergence, manufacturing systems architecture, and plant-floor technologies.
- Experience managing vendors, system integrators, and cross-functional stakeholders.
- IT software and hardware systems associated with a Battery manufacturing plant.
- Demonstrated project and budget management skills
- Strong business acumen with a broad understanding of fundamental IT principles
- Analytical problem-solving skills with impeccable attention to detail
- Ability to set overall strategy and drive process improvement
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills with ability to collaborate and build a consensus in a high-pressure environment
Education- Bachelor's degree
- MBA or equivalent graduate degree preferred
Key Competencies- Strategic thinking and execution
- Manufacturing systems integration
- ERP & MES expertise
- Cybersecurity and risk management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Change management
- Team leadership and talent development
Working Conditions- On-site presence required at the North Carolina manufacturing facility.
- Occasional travel to suppliers, partners, or corporate locations as needed.
- Availability to support critical manufacturing operations outside normal business hours when required.
Compensation/Benefits- Annual 10% bonus based on the successful completion of individual KPIs and company's performance.
- Medical/dental/vision/disability and life insurance, holidays, PTO, Flexible Spending Account and 401(k) plan with company match and additional voluntary benefits.
