What this role is all about:

We are looking for an IT Applications Manager near La Crosse, WI.

*To be considered, applicants must currently reside within 90 miles of La Crosse, WI. *

Location: This role can be primarily hybrid/remote but would require occasional onsite days.

Schedule: Monday – Friday, regular business hours + on call/weekends as projects dictate

The IT Applications Manager is responsible for the planning, development, support, and enhancement of the organization’s business applications, including the ERP system, custom in-house applications, other off-the-shelf business applications, and reporting solutions.  This role leads and supervises the applications and development team members, providing direction, coaching, and career development.  Working alongside the infrastructure and project management teams and partnering with business owners, the IT Applications Manager ensures that applications, data, and reporting platforms are reliable, secure, and aligned with the current and future needs of the business and oversees development projects from requirements through deployment and operations support.

Job Duties:

• Plan, direct, and oversee the development, support, and enhancement of the organization’s business applications, including the ERP system, custom in-house applications, other off-the-shelf business applications, and reporting solutions. 
• Provide leadership, direction, and day-to-day supervision to the IT applications team 
• Work with development staff, analysts, and business owners to plan and execute enhancement and support projects based on defined requirements and technical specifications; establish realistic estimates and manage efforts against them to keep projects on target to meet deadlines. 
• Ensure that application support activities are appropriately managed to support day-to-day business needs and operations. 
• Provide oversight for all business application platforms to ensure they perform to the needs of the business and remain reliable, secure, and well-maintained. 
• Oversee the design, development, and delivery of data and reporting solutions that provide accurate, consistent, and accessible information for data-driven decision-making. 
• Track and report the status of enhancement and support requests while ensuring that project requirements are adequately defined. 
• Drive application and development planning in alignment with the technical strategies of the business and that considers the future needs of the organization. 
• Evolve existing application systems, integrations, and architecture across ERP, business applications, and reporting systems as needed. 
• Establish and enforce standards, documentation, and best practices for application configuration, development, data governance, and reporting. 
• Collaborate with IT and business teams to gather requirements and translate business needs into functional and technical specifications. 
• Help team members resolve problems, both technical and interpersonal, and provide guidance to coach, motivate, and lead staff to their optimum performance levels and in their career development. 
• With prior approval, evaluate, recommend, and coordinate the purchase of software and services, and manage relationships with external vendors and service providers. 
• Oversee and promote the responsible adoption and use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and capabilities to improve application development, support, and reporting, and advance departmental and organizational goals.
• Responsible for employee relations, including work direction of employees, hiring, training, performance reviews, administering policies and procedures, disciplinary action, and compensation recommendations. 
• Direct the implementation of departmental objectives, goals, and policies. 
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies, procedures, and guidelines. 
• Understand and adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Safety Protocol:
• Stop any observed unsafe acts and obey facility safety rules and procedures. 
• Correct or report any observed safety hazards. 
• Support safety policies and programs. 

Qualifications:

Education Required: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, or related field required.  
• Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be considered.

Experience Required: 

• Minimum five (5) years of experience supporting software development processes (SDLC) required.  
• Minimum one (1) year of experience in a supervisory, lead, or coordinator role preferred 
• Experience supporting, administering, or implementing an ERP system such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or a similar ERP. 
• Experience programming in C#.NET, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or related programming environments, and a solid understanding of Transact-SQL and database administration required. 
• Knowledge of reporting tools, including Power BI or similar systems 
• Experience with software development to integrate ERP and related applications, including working with APIs, required. 
• Understanding of functional business areas such as Accounting, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing required. 
• Enterprise application development experience preferred. 

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time.

Where you’ll be working:

Our La Crosse, WI, plant is home to approximately 330 employees. This facility supplies the food, beverage, and nutritional industries with innovative functional ingredients and superior quality contract manufacturing services.

La Crosse, WI, is nestled between the Mississippi River and the rolling river bluffs. This town is home to a plethora of colleges, high-quality health care, community events, and cultural opportunities. If you want to enjoy outdoor activities there are many opportunities, such as hiking, cycling, skiing, and boating. The town hosts multiple events annually and is famously known for their Oktoberfest celebration as well as offering a minor league baseball team. Visit the La Crosse Chamber site https://www.lacrossechamber.com/ for more information on local events.