Operating Unit IT Lead

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.

We are seeking an Operating Unit IT Leader for our First Quality Tissue facility located in Defiance, OH. This position as a key member of the IT Divisional Leadership Team provides strategic leadership and management within Divisional/Campus and FQ IT Team. This includes the development and implementation of short- and long-term strategies, development and compliance with policies, procedures, managing and optimizing IT assets, fostering a continuous improvement environment. Leads development of First Quality’s long-term systems requirements and any hardware and software acquisitions required to accomplish business objectives and support company growth. Also contributes actively as a member of the Divisional/Location LT to the overall development and delivery of IT capabilities required to support business growth and provide a competitive advantage through the use of technology to First Quality.

As an Operating Unit IT Leader in our FQ IT Group, you will work closely within the assigned business in aligning technological requirements with business initiatives. The Operating Unit IT Leader is responsible to understand the business needs, assist in the prioritization of projects, ensure that projects align with the technology that best provides maximum return on investment, and direct IT strategy in support of the overall business strategy. You will also be responsible to ensure that technology initiative requests by business clients are serviced throughout the project governance lifecycle. You will serve as the lead communicator with assigned business departments in respect to technology initiatives, requirements, and escalation.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Active member of site Leadership Teams.

• Participate with business strategy, develop requirements and recommend technology solutions.

• Develop and implement Operating Unit Business Technology Roadmap.

• Suggest industry best practices that may be leveraged to provide new business value.

• Facilitate new project requests, selection and prioritization with the business unit.

• Develop annual operating unit IT budget and resource requirements to support the business plan.

• Ensure approved projects are delivered and provide highest value to FQ and the business.

• Assist in providing proper resourcing and skillsets required for each project.

• Assist in project change management efforts.

• Assist in delivery of complex projects to ensure they are on time, within budget and to customer expectations. Manage lower-level projects.

• Validate new and existing IT services provided to customer are optimal and meet business needs.

• Resolve open issues with appropriate IT Team and Divisional leadership.

• Provide feedback to services and capabilities provided by IT.

• Lead/manage local IT team to ensure needs are being met with an FQE focus.

• Responsible for customer surveys/satisfaction, service level agreements and IT improvement plans.

• Represent Divisional/Functional uniqueness requirements.

• IT Capability Plan

  • IT process implementations

  • Business technology solutions

The ideal candidate should possess the following:

• Bachelors’ Degree in Computer Science or related field.

• Strong manufacturing environment experience demonstrated project and process management skill set.

• Strong problem solving and decision-making skills with excellent written and verbal communications skills.

• Strong leadership skills

• Ability to manage IT team on a day-to-day basis

• 10+ years IT experience with at least 2 years in a $500M+ and/or Global Business.

• Ability and desire to engage with all functions of the Enterprise to understand and articulate the business requirements as well as the IT capabilities and requirements.

• Fluent in English; second language would be preferred.

• General knowledge of all IT disciplines and technology platforms.

• Knowledge of standards and methodology of Project Management Professional (PMP).

• Ability to work within a 24/7 environment across multiple time zones.

• Demonstrated broad knowledge of major aspects of IT operations, including project management, systems development, systems analysis and design, and budget administration, with broad exposure and practical experience in IT management.

• Knowledge of business theory, business processes, management, budgeting, and business office operations.

What We Offer You

We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities

• Paid time off (three-week minimum)

• Medical, dental and vision starting day one

• 401(k) with employer match

• Paid parental leave

• Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)

• Bundle of joy benefit (years’ worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)

• Tuition assistance

• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums

...and more!