Senior IT Analyst

Location: Office Location Decatur, AR (May consider office location at another plant)
Travel: 30–50% across the United States and Canada as needed (Mishawaka, IN - Drummondville, QC - Other locations when added)
Reports To: Group IT Manager

About United Petfood

United Petfood is a private label producer of high-quality dry & wet pet food, biscuits and snacks. We are a Belgian family business with 25 high-tech pet kitchens in Europe and the US.

Joining us means joining an international, passionate, and driven team with one common goal: a healthy planet filled with healthy pets! But it doesn’t stop there—we truly care about building encouraging, supportive, long-lasting partnerships, both inside as well as outside of our fast-growing family company. By only working with the very best ingredients and most innovative technology available, we ensure a place in which you can grow, bloom, and make thousands of pets happy worldwide!

Check out our website: United Petfood Producers USA, Inc.

Position Summary

The Senior IT Analyst for North America serves as the primary regional Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (D365 F&O) expert supporting United Petfood's U.S. and Canadian operations.

As the first dedicated ERP resource based in North America, this position will bridge the time and operational gap between our North American facilities and central ERP team in Europe. The Senior IT Analyst will support the full ERP lifecycle—from business process, analysis and implementation through configuration, training, go-live, and ongoing optimization.

This is a hands-on role requiring both strong D365 F&O expertise and the ability to partner effectively with plant operations, finance, supply chain, warehouse, IT, and external implementation teams. The successful candidate will balance local business requirements with United Petfood's global ERP standards while helping build scalable, sustainable processes across our growing North American operations.

Duties & Responsibilities

D365 F&O Implementation & Support

• Serve as the primary D365 F&O subject matter expert for United Petfood's North American operations.
• Support the full D365 F&O deployment lifecycle, including discovery, requirements gathering, process design, configuration, testing, data migration, go-live, stabilization, and post-implementation support.
• Perform hands-on D365 F&O configuration and functional setup to support business and manufacturing requirements.
• Troubleshoot functional and system issues and coordinate resolution with Group IT, business stakeholders, and external partners.
• Support ongoing system enhancements, upgrades, process improvements, and optimization initiatives.
• Help maintain a reliable, scalable, and sustainable D365 F&O environment as the North American business continues to grow.

Business Process & Solution Design

• Partner with plant managers, finance, planning, warehouse, supply chain, and other key stakeholders to understand business processes, challenges, and system requirements.
• Translate business requirements into clear functional and technical specifications.
• Evaluate requirements against United Petfood's central ERP blueprint and recommend solutions that balance global standardization with legitimate local business needs.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes through D365 F&O functionality, automation, and standardization.
• Guide stakeholders through changing or incomplete requirements using a structured, solution-oriented approach.
• Support process design across multiple sites while accounting for applicable U.S. and Canadian operational and regulatory requirements.

ERP Governance & Global Collaboration

• Serve as the North American counterpart to United Petfood's central ERP team in Europe.
• Maintain alignment with global ERP architecture, standards, processes, and governance requirements.
• Communicate regional priorities, challenges, and requirements to Group IT and the central ERP team.
• Participate in cross-regional ERP initiatives and collaborate with global stakeholders on system improvements and future-state design.
• Accommodate occasional early meetings or adjusted schedules when necessary to collaborate effectively with European colleagues.

Implementation Partner & Integration Management

• Work closely with United Petfood's systems integrator and other external technology partners supporting D365 F&O configuration, development, integrations, and larger project initiatives.
• Define project requirements, scope work, and provide clear functional and technical direction to external partners.
• Review and validate partner-delivered solutions to ensure they meet business requirements, technical expectations, and global ERP standards.
• Coordinate ERP integration requirements involving systems such as MES, packaging equipment, weighbridge and scale systems, EDI, and other manufacturing technologies.
• Identify and escalate project risks, system issues, and implementation concerns when appropriate.

Training, Adoption & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and deliver practical D365 F&O training for end users, key users, and business stakeholders.
• Provide hands-on support at plant locations during implementations, migrations, go-live activities, and stabilization periods.
• Promote consistent system usage and adoption across North American facilities.
• Develop and maintain appropriate process, configuration, training, and support documentation.
• Gather user feedback and identify opportunities to improve functionality, processes, reporting, and the overall user experience.
• Support knowledge transfer between North American users, Group IT, and external partners.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years of hands-on experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations in a functional, technical, or combined capacity.
• Demonstrated D365 F&O experience across multiple environments, organizations, or implementations.
• Experience supporting full-cycle ERP implementations, from initial requirements and design through go-live and post-implementation support.
• Experience with multi-site and/or international ERP implementations.
• Strong hands-on D365 F&O configuration and troubleshooting capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to gather, analyze, and translate business requirements into functional and technical solutions.
• Experience managing or directing external consultants, systems integrators, and implementation partners.
• Strong understanding of business processes and the relationship between ERP systems and operational requirements.
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of regional ERP priorities while collaborating effectively with a global team.
• Professional fluency in English.
• Ability and willingness to travel 30–50% throughout the United States and Canada, including occasional multi-week assignments supporting implementations, migrations, or other critical project activities.
• Valid passport and ability to travel between the United States and Canada for business.
• Authorization to work in the United States or Canada without employer sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting D365 F&O within a manufacturing environment; process manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of D365 F&O Advanced Warehouse Management.
• Technical or development experience within the D365 F&O technology stack.
• Experience with ERP integrations involving MES, packaging systems, weighbridge and scale systems, EDI, or similar manufacturing technologies.
• Experience supporting business operations in both the United States and Canada, including relevant tax, payroll, and regulatory considerations.
• Professional proficiency in French is strongly preferred due to support of our Drummondville, Quebec facility.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• High level of ownership and ability to operate autonomously as the primary North American ERP resource.
• Ability to balance global standards with practical local business requirements.
• Strong business acumen and ability to understand operational processes beyond the technical ERP environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with audiences ranging from shop-floor and operational employees to senior leadership and technical teams.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, practical business language.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills across different functions, locations, and cultures.
• Ability to prioritize competing demands and remain effective when requirements or priorities change.
• Sound judgment when evaluating proposed solutions, configurations, customizations, and partner-delivered work.
• Comfortable working within a lean, collaborative, and fast-changing international organization.

Workplace Safety

• Follow all company safety, security, and site requirements while working at United Petfood facilities.
• Participate in required safety training and comply with applicable plant safety and food safety requirements.
• Follow applicable procedures when working in or supporting technology within manufacturing and production environments.
• Immediately report unsafe conditions, incidents, near misses, or other safety concerns.

Why Join Us?

At United Petfood, we believe in investing in our employees and providing opportunities for growth and development. As our Senior IT Analyst — North America, you will have a direct and visible impact on the digital foundation supporting our growing North American operations.

This role offers significant autonomy and the opportunity to become a key link between our North American business, European ERP organization, and implementation partners. You will help shape how D365 F&O supports our facilities as we continue to grow while gaining exposure to operations across multiple locations and countries.

We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a collaborative international environment where ownership, initiative, and practical problem-solving are valued.

Equal Opportunity Employer: United Petfood Producers USA Inc. is an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.