IT Manager

IT ManagerThe Information Systems Administrator is a highly independent, business-focused IT professional responsible for supporting, improving, and evolving the organization's technology landscape. This role combines enterprise application ownership, operational technology support, process improvement, project leadership, and technology research to ensure technology effectively enables business operations.Working with broad direction from the IT Director, this role identifies business and technology challenges, researches and recommends solutions, and leads approved initiatives through implementation and ongoing support. This is a hands-on role requiring direct ownership of systems, configuration, troubleshooting, testing, documentation, vendor coordination, and operational support. Success requires balancing strategic thinking and project execution with a willingness to personally perform the technical and administrative work necessary to achieve results. In addition to direct systems ownership, this role carries a higher level of leadership responsibility within the IT structure, supporting the IT Director with operational oversight and strategic execution, providing leadership across cross-functional initiatives, and helping ensure continuity and effective resolution of complex technology issues.Success in this role requires a versatile IT generalist mindset, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to operate effectively across applications, infrastructure, business processes, vendors, and end users. The role serves as a key technology partner to business stakeholders while helping drive operational excellence, technology adoption, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.Key ResponsibilitiesBusiness Partnership & Continuous ImprovementBuild strong relationships with business stakeholders to understand operational needs and objectives.Identify opportunities to improve processes, automate workflows, reduce risk, and increase efficiency.Translate business requirements into practical technology solutions and actionable recommendations.Communicate technical concepts, risks, and opportunities clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.Recommend and support improvements that enhance operational effectiveness and user experience.Take ownership of identified opportunities from concept through implementation and ongoing operational support, ensuring solutions deliver sustained business value.Balance strategic problem-solving with direct hands-on execution, avoiding unnecessary escalation or reliance on third parties whenever practical.Systems Ownership & Technology AdministrationAdminister, support, and continuously improve assigned enterprise applications, operational technologies, and business systems.Maintain system reliability, performance, security, and documentation.Coordinate troubleshooting, issue resolution, system enhancements, and upgrades.Develop and maintain procedures, knowledge resources, and support standards.Serve as the primary owner for assigned systems, ensuring issues, enhancements, upgrades, and support needs are resolved through direct involvement whenever possible.Perform system configuration, testing, administration, troubleshooting, and support activities rather than solely coordinating the work of others.Provide advanced cross-domain troubleshooting and coordinate resolution across applications, infrastructure, security, and operational technologies when issues require broader IT ownership.Participate in and, where appropriate, lead incident response and root-cause analysis for complex issues spanning multiple systems or technology domains.Maintain accountability for operational outcomes after project implementation, including user adoption, support, and continuous improvement.Application Support & Specialized Systems OwnershipProvide ownership, administration, support, and continuous improvement for technologies that may not fall within traditional application or infrastructure teams, including:Workflow automation and business process toolsWarehouse, logistics, and fulfillment technologiesRetail and point-of-sale systemsTelecommunications and collaboration platformsPhysical security and access control systemsBackup, storage, printing, and RFID solutionsLegacy business applicationsEmerging technologies and future platforms adopted by the businessThe systems assigned to this role may evolve over time as business needs change and new technologies are introduced.Technology Research, Innovation & Project ExecutionInvestigate business and technical challenges and evaluate potential technology solutions.Conduct research, solution evaluations, proof-of-concept activities, and cost-benefit analyses.Develop recommendations, implementation plans, and business cases for review and approval.Lead small-to-medium technology initiatives from investigation and solution design through hands-on implementation, deployment, support, and continuous improvement.Assist with larger strategic projects and organizational change initiatives.Advise the IT Director and other technology stakeholders on risks, dependencies, priorities, and opportunities, and help drive agreed actions through execution.Cross-Functional Collaboration & Vendor ManagementPartner with IT teams, business stakeholders, vendors, consultants, and global technology resources to deliver effective solutions.Coordinate support activities, system enhancements, and project execution across multiple functional areas.Assist with vendor management, software licensing, procurement activities, and service reviews.Support technology lifecycle planning and operational improvement initiatives.Leadership & Organizational ContributionSupport the IT Director in operational oversight and strategic execution across applications, infrastructure, and support activities, providing leadership and continuity across the IT function.Lead select high-impact meetings, project reviews, operational discussions, and cross-functional initiatives when requested by the IT Director.Serve as a trusted resource and escalation point for complex cross-functional issues.Exercise sound judgment, accountability, and independent decision making within established objectives.Contribute to IT standards, governance, process improvements, and operational planning.Mentor and share knowledge with team members while promoting a culture of collaboration, service, and continuous improvement.Lead by example through active participation in operational support, problem resolution, and project execution.Demonstrate a bias toward ownership and execution, combining planning and coordination with direct contribution and delivery.QualificationsRequiredBachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Technology, or related field, or equivalent experience.7+ years of progressively responsible experience supporting business applications, enterprise systems, and technology operations.Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver results with minimal supervision.Experience identifying problems, researching solutions, developing recommendations, and leading implementation efforts.Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills.Ability to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.Proven hands-on experience administering, supporting, configuring, troubleshooting, and improving business applications and operational technologies.Demonstrated ability to independently identify opportunities, develop solutions, lead implementation efforts, and assume ongoing ownership of supported systems through direct hands-on involvement.Ability to balance strategic planning, project leadership, and stakeholder management with direct technical execution and system ownership.Demonstrated experience serving as a senior escalation point and leading resolution of complex, cross-functional technology issues with appropriate independence and judgment.PreferredExperience in retail, distribution, warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, or similar operational environments.Experience leading technology projects, process improvement initiatives, or system implementations.Working knowledge with SAP-related business processes and integrations highly preferred.Experience supporting specialized operational technologies, automation platforms, or business systems.Prior experience serving as a project lead, mentor, supervisor, or team leadExperience serving as both project lead and hands-on contributor within the same initiative, maintaining accountability for project outcomes and ongoing support.Compensation Range: $110,000.00 - $145,000.00 Base Salary Contingent Upon Experience.About UsFor over 290 years, ZWILLING J.A. Henckels has offered premium products that enhance the lives of professional and home chefs worldwide. Since its start as an esteemed cutlery brand, the company has grown to include a coveted collection of cookware, flatware, glassware and kitchen gadgets. Tradition, quality, innovation, and craftsmanship are its ingredients for success.Today, ZWILLING J.A.