IT M&A Program Manager

Crane Co. is a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products, serving global markets in aerospace & electronics, process flow technologies, engineered materials, and payment & merchandising technologies. With a legacy dating back to 1855, Crane Co. operates in over 25 countries and is committed to operational excellence, innovation, and delivering high-quality solutions to its customers. The IT Program Manager – M&A will play a critical role in supporting Crane Co.’s strategic growth through mergers and acquisitions by leading the integration of IT systems, processes, and infrastructure across newly acquired entities.The IT Program Manager – M&A is responsible for driving the end-to-end IT integration of acquired companies within Crane’s manufacturing businesses, using Crane’s structured tollgate (stage-gate) process to ensure disciplined execution. As a member of the Global Business Solutions IT team, this leader will plan, execute, and oversee all IT workstreams of post-merger integration and carve-out projects – from initial IT due diligence through post-close stabilization – to achieve seamless technology and data integration with minimal business disruption. The role involves developing and continuously refining Crane’s M&A IT integration playbook, incorporating industry best practices and lessons learned to standardize how future integrations are managed. The Project Manager will coordinate cross-functional efforts, hire and manage external vendors for specialized tasks, and ensure that critical areas such as software applications, infrastructure/hardware, data management (with data privacy compliance), and ERP systems (migration or separation) are effectively addressed during integrations.Principle Duties:· Lead full lifecycle IT integration for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, from due diligence through post-close stabilization.· Develop and refine the Crane M&A IT Integration Playbook aligned with the Crane Tollgate process.· Define integration strategy and detailed plans; manage project scope, timeline, and budget; conduct tollgate reviews.· Hire, evaluate, and manage external vendors for specialized IT tasks including ERP migration, Application installation, Security and Infrastructure.· Coordinate cross-functional teams across IT and business units to ensure alignment and execution of integration workstreams.· Oversee integration of IT systems, infrastructure, applications, and ERP platforms (SAP/Oracle/QAD preferred).· Ensure compliance with data regulations (ITAR, DFARS, CMMC, UK MOD), data privacy (GDPR) and IT security standards throughout the integration process.· Implement stakeholder communication and change management plans to support user adoption and minimize disruption.· Identify and mitigate integration risks; resolve issues promptly to maintain project momentum.· Drive realization of IT synergies and process improvements post-integration.· Utilize bleeding-edge technology to proactively identify and architect visual management dashboards to track KPIs.· Own senior leadership communication on all assigned program/project updates.· Provide visibility to program/project costs and set up controls to drive cost optimization.· Work across organizational structures and boundaries to achieve best-in-class business results.· Prescribe and doggedly follow CBS processes and toolkits to achieve operational excellence.· Follow project charge from IT Leadership.· Ensure compliance with IT policies and regulations.Essential Qualifications / Experience:Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.Minimum 5+ years of experience leading IT integration projects in a manufacturing environment.Strong knowledge of enterprise IT systems and architecture, including ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, QAD preferred).Experience managing cross-functional global teams and third-party vendors.Excellent communication and leadership skills.Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.Proven expertise in both Waterfall and Agile project management methodologies for software development.Experience leading/working with remote/global teams and managing vendors.Strong communication and interpersonal skills, and experience engaging with/presenting to senior executive leadership.Demonstrated ability to lead results-oriented teams while promoting an environment that fosters creativity, transparency, and accountability.Desirable Qualifications / Experience:Advanced degree (MBA/MS) in Engineering, Information Systems, or related field.PMP certification.Experience with ERP migrations or carve-outs in M&A contexts.Familiarity with ITIL, Agile, and Lean Six Sigma methodologies.Proficiency with MS Project, Excel, Visio, Power BI, and collaboration tools.Key expectations from the Business:Experience presenting to senior leadership and managing change initiatives.Team player – able to work in a matrix organizationExcellent communication and interpersonal skills – verbal and writtenMust be willing to travel to domestic/international Crane or customer locations, with up to 25% travel at peak times.Key Working Relationships:Partner with Crane Leadership Team, Middle Management, and IT team members.Collaborate with business leaders across functions to share and adopt best practices.Engage with external vendors and acquired company stakeholders to ensure integration success.Opportunities at CRANE:• Personal Development – Work with other high-energy leaders in a results-focused environment• Personal Development – Opportunity to make a big difference by focusing on top business priorities• Career Advancement – Natural candidate for IT Leadership track• Career function change – Ability to easily transition to a BU IT Leadership roleThis description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work being performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.Crane Company. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, general identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.SummaryLocation: The Woodlands, TexasType: Full time