IT Manager

Reelcraft hose and cord reels keep the world working. We are a global leader in designing, manufacturing, and providing hose, cable, and cord management systems, and our success is all because of our people. You've probably seen our bright red reels in commercial manufacturing, mechanic shops, home gardens, and even on service trucks. Each reel is designed and built in Northern Indiana by people who are passionate about what they do and focused on making great products even better. In 2017, Reelcraft became a part of the Madison Industries family. Along with the entire Madison family of companies, we are on a mission to make the world safer, healthier, and more productive.

Summary:

Reporting to the CFO, the IT Manager serves as a strategic business partner to key stakeholders while overseeing all IT systems, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and technology operations to ensure the efficient, secure, and reliable operation of the business. This includes management of IT-related budgets, directing department resources to meet internal and external customer needs and regulatory requirements, support and maintenance of existing applications, development of new IT solutions, and effective prioritization and management of projects to ensure reliability and on-time delivery.

This position supports Reelcraft's users in a Windows/MS365 environment with VOIP, and works closely with affiliated entities within the Madison Industries portfolio. The IT Manager leads two direct reports, an IT Help Desk Technician and an ERP Application Project Coordinator, and coordinates and directs the activities of Reelcraft's third-party managed service provider (MSP), which manages the company's servers, to meet evolving IT demands within a growing business.


Cybersecurity is a fundamental responsibility of the IT organization at Reelcraft. The IT Manager is expected to actively monitor the company's security environment, investigate and respond to potential threats, oversee vulnerability remediation efforts, and ensure the effectiveness of security controls across infrastructure, systems, applications, and user populations. The role requires ongoing review of security metrics, risk indicators, audit findings, and internal and external penetration test results, with accountability for driving corrective actions and fostering a culture of security awareness throughout the organization

This role is key in Reelcraft's responsible AI adoption efforts, setting governance and guardrails that protect company data while enabling employees to take advantage of AI tools.


Familiarity with Epicor is a plus.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Partner with business leaders to understand systems and information requirements. Analyze complex business needs and recommend technical solutions. Serve as liaison between users, operations, and programming personnel for systems design, modifications, or troubleshooting.
• Provide expertise, direction, and support to all functional departments on IT-related issues and business needs, ensuring current systems appropriately support all functional areas. Make recommendations for upgrades and alternatives that improve workflow and productivity.
• Ensure compliance with Corporate IT controls, facilitate ongoing compliance audits/reviews, and communicate significant service level interruptions or identified security risks in a timely manner.
• Effectively prioritize and manage all IT-related projects. Manage milestones and targets and allocate resources accordingly to ensure end product reliability, usability, and on-time delivery. Ensure the consistency and sustainability of existing applications by employing implementation standards and procedures for solutions.
• Develop and maintain implementation standards and procedures for technical solutions to ensure consistency of existing applications and user experience.
• Support the ongoing use and optimization of the ERP system to maximize efficiency and meet reporting needs; partner with the ERP Application Project Coordinator on BPM, BAQ, and reporting output improvements.
• Utilize the ERP system, business analysis software, database systems, and other tools to help users develop standard queries, reporting tools, and dashboards that support accurate business decisions at all levels.
• Drive technology deployment projects in manufacturing and supply chain areas such as inventory management, logistics management, barcoding, and plant automation.
• Directly manage and develop the IT Help Desk Technician and ERP Application Project Coordinator, including workload prioritization, performance management, and professional development.
• Coordinate and direct the activities of Reelcraft's third-party MSP responsible for server management, ensuring service levels, security standards, and response times meet business needs. Identify, engage, and supervise other outside technical resources as needed.
• Track department and vendor productivity, output quality, and cost of service, and develop methods to continually improve results.
• Create, maintain, and enforce written IT policies and procedures for the organization.
• Continuously evaluate new technologies and processes, recommend appropriate changes/upgrades, and oversee installation/roll-out.
• Support Accounting with reporting, payroll data, and audit requirements as needed.

Cybersecurity & Risk Management:

• Lead the company's cybersecurity program - including endpoint security, network security, identity and access management, email security, multi-factor authentication, vulnerability management, and threat detection and response.
• Continuously monitor the organization's security posture through security tools, vulnerability assessments, system alerts, and threat intelligence sources; prioritize and drive remediation of identified risks.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce cybersecurity policies, standards, and acceptable use guidelines to protect company systems, data, and intellectual property.
• Manage user identity and access controls, ensuring appropriate provisioning, privileged access management, periodic access reviews, and adherence to the principle of least privilege.
• Coordinate internal and external security assessments, penetration tests, and risk reviews; track findings and ensure timely remediation of identified vulnerabilities.
• Investigate and respond to cybersecurity incidents, security events, and suspected breaches, coordinating with Madison Corporate IT, Legal and internal stakeholders as required.
• Oversee endpoint protection, patch management, malware prevention, and system hardening initiatives to maintain a secure and resilient computing environment.
• Develop and manage security awareness and training programs, including phishing simulation campaigns, end-user education, and ongoing efforts to strengthen the organization's security culture.
• Ensure compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, customer, insurance, and contractual cybersecurity requirements, maintaining appropriate documentation and audit readiness.
• Oversee data protection, backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity capabilities, including testing and validation of recovery procedures and contingency plans.
• Monitor emerging technology risks, including those associated with artificial intelligence (AI), and incorporate them into the broader cybersecurity and risk management program.
• Establish governance and guardrails for AI adoption, including tool evaluation, data handling requirements, access controls, and acceptable use standards, while enabling responsible business innovation.

Cloud Infrastructure & Network Management Additions:

• Administer and maintain Microsoft Azure cloud services including resource groups, virtual machines (VMs), virtual networks (VNets), storage accounts, backup and recovery services, and cloud security controls.
• Manage Microsoft Entra ID including user lifecycle management, group administration, Conditional Access policies, Single Sign-On (SSO), Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and identity governance.
• Monitor Azure resource utilization, performance, security, and cost optimization.
• Design, administer, monitor, and maintain network infrastructure including switching, routing, wireless networking, internet connectivity, and remote access solutions.
• Manage Cisco Meraki switches, wireless access points, security appliances, SD-WAN, VLANs, firmware management, and cloud monitoring.
• Administer Fortinet FortiGate firewalls including security policies, VPN connectivity, IPS/IDS services, web filtering, application control, security monitoring, and threat prevention.
• Maintain secure site-to-site VPN and remote-access VPN connectivity

Specific Resources to be used and managed:

• Reelcraft's ERP system and related modules (BPM, BAQ, DMT, reporting tools)
• Third-party MSP managing servers and network infrastructure
• Endpoint security, backup, and monitoring tools maintained by the MSP
• Help desk ticketing and asset management systems
• Business analysis, database, and reporting/dashboard software

Education and/or Experience:

• 4-year degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or Business Administration required. Advanced degree/certification a plus.
• 5+ years of manufacturing sector IT management experience, including hardware and software support; network administration; continuous improvement; and data security compliance required.
• Experience managing or coordinating third-party MSPs or outside technical vendors required.
• Familiarity with Epicor or similar ERP systems a plus.
• 2+ years of supervisory or people management experience required.
• In-depth knowledge of network and server architecture, hardware, software, and related technologies including client, file, and remote servers, and telecommunications (cellular, VOIP).
• IT project management experience and the ability to identify functional SMEs and partner with stakeholders at all levels.
• Genuine curiosity about AI and emerging technology, with the judgment to balance adoption against security, data privacy, and compliance risk; experience evaluating or implementing AI tools and governance frameworks a plus.

Abilities & Skills:

• Extremely organized with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to interact effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to be a solid team player (leader and individual contributor) and influencer who effectively works both with and through others to achieve desired results.
• Excellent analytical skills to proactively identify, assess, and improve operations and processes.
• High degree of integrity, initiative, and self-accountability, capable of producing results with little or no supervision.
• Ability to mentor and support the professional growth of direct reports.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical users.
• Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently is required to sit. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, and color distinction.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Office setting that includes openness so other conversations are within hearing - moderate noise from the factory and office machines.