Company Overview
Watterson is a leading provider of facilities management and emergency response services. Operating nationally across 10+ offices with over 300 colleagues, we are dedicated to delivering high-quality solutions that ensure the safety and efficiency of our clients' operations. We are seeking a strategic and dynamic Director of Information Technology to support organizational growth.
Job Purpose
The Director of Information Technology will partner with the leadership team to lead the planning, development and execution of the technology strategy and roadmap in support of business objectives and growth goals set by the executive leadership team. The position will own and direct the delivery of strategic technology initiatives as well as lead ongoing day to day technology operations, including driving operational improvement opportunities and risk mitigations. The IT Director role spans responsibilities for technical support of the ERP project plan, infrastructure management with the MSP partner, and securing the enterprise against data loss, attack and risks. Long-term responsibilities include the sustainment of the enterprise business systems, based in an Acumatica and Salesforce cloud environment in the Facilities Management/Construction/Industrial Services industries. Responsible for the IT organization overall, and the resource management for internal team members and partner relationships. This will include ongoing quarterly business reviews with key IT partners (including our MSP) and management of overall IT spend. This role is based in-office in our Schaumburg, IL headquarters.
Duties and Responsibilities
Business Transformation
- Provide thought leadership on how technology can be leveraged in support of business goals and strategies with emphasis on Business Systems, Financial Consolidation and Enterprise Business Intelligence.
- Lead enhancement of Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) integration to enable greater efficiency and value from business operations.
- Collaborate with functional leaders, decision makers, systems owners, and end users to define business, financial, and operational requirements and systems goals
Strategy & Planning
- Participate in strategic and operational governance processes as a member of the senior management team, including periodic updates to executive leadership team and Board members.
- Lead IT strategic and operational planning by prioritizing IT initiatives, and coordinating the evaluation, deployment and management of current and future IT systems.
- Enhance, document and communicate the current IT organizational structure, staffing, roles and responsibilities to better support the needs of the business.
- Develop business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for IT spending and initiatives.
Operational Management
- Provide leadership for planning, implementation and support of core IT operations.
- Conceptualize strategic IT initiatives and oversee all IT projects from concept to execution and ongoing support.
- Ensure scalability, uptime and performance of key IT and business systems to support business operations as well as continuous growth.
- Ensure continuous delivery of IT services in line with end users’ service level expectations.
- Promote and oversee strategic relationships between internal IT resources and external entities, including vendors and partner organizations.
- Responsible for execution of all technology projects in a Project Management Role.
Financial Management
- Develop, track, and control the information technology annual operating and capital budgets in partnership with the Finance
- Perform cost-benefit and return on investment analyses for proposed systems or continuous improvements to aid management in making implementation or prioritization decisions.
Supplier Management
- Manage the relationships with (and between) external parties and suppliers, ensuring contracts and service levels are negotiated in line with strategic aims and financial constraints and ongoing service is in-line with agreed contracts.
Acquisition Integration Management
- Lead IT aspects of acquisition due diligence, integration planning, execution and ongoing support.
- Develop an IT organizational, operating and service delivery model that facilitates rapid integrations of new acquisitions. Create reusable assets for repeatable M&A operations.
- Develop and oversee implementation of an IT integration playbook.
- Co-lead unification and streamlining of business processes across the company’s various entities.
Cyber and Data Protection
- Develop and maintain a cyber security program, ensuring proactive measures are in place inclusive of hardware/software hardening, policies and procedures, training.
- Ownership of a data backup and recovery program.
- Develop and maintain the Major Incident & Business Continuity plan for IT and to implement measures designed to safeguard the Information Technology and Management needs of the Foundation in the event of major incidents or disasters.
Position Requirements
Formal Education & Certification
- University degree in the field of computer science or business administration.
Knowledge & Experience
- 7 plus years’ experience managing and/or directing an IT operation, including experience in implementing and managing business systems; familiar with Acumatica ERP and field service applications, integration with CRM systems, business intelligence and content management environments.
- Experience operating with Acumatica ERP required.
- Experience working in the Facilities Management/Construction/Industrial Services industry, with cross-functional understanding of industry specific business processes preferred
- Experience with Mergers & Acquisitions preferred
- Experience working with Private Equity owned Portfolio Companies preferred
- Relevant and demonstrable experience with project management and process improvement, including delivering IT initiatives on-time, on-budget
- Track record of partnering with business stakeholders on business transformation initiatives (e.g. changes in business model, sales & marketing transformation)
- Demonstratable experience with Business Intelligence / Data Analytics.
Personal Attributes
- Executive presence, including excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to present ideas in business-friendly and user-friendly language
- Ability to assemble high-performing teams and create collaborative work environments
- Strong negotiations and vendor management skills
- Keen attention to detail
- Exceptional service orientation