IT and Operational Technology Manager

Solar Foods; Vantaa; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Solar Foods seeks an IT and Operational Technology Manager to own and evolve its IT/OT environment across current and future factories. The role combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, focusing on scalable infrastructure, cybersecurity, governance and productive digital solutions.

You will lead ERP and production systems, collaborate with operations, and drive vendor management and internal ownership. Based at our Vehkala headquarters in Vantaa, Finland.

Qualifications

• A relevant higher education degree in IT, automation, engineering or related field.
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity and hands-on experience in IT and OT environments.
• Familiarity with security and compliance frameworks such as NIS2, ISO/IEC 27001, IEC 62443 and the Cyber Resilience Act.
• Hands-on knowledge of enterprise networking, cloud solutions (Azure/AWS) and VPNs.
• Experience leading complex IT projects (ERP implementations, digitalisation, MES).

Responsibilities

• Own and develop Solar Foods' IT and OT infrastructure, operations and digital capabilities to scale from Factory 01 to Factory 02 and beyond.
• Lead cybersecurity initiatives and regulatory readiness including NIS2, ISO/IEC 27001 and related acts.
• Act as platform/ product owner for ERP and support production systems, MES and SharePoint capabilities.
• Manage IT vendors, services, investments and internal vs external capability decisions.
• Establish IT/OT governance, policies and clear communication with stakeholders.

Skills

IT & OT management

Cybersecurity

ERP ownership

Vendor management

Leadership

Cloud networking

English communication

AI methodologies

Project leadership

Education

Higher education degree in IT/automation/engineering

Tools

Azure

AWS

ERP systems

SharePoint

MES

Job description

Solar Foods is a food technology growth company and global leader in sustainable protein production, solving the global food production problem by offering a completely new alternative to existing animal and plant proteins. We produce the naturally occurring single-cell protein Solein for the food industry. Solein's production is independent of land use, weather and climate conditions, which makes it one of the most sustainable proteins in the world.

At Solar Foods we are not just creating the future, we are already living it. We are looking for an

IT AND OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY MANAGER

As our IT and Operational Technology Manager, you will take overall ownership of Solar Foods' IT and operational technology environment at one of the most important stages of our journey. This is our first dedicated in-house role with end-to-end responsibility for IT and OT, giving you a unique opportunity to define how technology, cybersecurity, governance and digitalisation support our growing business and expanding factory network.

Your work will reach far beyond maintaining existing systems. You will build internal ownership, develop scalable ways of working and ensure that our IT and OT infrastructure is secure, reliable and ready to support: Factory 01, our commercial demonstrator facility; Factory 02, our first large-scale commercial production facility currently under design, and future production facilities.

This role is designed for someone who enjoys creating rather than simply maintaining, combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach and wants to see the direct impact of their expertise.

Your work will be broad, varied and closely connected to Solar Foods' growth. While no two days will be exactly alike, five key themes will define your role.

1. Building scalable IT and OT capabilities

You will own and develop Solar Foods' IT and OT infrastructure, operations, systems and digital capabilities. A central part of your work will be preparing the company for larger production facilities by creating solutions and operating models that can be scaled from our demonstration facility Factory 01 to Factory 02 and, eventually, to a wider international factory network.

2. Strengthening cybersecurity and regulatory readiness

You will lead the continuous development of IT and OT cybersecurity, including network segmentation, traffic filtering, secure remote access and cloud networking solutions.

You will also ensure that our approach develops in line with relevant cybersecurity and compliance requirements, such as NIS2, ISO/IEC 27001, IEC 62443 and the Cyber Resilience Act. This includes developing supplier security requirements and helping the organisation turn regulatory expectations into practical and proportionate ways of working.

3. Enabling business and production systems

You will act as a platform, product or service owner for key business systems, including ERP, and support the development of supply chain, manufacturing execution systems and SharePoint-related capabilities. As new platforms and digital solutions are introduced, you may lead complex implementation and development projects from business requirements and vendor selection through deployment and continuous improvement. Your role will be to ensure that systems genuinely support users, business processes and production needs - not merely that the technology is implemented.

4. Leading vendors, services and investments

You will manage key IT and technology vendors, sourcing, service delivery and the IT budget, ensuring clear responsibilities, strong performance and cost-effective investments. You will also determine where Solar Foods should build internal capabilities and where external expertise creates the greatest value.

5. Establishing internal ownership and ways of working

You will establish clear IT and OT governance, policies, processes and responsibilities across Solar Foods. Working with internal and external stakeholders, you will communicate technical topics clearly, support informed decisions and combine long-term development with practical day-to-day problem-solving.

You will report to our Chief Technology Officer Petri Tervasmäki. You work closely with colleagues across Technology, Operations and across our organization. The role is based at our headquarters in Vehkala, Vantaa

You’ll succeed in this role if you bring

• A relevant higher education degree in IT, automation, engineering, cybersecurity or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• A strong understanding of cybersecurity and hands-on experience in IT and OT environments. Experience in manufacturing OT is an advantage.
• Familiarity with security and compliance frameworks such as NIS2, ISO/IEC 27001, IEC 62443 and the Cyber Resilience Act is an advantage.
• A strong understanding of AI methodologies, risks and opportunities is an advantage.
• Experience leading complex IT projects, such as ERP implementations, digitalisation initiatives or the development of business-critical platforms.
• Experience as a platform, product or service owner for an ERP system, or in a similar role. Experience with supply chain systems and MES is an advantage.
• Hands-on experience in IT service management. An ITIL certification is an advantage.
• Strong technical knowledge of enterprise networking, including routing and switching, TCP/IP, network segmentation, traffic filtering, VPN technologies such as IPSec and SSL VPN, and cloud networking solutions such as Azure and AWS.
• A hands-on leadership style, the ability to coordinate internal and external stakeholders, and clear communication skills in English. Finnish language skills are an advantage.
• You get energy from working in a growing fast-paced manufacturing company.
• You are a team player and believe in Solar Foods' mission and values.

Why join Solar Foods now?

At Solar Foods, you can be part of an exciting journey to revolutionise food while developing your skills and growing with the company. You will have the opportunity to make a visible impact and work alongside friendly, talented colleagues who share their expertise and support one another and make everyday collaboration enjoyable.

Note that since all duties at Solar Foods require precision, reliability, independent judgement, and a good ability to react, the employer has the right to require all new employees to undergo drug tests, performed by the occupational health care service provider.

Solar Foods receives funding from the European Union as part of the European Commission's Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI). #NextGenEU