Head IT

Motherson; Kanchipuram; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 6,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Motherson is seeking an accomplished IT leader to head Infrastructure, Security, and Applications for its manufacturing footprint in Tamil Nadu. The role drives IT strategy, governance, and digital transformation across plant operations, with a strong focus on SAP/MES integration and vendor management.

Ideal candidate brings 20+ years of IT experience, 5+ years in senior leadership, and a proven ability to align IT with business goals in a manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• 20–25 years of progressive IT experience with at least 5 years in senior leadership overseeing multiple IT functions.
• Experience managing IT infrastructure, cybersecurity programs, enterprise applications (SAP/MES), and large-scale IT projects.

Responsibilities

• Own design, implementation, and maintenance of IT infrastructure including servers, networks, data centers, and cloud platforms.
• Develop and enforce IT security strategy, policies, and compliance with GDPR/local laws.
• Lead IT projects, governance, and PMO practices to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Oversee application management (ERP/SAP, MES, CRM) and ensure seamless data flow across systems.
• Manage IT vendors, contracts, SLAs, and cost optimization.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Project management

Vendor management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/Engineering

MBA or Master's degree

Tools

SAP

MES

ERP systems

Job description

Role & Responsibilities:

IT Infrastructure Management

• Own the design, implementation, and maintenance of the organization's IT infrastructure, including servers, networks, data centers, storage, cloud platforms, and end-user computing environments.
• Ensure high availability, scalability, and performance of all infrastructure components to support business operations (including manufacturing/plant operations where applicable).
• Define and enforce infrastructure standards, architecture roadmaps, and disaster recovery/business continuity plans (DR/BCP).
• Oversee capacity planning, system upgrades, patch management, and lifecycle management of hardware/software assets.
• Drive cloud adoption/migration strategy (hybrid/on-premise/cloud) in line with cost optimization and business needs.
• Monitor infrastructure uptime, SLAs, and ensure minimal downtime through proactive monitoring and incident management.

IT/OT Security & Cybersecurity

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the organization's IT security strategy, policies, and frameworks (e.g., ISO 27001, NIST, CIS controls).
• Own enterprise risk management related to information security identify vulnerabilities, conduct risk assessments, and implement mitigation plans.
• Oversee network security, endpoint security, identity & access management (IAM), data loss prevention (DLP), and cloud security controls.
• Lead incident response planning and management for cybersecurity incidents, breaches, and audits.
• Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, local data protection laws) and industry-specific compliance requirements.
• Conduct/coordinate periodic security audits, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments with internal teams and external partners.
• Drive security awareness training programs across the organization.

IT Project Management

• Lead planning, execution, and delivery of IT projects (infrastructure upgrades, application rollouts, digital transformation initiatives, system implementations) on time and within budget.
• Establish and maintain a project governance framework, including PMO practices, project prioritization, and resource allocation.
• Define project scope, timelines, budgets, and success metrics; track progress and report to senior leadership/stakeholders.
• Manage cross-functional coordination between business units, IT teams, and external vendors/implementation partners.
• Identify and mitigate project risks, ensuring change management and user adoption plans are in place.
• Maintain documentation standards (project charters, status reports, post-implementation reviews).

IT Applications Management (Business Applications, MES & SAP)

• Own the strategy, implementation, and support of core business applications, including ERP (SAP), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), CRM, and other line-of-business applications.
• Ensure seamless integration between SAP, MES, and other enterprise/shop-floor systems to enable end-to-end data flow (plan-to-produce, order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, etc.).
• Lead SAP landscape management modules (e.g., FICO, MM, SD, PP, QM, etc. as applicable), upgrades, patches, and enhancement requests.
• Oversee MES implementation and optimization to support production planning, shop-floor data capture, quality management, and OEE improvement.
• Partner with business functions (Finance, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Sales, HR) to gather requirements and translate them into application solutions.
• Manage application support (L1/L2/L3), ensure SLA adherence, and drive continuous improvement in application performance and user experience.
• Evaluate and implement new business applications/tools to support digital transformation and process automation initiatives.

IT Vendor Management

• Develop and manage relationships with IT vendors, OEMs, system integrators, and managed service providers (MSPs).
• Lead vendor selection, contract negotiations, SLA definition, and commercial terms in coordination with procurement/legal teams.
• Monitor vendor performance against SLAs/KPIs; conduct periodic vendor reviews and audits.
• Manage IT budgets related to vendor contracts, licensing, AMC/warranty renewals, and ensure cost optimization.
• Evaluate new vendors/technologies and build a vendor ecosystem that supports business scalability and innovation.
• Ensure vendor compliance with organizational security, data privacy, and contractual obligations.

Leadership & Governance

• Lead, mentor, and develop the IT team across infrastructure, security, applications, and project management functions.
• Define IT strategy, roadmap, and annual budget aligned with organizational goals; present to senior management/board as required.
• Establish IT policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and governance frameworks.
• Act as a key member of the leadership team, contributing to business strategy from a technology enablement perspective.
• Ensure IT audit readiness (internal/external/statutory audits) and regulatory compliance across all IT functions.
• Drive a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and digital transformation across the organization.

Preferred candidate profile:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field. MBA or Master's degree preferred.
• Experience: 20 to 25 years of progressive IT experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership/managerial role overseeing multiple IT functions.
• Proven experience managing IT infrastructure, cybersecurity programs, enterprise application landscapes (especially SAP and MES), and large-scale IT projects.
• Experience in a manufacturing or plant-based environment is highly desirable, given the MES/shop-floor systems scope.
• Demonstrated experience in vendor negotiation and managing outsourced IT services/MSPs.

Preferred Certifications

• PMP (Project Management Professional) or PRINCE2
• CISSP, CISM, or other recognized security certifications
• ITIL Foundation/Practitioner
• SAP certification(s) relevant to implemented modules
• Cloud certifications (AWS/Azure/GCP) — an added advantage

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong strategic and analytical thinking with the ability to translate business needs into IT solutions.
• In-depth knowledge of network architecture, cloud platforms, cybersecurity frameworks, and enterprise applications (SAP, MES).
• Strong project management and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent vendor negotiation and contract management capabilities.
• Strong leadership, team management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Excellent communication skills — able to engage with technical teams and senior business leadership alike.
• Budget management and cost optimization mindset.
• Change management and business process reengineering experience.