ERP Director

GTN Technical Staffing; City of Lockport (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

This on-site Director of IT & Business Systems role leads ERP strategy and technology alignment for a manufacturing company in Lockport, NY. The ideal candidate will drive Epicor Kinetic ERP initiatives, oversee IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and vendor management while partnering with executive leadership to enable growth and operational excellence.

Responsibilities include shaping ERP roadmaps, managing system integrations, reporting, and ongoing optimization; ensuring data quality; and

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in IT, business systems, ERP, or related technology roles.
• Strong understanding of ERP systems and business applications.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing ERP systems, implementations, upgrades, integrations, enhancements, or optimization initiatives.
• Strong understanding of IT infrastructure, including networks, hardware, servers/cloud, cybersecurity, backups, and disaster recovery.
• Experience managing third-party IT and ERP vendors.
• Ability to work directly with business leaders and translate operational requirements into technology solutions.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and project-management skills.
• Ability and willingness to work on-site in Lockport, NY.

Responsibilities

• Own the ERP and business systems strategy, roadmap, priorities, and ongoing optimization.
• Serve as the internal SME and business liaison for Epicor Kinetic ERP.
• Evaluate, prioritize, and manage ERP enhancements, integrations, reporting, and system improvements.
• Oversee ERP upgrades, integrations, data quality, reporting, and standardization.
• Provide leadership for IT infrastructure: networks, servers, cloud, cybersecurity, backups, and DR.
• Develop a 12–36 month technology roadmap covering ERP, infrastructure, cybersecurity, hardware, software, data, and business systems.

Skills

ERP knowledge

Manufacturing experience

IT leadership

Vendor management

Cybersecurity

Project management

Strong communication

Tools

Epicor Kinetic

Job description

Our client is a growing, manufacturing company seeking an experienced Director of IT & Business Systems to lead the company's technology and business systems strategy.

This is a highly visible, hands‑on leadership opportunity for an IT professional who understands that ERP is at the center of the business. The ideal candidate will have strong experience with manufacturing ERP systems, with Epicor Kinetic experience strongly preferred. Hands‑on experience configuring, troubleshooting, optimizing, or supporting Epicor is a significant plus.

This individual will serve as the company's primary technology leader, working closely with executive leadership, operations, finance, supply chain, engineering, production, quality, and other business functions to ensure technology and ERP systems support the company's growth.

The role is on‑site in N. Buffalo, NY and is best suited for a practical, business‑minded technology leader who can move comfortably between ERP strategy, business process improvement, infrastructure oversight, cybersecurity, vendors, and day‑to‑day technology decisions.

Key Responsibilities

ERP & Business Systems — Primary Focus

• Own the company's ERP and business systems strategy, roadmap, priorities, and ongoing optimization.
• Serve as the internal subject matter expert and business liaison for Epicor Kinetic ERP.
• Evaluate, prioritize, and manage ERP enhancements, integrations, customizations, reporting, and system improvements.
• Work directly with ERP consultants and third‑party partners to ensure projects and support activities are delivered effectively.
• Identify opportunities to improve manufacturing, inventory, purchasing, production, costing, scheduling, labor, quality, and supply‑chain processes through better use of ERP capabilities.
• Translate business requirements into practical ERP solutions and system improvements.
• Partner with department leaders to identify process inefficiencies and determine whether they should be addressed through ERP configuration, workflow changes, automation, training, or process redesign.
• Oversee ERP upgrades, integrations, data quality, reporting, and system standardization.
• Hands‑on Epicor Kinetic experience is strongly preferred, including experience with system configuration, troubleshooting, reporting, workflows, integrations, or other technical/business‑system functions.
• Manage relationships with Epicor and third‑party ERP consultants and hold vendors accountable for quality, responsiveness, timelines, and results.
• Ensure the ERP environment continues to scale with the company's growth.

IT Infrastructure & Technology

• Provide leadership and oversight for the company's IT infrastructure, including:
• Networks
• Servers and cloud environments
• Workstations and hardware
• Microsoft technologies
• Telecommunications
• Backup and disaster recovery
• Manage the company's managed service provider and other third‑party technology partners.
• Ensure infrastructure is reliable, secure, scalable, and aligned with business requirements.
• Develop and maintain a 12–36 month technology roadmap covering ERP, infrastructure, cybersecurity, hardware, software, data, and business systems.
• Evaluate technology investments and make recommendations based on business value, risk, and return on investment.

Cybersecurity & Business Continuity

• Provide oversight of the company's cybersecurity program and third‑party security providers.
• Establish and maintain appropriate controls around:
• Access management
• Backups
• Disaster recovery
• Monitoring
• Data protection
• Assess technology risks and work with third‑party providers to establish appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Ensure business continuity and disaster recovery plans are documented, tested, and maintained.
• Serve as the primary internal owner for IT and ERP vendor relationships.
• Establish expectations, service levels, priorities, and accountability with third‑party providers.
• Manage contracts, licensing, consulting engagements, and technology expenditures.
• Evaluate outsourced versus internal capabilities based on cost, responsiveness, business impact, and scalability.
• Ensure external partners are proactive rather than simply reactive to issues.

Business Partnership

• Work closely with executive leadership and department heads to understand business objectives and translate them into technology solutions.
• Act as a bridge between technology and the business, ensuring IT decisions are driven by operational and financial priorities.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives throughout the organization.
• Help leadership understand technology opportunities, risks, costs, and priorities.
• Support food safety, SQF, traceability, documentation, data integrity, and audit‑readiness requirements through appropriate technology systems and controls.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of strong ERP knowledge, manufacturing experience, practical IT expertise, and business acumen.

Required

• 8+ years of progressive experience in IT, business systems, ERP, or related technology roles.
• Strong understanding of ERP systems and business applications.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing ERP systems, implementations, upgrades, integrations, enhancements, or optimization initiatives.
• Strong understanding of IT infrastructure, including networks, hardware, servers/cloud, cybersecurity, backups, and disaster recovery.
• Experience managing third‑party IT and ERP vendors.
• Ability to work directly with business leaders and translate operational requirements into technology solutions.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, communication, and project‑management skills.
• Ability and willingness to work on‑site in Lockport, NY.

Strongly Preferred

• Epicor Kinetic experience.
• Hands‑on experience configuring, troubleshooting, administering, or optimizing Epicor Kinetic.
• Experience with Epicor integrations, reporting, workflows, customizations, or related technical functionality.
• Experience supporting ERP in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with manufacturing processes including production, inventory, purchasing, costing, scheduling, quality, and supply chain.
• Experience working with managed service providers and third‑party ERP consultants.
• Experience in a food manufacturing, packaging, plastics, or similar regulated manufacturing environment.
• Exposure to SQF, food safety, traceability, or similar compliance requirements.

Leadership Profile

This role is ideal for someone who is hands‑on, technically credible, business‑minded, and comfortable taking ownership.

We are not looking for someone who simply manages an IT department. The successful candidate will be someone who can roll up their sleeves, understand the ERP, challenge vendors, troubleshoot business‑system issues, understand the underlying infrastructure, and work directly with the business to improve how technology supports operations.

The successful candidate will be:

• Practical and solutions‑oriented
• Strong in ERP/business systems
• Comfortable working hands‑on when necessary
• Highly accountable
• Business‑focused rather than technology‑focused for technology's sake
• Comfortable managing outside consultants and technology partners
• Able to communicate effectively with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders
• Proactive and willing to identify problems before they impact the business
• Comfortable operating in a lean IT environment