Sr. Manager, ITBP - Planning & Procurement

Ferrero SpA; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 125,875 - 176,225; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

401(k)

Paid time off (PTO)

Annual bonus based on company performance

Job summary

Ferrero SpA is looking for a Senior Manager, IT Business Partner for Planning & Procurement in Chicago. This senior position involves partnering with business leaders to optimize technology solutions and drive digital transformation in planning and procurement processes. The role requires strong strategic thinking, communication skills, and a solid background in IT with at least 7 years in business-facing roles. The package includes comprehensive benefits, and salary ranges from $125,875 to $176,225 annually.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive IT experience in business-facing roles.
• Demonstrated experience supporting Planning and/or Procurement functions.
• Strong background in process improvement, project delivery, and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary IT partner for Planning and Procurement leadership.
• Shape the business technology strategy for Planning and Procurement.
• Oversee the delivery, enhancement, and sustainment of technology platforms.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Communication

Business acumen

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business, or Supply Chain

Tools

SAP S/4HANA

IBP/APO

Job description

At Ferrara, Ferrero, Fox’s Burton’s, and The Fine Biscuits Company, we’re loved by people of all generations for the joy we bring—and that joy is crafted by our people. Join us and explore a whole world to discover, where your passion will find its place.

Today, Ferrara is the #1 sugar confectioner in the U.S, with global sales in more than 40 countries. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of over 9,000 employees around the world who deliver and create hundreds of iconic and beloved products.

In the U.S., more than 67 million households annually enjoy our popular brands like NERDS®, Brach’s®, Jelly Belly®, SweeTARTS®, Laffy Taffy®, and Trolli®. In Brazil, Dori has become a household name with snacking products that include brands such as Dori, Gomets, Pettiz, and Yogurte 100. And, in France, Carambar & Co have earned generations of loyal customers through the timeless appeal of iconic candy and chocolate brands such as Carambar, Lutti, Krema, Poulain, Vichy and Terry’s. A privately held company, Ferrara Group is headquartered in Chicago. Ferrara boasts a network of over 30 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia Pacific that includes manufacturing, distribution, sales, and R&D facilities.

Sr. Manager, ITBP - Planning & Procurement

Work Location: Chicago

Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.

Want to make an impact?

Technology powers Ferrara’s transformation of iconic brands into a world-class global business. Following a successful S/4HANA go-live, our IT organization is leading the next phase of digital evolution—scaling platforms, advancing data and analytics, and partnering closely with the business to deliver measurable impact. This is a chance to join a highly innovative IT team with strong executive sponsorship and influence across the enterprise.

The Senior Manager, IT Business Partner – Planning & Procurement is a senior, business-facing IT leader responsible for partnering with Planning and Procurement leaders to shape, deliver, and optimize technology-enabled business capabilities. This role acts as a strategic advisor and delivery leader, translating business strategy and operational needs into integrated, scalable, and value-driven IT solutions.

The role owns the IT relationship, demand portfolio, and delivery outcomes for enterprise Planning (Demand, Supply, S&OP/IBP) and Procurement (Strategic Sourcing, Direct & Indirect Procurement, Supplier Management, P2P) functions. Success is defined by strong business alignment, delivery of measurable value, process maturity, and adoption of standardized, cross-functional solutions.

Ways you will make a difference

Business Partnership & Strategy

• Act as the primary IT partner for Planning and Procurement leadership, building trusted relationships and deep functional understanding
• Shape the business technology strategy for Planning and Procurement aligned to enterprise and supply chain priorities
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve planning accuracy, supplier performance, cost management, and operational efficiency
• Constructively challenge business requests that are misaligned to strategy or enterprise standards

Business Process Redesign & Transformation

• Lead business process redesign and optimization across demand planning, supply planning, S&OP/IBP, sourcing, contracting, and procure-to-pay
• Translate end-to-end business processes and data flows into integrated system and solution designs
• Drive adoption of new processes and systems, influencing new ways of working across cross-functional teams
• Own the IT demand and project portfolio for Planning and Procurement functions
• Provide visibility into scope, timelines, risks, dependencies, and budgets across initiatives
• Escalate and resolve competing priorities across functions and stakeholders
• Ensure delivery discipline across Agile and waterfall methodologies

Solution Delivery & Application Ownership

• Oversee the delivery, enhancement, and sustainment of planning and procurement technology platforms
• Maintain working knowledge of application architecture, integrations, and data dependencies
• Partner with IT delivery teams to manage upgrades, patches, and releases with minimal business disruption
• Ensure solutions can be extended, integrated, and optimized as business needs evolve

Financial & Risk Accountability

• Share accountability for Planning and Procurement project and support budgets
• Ensure effective use of IT investments and vendor spend
• Embed security, controls, and compliance requirements into solutions and processes

Decision-Making Authority

• Determines priorities and sequencing of Planning and Procurement IT initiatives
• Defines scope, delivery approach, and solution options
• Escalates and resolves competing functional points of view
• Authorized to adjust processes and delivery approaches to meet business objectives

Skills that will make you successful

• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen
• Deep curiosity and ability to diagnose root causes of complex problems
• Comfortable operating across multiple business partners with competing priorities
• Strong communicator who can translate between business and technology audiences
• Skilled at driving change, adoption, and cross-functional alignment

Experiences that will support your success

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business, Supply Chain, or equivalent experience
• 7+ years of progressive IT experience in business-facing roles
• Demonstrated experience supporting Planning and/or Procurement functions
• Strong background in process improvement, project delivery, and stakeholder management
• Proven ability to influence senior business and IT leaders

Preferred

• Experience with SAP S/4HANA, planning (IBP/APO or equivalent), and procurement platforms
• Experience in CPG, manufacturing, or process industries
• Knowledge of enterprise integration platforms and analytics solutions
• Certifications such as PMP, ITIL, Agile, APICS/CPIM

What We Offer

At Ferrara, we’re proud to support our employees by providing comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, dental insurance, a 401(k), and paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Candy-2025-OE-QR

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $125,875 - $176,225 annually.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, employment decisions and opportunities at Ferrara will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil union status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, military or veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic information, pregnancy (childbirth or related medical condition), or on any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.