Vice President, Enterprise Applications

ASCENDING; New York (NY); On-site; USD 230,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

ASCENDING seeks a Vice President of Enterprise Applications to modernize and lead the enterprise technology stack onsite in Midtown Manhattan. This contract-to-hire role targets a succession path to CIO within 12-36 months for a high-performing executive.

Responsibilities include setting strategic roadmaps, managing ERP modernization, and ensuring operational stability across manufacturing, distribution, and retail lines.

Qualifications

• 12+ years IT/application leadership experience; apparel/fashion or related manufacturing/distribution environment preferred.
• Expert-level experience with ERP modernization and AS400/IBM i migrations (RPG/CL).

Responsibilities

• Modernize and lead enterprise applications stack; stabilize and transform core business systems.
• Define and implement integration frameworks (APIs, event-driven middleware, microservices) to connect legacy and new systems.
• Own governance, milestones, and change control for ERP initiatives; manage SIT/UAT/test cutover across manufacturing, distribution, and retail.
• Translate complex business requirements into optimized architecture for Design/PLM, Sourcing, Manufacturing, WMS, TMS.
• Drive cross-functional alignment with system integrators, software vendors, and business stakeholders.

Skills

ERP modernization

AS400/IBM i migration

Program management

Leadership & governance

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Systems or Engineering

Tools

APIs

Event-driven middleware

RPG/CL

Job description

Vice President, Enterprise Applications (Contract-to-Hire, Onsite)

Midtown Manhattan, NY

Contract to Hire

Future Track: Succession to Chief Information Officer (CIO)

About the Role

We are seeking an accomplished VP, Enterprise Applications to modernize and lead our enterprise technology stack with direct accountability for stabilizing and transforming core business systems. This is a contract-to-hire executive role based onsite in Midtown Manhattan, designed as a succession path to CIO within 12-36 months for a high-performing leader.

Key Responsibilities

• Enterprise Application Modernization & Legacy Transformation
  • Develop and execute strategic roadmaps to modernize, refactor, or migrate legacy IBM i/AS400 core applications to scalable ERP or cloud platforms.
  • Serve as chief architect, defining modern integration frameworks (APIs, event-driven middleware, microservices) to connect legacy with new systems (e-commerce, POS, supply chain).
  • Address technical debt and reduce risk associated with legacy custom RPG/CL code bases.
• ERP Rescue, Project Management & Rigor
  • Establish project governance, milestone tracking, and change control to bring off-course ERP or application initiatives back on track.
  • Drive program execution - ensuring cross-functional alignment with system integrators, software vendors, and business stakeholders.
  • Own SIT/UAT/test cutover management - protecting operational stability across manufacturing, distribution, and retail business lines.
• Apparel Industry Process Architecture
  • Translate complex business/operational requirements into optimized systems and technology-enabled workflows (Design/PLM, Sourcing, Manufacturing, WMS, TMS).
  • Architect and streamline omnichannel functions (wholesale B2B, EDI, matrix ordering, allocation, POS, e-commerce, dropship, inventory management).

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive IT/application leadership, with at least 5 in an apparel/fashion, Client, or similar manufacturing/distribution environment.
• Expert-level experience with ERP modernization, AS400/IBM i migration (incl. RPG and CL), and hybrid enterprise environments.
• Demonstrated track record as program manager for large ERP implementations, rescues, and/or application modernization projects.
• Deep understanding of retail/wholesale and supply chain processes - PLM, WMS, TMS, EDI, matrix inventory, and DTC.
• Strong team leadership, vendor management, and executive stakeholder communication skills.
• Hands-on approach - comfortable being architecture strategist and program "doer".
• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Engineering, or equivalent; Master's or MBA a plus.