VP Global, Information Technology

AUSTIN POWDER COMPANY; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Powder Company seeks a dynamic VP Global IT to drive technology strategy, AI-enabled modernization, and robust IT governance. You will bridge business goals with technology, shaping an enterprise-wide roadmap, overseeing cybersecurity, ERP evolution, and vendor management in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

The role requires 10+ years of leadership, strong financial acumen, and a proven ability to scale global IT operations while delivering measurable EBITDA improvements.

Qualifications

• Must have 10+ years of IT leadership experience in a manufacturing setting.
• Proven track record in AI/BI/ML adoption and digital transformation.
• Strong financial acumen with focus on EBITDA and cost optimization.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global IT strategy aligned with business goals.
• Lead AI/BI/ML initiatives to enable enterprise data insights.
• Oversee IT architecture, cybersecurity, ERP integrations, and vendor governance.
• Manage budgets and deliver cost-effective technology solutions.
• Build and mentor a global IT organization with ~60 staff.
• Establish IT policies and centers of excellence across the enterprise.

Skills

IT leadership

AI strategy

Cyber security

ERP systems

Vendor management

Budget management

Global team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science / information technology

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Job description

Join the Family - Come work for an exciting company offering great benefits, challenging opportunities, and colleagues who feel more like family.

Job Summary

Reporting to the CFO, the VP Global, IT will have global responsibility for leading the development and evolution of strategy related to technology driven solutions, advance the effective use of AI, IT architecture, cyber security, information systems, and vendor management for Austin Powder (AP). The successful candidate will bridge the gap between ensuring the company’s business goals and objectives are met, while advancing technology capabilities and operating with an streamlined and efficient Enterprise approach. He/she will ensure appropriate metrics exist to deliver optimal business results within a manufacturing and services setting. The Sr. Director, IT, will be expected to create a one, three, and five-year IT road map that supports growth, digital innovation, and transformation. An important aspect of this role will be having the Sr. Director, IT, leverage AI and BI as it relates to IT globally for this growing PE-owned company. He or she will be expected to build global centers of excellence. The VP Global, IT, will provide leadership to a team of approximately 60 worldwide. This team will help develop and communicate the IT vision across the company and take pride in delivering the highest level of service to the business. He/she will foster growth for the individuals of the team and help ensure the team grows to be viewed as value-added resources to Austin Powder. Technically very current, a key thrust of this individual will be the ability to impact and influence global leaders in a cost-focused, highly competitive manufacturing setting. To do this successfully, he/she will need to be a creative thinker who knows how to leverage AI to get things done without just spending money. The goal of AP’s new VP Global, IT, is to use AI to build an intelligent cloud over AP’s current diverse ERP systems. He/she will also look to optimize AP’s currently underutilized CRM system and use the power of ML throughout the business. AP is a complex process / discreet manufacturing / service organization that moves at a fast pace and therefore needs pragmatic IT solutions that will help it make better business decisions while transforming the information function. Because of the competitive landscape, AP needs someone with the proper sense of urgency and results orientation, while also creating solutions that will stand the test of time. Currently, IT works independently across all 6 Business Units and reports into these Business Units. We will be moving the reporting to solid line functional IT and dotted line within the Business Unit. The goal is to pull on the talent of all and create Enterprise solutions for data insights, system stability / efficiency, standardization of data, optimize infrastructure and cyber security.

Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and oversee IT strategies that align with the company’s goals and objectives while advancing technology.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to identify technology needs and opportunities to drive innovation and operational efficiency.
• Oversee the planning, implementation, and management of an AI / BI / ML -focused IT system that will serve as an overlay to AP’s ERP systems.
• Ensure the reliability, security, and scalability of all technology platforms.
• Manage IT budgets, ensuring cost-effective solutions that meet the company's needs and operate at the highest level of service.
• Lead and mentor the global IT team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement IT policies and procedures, as well as global centers of excellence, that promote best practices and operational efficiency.
• Oversee major IT projects, including system upgrades, software / cyber implementations, and infrastructure improvements.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the desired quality standards.
• Manage relationships with external IT vendors and service providers.
• Negotiate contracts and ensure service, cost and payment term levels are met.
• Implement and maintain robust cybersecurity measures to protect company data and systems.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards related to IT and data security.
• Continue to support our cyber roadmap and preparation of a future IPO.
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans to ensure operational resilience of our multiple ERP systems. Plans need to be clear, with accountability and timing.
• Conduct regular reviews and testing of these plans.
• Stay informed about emerging technologies and industry trends relevant to our business.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies and solutions that could enhance AP’s competitive advantage and advance our EBITDA.
• Ensure IT efforts are focused on delivering business results via data insights, system stability / standardization, cyber security, cost effectiveness and ultimately EBITDA results.

Candidate Qualifications

Education

Must possess a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred

Experience and Skills

We seek a highly talented IT professional with a track record of success gained over a career of 10 or more years. The successful candidate will be a strong leader, strategic thinker, developer of talent and highly analytical person with very strong relationship skills and a keen understanding and interest in business result / EBITDA (as opposed to a sole focus on technology). This person will have been trained in a manufacturing setting, ideally a process / discreet manufacturer. He/she will have experience in a performance-driven manufacturing company. He/she must understand the business case and have an appreciation of financial/analytical issues and profit and loss implications. Candidates will have a track record of delivering results and will be perceived to have the potential to grow with the business while leading their team to do the same.

Additional skills include:

• Demonstrated success scaling initiatives with enterprise-level impact.
• Track record of using and leveraging AI within a global manufacturing setting, on time and within budget.
• Sincere interest in AI, BI and ML, as well as a track record in digital innovation and implementing transformations that support driving business growth and EBITDA.
• Experience in managing vendor/service provider relationships and large contracts.
• Strong negotiation, influencing, and problem resolution skills.
• Financial and process skills; an understanding of business case methodology and financial practices and goals - including drivers of process costs, as well as EBITDA implications.
• Demonstrated strategic capabilities and the ability to engage partners and team members at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to present ideas and sell concepts to executive-level leaders.
• Ability to effectively influence senior management.
• Ability to establish and implement departmental goals and objectives.
• Executive presence with strong presentation, team building, and leadership skills.
• Able to effect and manage significant changes.
• Understanding, the current team is fragmented across 6 Business Units and will need to be pulled together as one, well at the same time providing the highest level of service for Business Unit needs.
• Adept at performing in a complex, cross-functional global business environment.
• Motivational and visionary leadership skills, including the ability to recognize and develop emerging leadership talent.
• Must be a person of high integrity who always acts with Austin Powder’s interest first.

Leadership Competencies

• Create a global vision, clear direction, and strategy for the team.
• Establish, manage, and coach the team to clear objectives and performance expectations.
• Attract, motivate, develop, and retain a highly skilled global workforce.
• Lead and enable enterprise-wide thinking in the team.
• Create an environment that values employees and encourages cooperation, open communication, acceptance of change, provides healthy challenges and teamwork across the enterprise.
• Serve as a role model by demonstrating a commitment to company values, high-performance standards, workplace diversity, and driving results.
• Is a hands- on leader who is not above doing what needs to be done. Works side by side with his or her colleagues to ensure results. A strategic thinker and a doer.
• Will be tenacious and dedicated to delivering the best possible business-aligned results.
• Will act with a sense of urgency and quickly gather sufficient data and information required to make sound decisions and take action.
• Possess tactical and strategic capabilities and be able to apply them pragmatically.
• Capable of developing a deep understanding of the business and focusing all efforts and driving the highest level of value in the business.
• Process-driven, but results-focused within a fast-paced environment.
• Able to obtain input from others to execute critical initiatives.
• Will be dynamic and flexible to move with business needs.
• Effectively build relationships, establish credibility, and develop the loyalty of individuals inside and outside the company.

Austin Powder is an Equal Opportunity and Aff… Employment decisions are based upon job‑related reasons regardless of an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Austin Powder also participates in E‑Verify. This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60‑1.4(a), 60‑300.5(a) and 60‑741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing compensation. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

SINCE 1833, IMPROVING THE WORLD WE LIVE IN.

Austin Powder has been making explosives for over 190 years and we take great pride in improving the world we live in. In 1833, the Austin family created the company to produce black powder that would help break the rock, mine the minerals and build the canals and railroads to develop the frontier. Initially along the banks of the Cuyahoga River near Akron, Ohio, we grew as the country grew. Today, Austin Powder is a world leader in the industrial explosives industry with a passionate commitment towards safety, a relentless customer focus, a family culture work environment, and a demonstration of respect of towards all. As in our early years, our mission continues to be to improve the world we live in through the safe and responsible use of explosives. Our success has been based on our core values and this has proven to be universally true around the globe as the company has expanded to be one of the leading providers of industrial explosives and blasting services in the world.