Director of ERP
Position SummaryThe Director of ERP is a senior IT leader responsible for the strategy, delivery, and continuous improvement of core enterprise applications supporting manufacturing operations, with a primary focus on Oracle JD Edwards (JDE) and technology integration for mergers and acquisitions.This role bridges business operations, finance, supply chain, and IT, ensuring that enterprise systems scale efficiently, integrate seamlessly, and enable rapid onboarding of acquired companies. The position emphasizes process standardization, data integrity, financial controls, and repeatable M&A integration.Key Responsibilities1) Enterprise Application Leadership (JD Edwards-Centric)Own the JD Edwards application portfolio and roadmap, aligned with business strategy and growth through acquisition.Partner with Finance, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Operations, and Commercial teams to ensure ERP capabilities support:Order‑to‑cashProcure‑to‑payManufacturing costingInventory, logistics, and distributionFinancial close and reportingLead JDE enhancements, upgrades, and rationalization initiatives with a focus on process consistency and control.Reduce customizations by driving standard business processes and disciplined governance.Ensure systems support auditability, data quality, and scalable reporting.2) Mergers & Acquisitions IT LeadershipServe as IT owner for acquisition integration of application activities:Pre-close due diligence: application portfolio, data flows, contracts, licenses, and technical debt assessment.Integration planning: target architecture, sequencing, dependencies, resource model, and budget.Day-1 readiness: application integrations and readiness, user training, and critical system continuity.Application & data integration: JDE onboarding strategy (template deployment, migration, coexistence, carve-outs, or phased convergence).Post-close optimization: standardizing processes, decommissioning legacy systems, and establishing steady-state support.Develop repeatable M&A integration playbooks and templates (checklists, work plans, risk register, cutover plans, communication packs).Partner with Finance and Legal to manage license transfers, contract novation, and system separation where required.Ensure acquisitions are integrated in a way that balances speed, risk management, and long‑term standardization.3) Business Process & Data GovernanceEstablish application and process governance across sites and acquired entities.Own master data standards (customers, vendors, items, BOMs, chart of accounts).Drive improved reporting and analytics through clean data and standardized processes across JDE and integrated systems.4) Integration & Application Ecosystem ManagementOversee integrations between JD Edwards and surrounding enterprise systems (e.g., planning, logistics, EDI, reporting, data platforms).Partner with integration, data, and infrastructure teams to ensure reliable, secure, and scalable connectivity.Manage application lifecycle decisions, including upgrades, decommissioning, and consolidation following acquisitions.5) People Leadership & Stakeholder EngagementLead and develop a team of application analysts, engineers, and project resources (internal and external).Foster strong partnerships with business stakeholders by translating operational needs into technology solutions.Act as an executive‑level communicator who can clearly explain integration approaches, risks, and outcomes.Required QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Software Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or equivalent experience.10+ years of progressive IT experience, including 5+ years in leadership/management roles.Deep, hands-on experience with Oracle JD Edwards (World & E1) in a manufacturing environment.Demonstrated leadership in M&A IT integration, including due diligence, cutover planning, and post-merger stabilization.Strong understanding of manufacturing operations and plant realities: uptime sensitivity, change windows, and safety/quality impacts.Proven ability to lead complex programs with cross-functional stakeholders and external partners.Preferred QualificationsExperience in multi-plant manufacturing (high mix/continuous/process environments).Familiarity with OT/IT integration patterns, plant networking concepts, and industrial cybersecurity principles.Experience with iPaaS/API management, EDI, or modern data platforms.ERP upgrade/modernization program leadership (major version upgrades, cloud strategy, or coexistence models).Exposure to Artificial Intelligence solutions in a manufacturing environment.Core CompetenciesManufacturing domain credibility: speaks the language of plants (yield, downtime, scrap, OEE, throughput).ERP mastery with pragmatism: drives standardization and governance without over-customization.M&A integration leadership: methodical planning, risk management, and decisive cutover execution.Executive communication: concise updates, trade-off framing, and clear decision asks.Working ConditionsTravel to plants and acquisition sites as needed for discovery, cutovers, stabilization, and leadership engagement.Occasional after-hours support during planned deployments or acquisition cutover windows.