Director of IT Security and Operations

ROLE PURPOSE

The Director of IT Security and Operations is responsible for partnering with the rest of the IT organization in setting the strategic direction and maintaining/operating a corporate-wide, global portfolio of IT services and solutions. Reporting to the VP of IT Operations and Security, you will work to develop and articulate a shared vision for a “best in class” global information systems operations and to assess appropriate technology platforms and vendors partnerships to help deliver such services and enable efficient business operations. 

The Director of IT Security and Operations will be responsible for the overall management of the SAP ecosystem, including planning, support, and rollout of SAP initiatives in conjunction with the delivery teams. This position will monitor SAP system operations and support SAP functional and technical issues and will work closely with Tate & Lyle business to understand their requirements, issues, concerns and will work to research and implement optimal systematic solutions to address their needs. The Director of IT Security and Operations will also work with the external service providers, including SAP, to maintain full lifecycle of the platform, including scheduling and coordinating the installation, upgrade, and maintenance of SAP. 

This position requires an experienced leader with strong business acumen and a detailed working knowledge of information systems, including market-leading platforms/solutions such as Workday and Salesforce, and their applications to a global business.  This is an individual with a track record of competency in the field of information technology, both infrastructure and application services, with direct experience managing teams geographically distributed and with a mix of employees and external partners. 

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

The main responsibilities of the role include but not limited to:

Strategic Leadership:

• Collaborate with the executive team to develop and implement an IT operations strategy aligned with business objectives. 
• Lead and mentor a high-performing IT operations team to grow and nurture talent, achieve departmental goals and objectives and build team bench and succession.  

Infrastructure Management: 

• Oversee the design, deployment, and maintenance of the company's IT infrastructure, including data centers, networks, and cloud services. 
• Ensure the availability, scalability, and security of critical systems and applications. 

Service Delivery: 

• Ensure the timely and effective resolution of incidents, service requests, and issues related to software applications. 
• Establish and monitor service level agreements (SLAs) to meet customer expectations. 

Application Maintenance: 

• Lead efforts to proactively identify and address application issues, bugs, and performance bottlenecks. 
• Collaborate with development teams to prioritize and schedule application enhancements and updates. 

SAP Platform: 

• Lead, Own and create high quality stories to build a backlog for the development team 
• Understand the evolution of the business process intelligence solutions  
• Partner with your engineering team to ensure your services are exceptionally reliable, scalable, and secure.  
• Ensure your features enable data-driven decisions for the creation or sunset of features.   
• Influence external and internal partners at all levels, secure buy-in, and drive successful execution of complicated projects across teams and time zones.  
• Develop a deep understanding of existing implementations of your areas and, in partnership with technical leadership, develop a roadmap for sunsetting legacy features. 
• Contribute to and execute the business roadmap for the SAP Platform and associated technologies working with business partners to ensure demand is prioritized, projects and solutions are effective and business functions are supported. 
• Design, improve and implement robust and controlled business process solutions for Operations functions utilizing SAP and supporting systems to ensure effective integration with other business functions and applications 
• Oversee the development and implementation of solutions that ensure data consistency and availability. Ensure the Master Data Governance policies, guidelines and day to day execution is effective and efficient. 
• Continually improve the use of internal IT processes and tools based on ITIL standards for Incident Management, Request Fulfillment IT Controls and Service/Performance Optimization. 
• Support the implementation of consistent and efficient integration approaches for the Company's merger and acquisition initiatives and lead the implementation of mergers and acquisitions for SAP and integrated applications 
• Develop, implement and influence Tate & Lyle strategic objectives and collaborate on updating the long-term business application roadmap based on those objectives and in overall alignment to the IT Strategy. 
• Work with business and IT teams to define and deploy best in class business process and integration improvements utilizing SAP and Life sciences best practices 
• Contribute to and execute the technology vision for the SAP Platform and work with business partners to propose enhancements to support Tate & Lyle. 
• Enable Tate & Lyle growth strategy by driving efficiency and agility in application development and SAP platform management by leveraging SAP best practices, minimizing customization and assessing IT trends within the organization. Serve as liaison for integration related decisions. 
• Lead SAP Business Analysts and other project team members from the business in the delivery of critical projects which require end to end process and technical expertise based on best practices, business process and SAP expertise. 
• Understand and manage client expectations to ensure strong client service and satisfaction by meeting the needs of clients in a complete and timely manner. 
• Manage relationships with Service Providers/Vendors and internal customers on an ongoing basis. 
• Provide input into resource planning, staffing needs, cost estimation, budget development and cost control. 
• Provide oversight and guidance to the SAP subject matter expert network and SAP training materials; guiding and partnering with SAP Business Analysts to ensure ongoing and effective sustainability. 
• Ensure project deadlines and schedules are met; ensure project team members prioritize multiple tasks effectively and understand the components of running a fiscally successful project. 
• Coaching/advising project team members on project management best practices and consistent application of project standards. 
• Partner with appropriate Tate & Lyle personnel to understand project concept, objectives and approach. 
• Partner with the business owner and project management to define project scope and objectives. 
• Document, prioritize and track requests (changes, enhancements, etc.) and coordinate with the Change Advisory Board to receive proper approvals. 

Service Management and Governance: 

• Support the implementation and provide requirements for IT Operations processes that align with industry best practices, such as ITIL and COBIT. 
• Establish and execute proper governance structure to manage day-to-day operations and vendor management 

Digital Workplace: 

• Work very closely with the Digital Workplace team with a focus on end user computing technology, device management, product ownership, while encouraging a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and customer obsession. 
• Support development and maintenance of robust information systems procedures, including backup strategies, disaster recovery plans, network maps, user training, and security protocols. 
• Oversee the resolution of incidents, service requests and problems associated with service failures or degradations related to hardware and software computing devices, including mobile equipment. 

Continuous Improvement: 

• Drive process improvements and efficiencies within the application maintenance workflow. 
• Implement best practices for incident management and root cause analysis. 

Quality Assurance: 

• Implement and maintain quality assurance processes to ensure the delivery of high-quality application maintenance services. 
• Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to track service quality. 
• Oversee technical design specifications, define test conditions, develop accurate and complete test plans and conduct/coordinate testing according to plan following all change control processes. 
• Identify and documents system deficiencies and recommends solutions. 
• Defines, develops and implements quality assurance practices and procedures, end user test plans and other QA assessments. 
• Responsible for ensuring that all documentation accurately reflects the current status of changes and outstanding issues so that business requirements reflect application features and functions. 
• Ensure that all items follow the change management process and are entered and tracked through the change management process. 
• Work with appropriate personnel to ensure the appropriate level of testing for new functionality or change requests. 
• Ensure continuing operational quality by documenting bug fixes and enhancements, testing and releasing updates. 

Budget and Cost Management: 

• Manage the IT operations budget effectively, optimizing costs while ensuring the delivery of high-quality services. 
• Identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements. 

Vendor and Supplier Management: 

• Manage relationships with IT vendors and service providers to ensure the company receives excellent service and value for investments. 

Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity: 

• Develop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans to ensure uninterrupted operations in case of emergencies or disasters. 

Collaborate with other IT Operations and Security Leadership members: 

• Business Engagement Lead to build and maintain strong relationships with the business, understanding their needs and ensuring a high level of satisfaction. 
• Governance and Service Management Lead to define and implement IT service management best practices to deliver high-quality IT services to internal and external stakeholders, and to establish and monitor service level agreements (SLAs) to meet business requirements. 
• Head of Cyber security to enforce IT security policies and procedures to protect company data and systems, and to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations related to IT operations. 
• Head of end-user experience to properly deliver service desk and remote/on-site support for IT devices and services. 
• ServiceNow Platform owner to define and implement processes and workflows to support proper operations. 

Resource Management: 

• Recruit, train, and develop IT operations staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth. 
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that promotes innovation and teamwork. Consults with senior leaders on aligning security to innovation initiatives. 
• Manage resource allocation, including staffing, training, and skill development of the Application Maintenance Services team. 
• Develop and manage the department's budget effectively. 

EHSQS

• Ensure that the Environmental, Health, Safety, Quality & Security (EHSQS) requirements are enforced. Remembering these are the responsibilities of everyone, not just those with specific EHSQ roles.

What you'll need

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• Proven experience in IT leadership roles, with extensive experience in managing IT operations.
• 8 - 10 + years in leading design, initiatives and on-going support for Operations functions (Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality and Plant Maintenance) enabling process and system improvements
• 8 - 10+ years expert-level knowledge of SAP module configuration as well as integration within SAP to other modules.
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience in leading SAP integration efforts for mergers and acquisitions.
• 5+ years of SAP functional experience in the SAP environment or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• 5+ years of experience in SAP/business application support and delivery in a manufacturing environment leveraging SAP capabilities and best practices.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional leadership and team management capabilities.
• In-depth proficiency in Application Maintenance and support and working with outsourced IT Operations service provider(s).
• In-depth knowledge of IT infrastructure, cloud technologies, and best practices.
• Experience with ITIL or other IT service management frameworks.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity principles and best practices.
• Strong budget management and cost optimization skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Expert knowledge in Computerized System Validation
• Proven project management and leadership skills, including the ability to gather clear business requirements and develop value-based business cases.
• Detailed knowledge of integration points between SAP modules.

What you'll get

As a business operating in 50 countries worldwide, we offer a global rewards package to all employees alongside a range of country-specific benefits. The global package includes a bonus scheme, 16-week Equal Parental Leave, and mental health & well-being support. Specifically, to the UK we offer:

• Flexible working policy

• Competitive salary

• Contributory pension

• Couples medical insurance

• Life assurance

• Discretionary annual bonus

Tate & Lyle is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce.

Tate & Lyle is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce.