IT Director - Direct Hire

Location: Eden Prairie, MN - Hybrid

Compensation: $190,000-220,000 + 20% bonus

The Opportunity

This role is responsible for leading and executing technology initiatives across a multi-site manufacturing organization in North America. The IT Director will serve as a hands-on leader who can connect business needs with practical technology solutions while maintaining reliable, secure, and scalable systems.

This is not a purely strategic position. It is best suited for someone who enjoys staying close to execution, working alongside their team, and continuously improving both systems and processes. The role offers the opportunity to modernize a stable environment by thoughtfully introducing data, automation, and AI capabilities.

What You Will Own

• Overall performance and reliability of IT systems, infrastructure, and support services

• Alignment of technology priorities with business objectives across finance, operations, and plant leadership
• Ongoing enhancement of cybersecurity practices and risk management controls
• Evolution of data, reporting, and analytics capabilities to improve decision-making
• Evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies, including AI and automation

• IT financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and vendor oversight
• Leadership and development of a distributed IT team across the U.S. and Canada

Day-to-Day Impact

In this role, you will:

• Partner directly with business leaders to identify opportunities where technology can improve performance and visibility
• Balance long-term planning with immediate operational needs, stepping in where needed to support delivery
• Strengthen system reliability, service levels, and continuity planning across sites

• Lead efforts to enhance cybersecurity posture and reduce risk exposure
• Guide prioritization and execution of technology initiatives, ensuring alignment with business value
• Support and mentor team members while evaluating opportunities to optimize team structure

Skills & Experience

Core Requirements

• Experience leading IT functions within a complex, multi-site environment
• Strong working knowledge of infrastructure, enterprise systems, and application support

• Ability to operate as both a strategic leader and hands-on contributor
• Experience managing vendors, external partners, and technology budgets
• Proven ability to collaborate with executive leadership and operational teams
• Track record of improving processes, systems, or service delivery outcomes

Preferred / Ideal Background

• Experience in manufacturing or industrial settings
• Familiarity with ERP environments (Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience is a plus)
• Exposure to cloud platforms, business intelligence tools, and modern data ecosystems
• Involvement in AI, automation, or advanced analytics initiatives
• Experience supporting geographically distributed teams
• Progression from a senior manager, director, or similar "player/coach" leadership role

Leadership Style & Fit

This role requires a leader who:

• Is comfortable operating in a lean environment and adjusting between strategy and execution
• Takes a practical, value-driven approach to adopting new technologies
• Communicates clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Builds trust across functions and geographies
• Is motivated to evolve an IT function while maintaining day-to-day stability

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.