IT Application Manager (Warehousing & Logistics)

Foster Farms has been serving families since 1939. Since the founding days, Foster Farms has always been committed to providing consumers with the highest-quality, best-tasting poultry products available. Our commitment to excellence, honesty, quality, service, and our valued team members will shine through in everything we do.

Foster Farms is always looking for talented individuals to join the Foster Farms team. We offer the experience of a large organization; however operate like a family business. More than half of our job openings are filled by internal promotion, and we encourage team members to gain a variety of experiences across different functional groups.

Pay Range: $141,920 to $177,400 per year

What You Will Do:

The IT Application Manager will plan, organize, direct, improve and control all activities associated with the Assigned Application Systems (Warehousing, Yard Management and Transportation Management). Additionally, will be responsible for successfully meeting IT customer requirements through the effective planning and managing of the applications systems that support Assigned Functions.

Essential Job Functions:

Manage the activities relative to the Assigned Functions:

• Understand the strategic and functional business requirements of the Warehouse and Logistics functions (Assigned Business Functional area(s)).  Develop plans to deliver systems and services to meet business needs.  Coordinate the overall planning, execution and development and support activities of Assigned Application Systems.  Evaluate client requests from a long-term perspective, resolving conflicting user demands and work with Sr. IT Management to implement solutions which will benefit the entire company.  Develop business cases and ROI analysis for proposed application solutions.  Function as a business consultant for Assigned Functions.  Establish commitments with clients and deliver on these commitments.  Ensure all work is performed in accordance with established IT and Business Systems policies, methodologies and procedures.
• Manage the development of new systems and technology applications that support business operations and are consistent with strategic direction of the Assigned Functions, utilizing technology to create a competitive advantage.  Ensure that systems are implemented on time, are technically efficient, conform to standards and meet client expectations.  Ensure the Foster Farms systems development methodology is consistently and effectively applied on all projects.  Insure that assigned staff is trained and fully able to utilize the methodology on all projects.  Ensure that all systems are fully tested prior to their release into production.  Recommend enhancements to corporate systems development and documentation standards, providing coaching to staff on their use.
• Manage the activities that provide for the day-to-day baseline support of existing Assigned Application Systems.  Ensure production problems are monitored and resolved to achieve high client satisfaction through system reliability/availability.  Ensure that problem fixes and system enhancements are consistent with long-term department and application directions and architecture.  Balance workload of assigned team between new systems development and maintenance/enhancement.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Manage baseline support/maintenance activities, functional enhancement activities and development and implementation of new application solutions/systems and/or technologies.
• Manage timely, accurate resolution of application system issues resulting in the high availability of Assigned Application Systems.
• Navigate ambiguity and make decisions and recommend to Sr IT Management related to setting priorities of staff assignments, staff development, business system software release upgrade timing, business systems’ enhancements and new business systems projects. 
• Work with and manage all levels of IT staff and coordinate internal users to provide application systems support. Additionally, interact with company management, external IT suppliers, IT professional organizations, and IT standards organizations in the management of organizational activities.
• Independently direct the efforts concerning application system’s errors or other critical production system issues and coordinate resolution with internal and/or vendor technical staff as necessary to affect quick repair. 
• Act in an advisory capacity to company management concerning Assigned Application Systems. 
• Recommend organizational structure changes to improve the service level, efficiency and effectiveness of Assigned Functions.
• Develop and maintain a leadership role within IT and Assigned Functions contributing to IT and corporate goals as a team player.
• In conjunction with IT Sr. Management, participate in the development of annual capital and expense budgets for Assigned Functions. 
• Manage (plan, direct and measure) the work assignments of assigned staff.  Ensure detailed task plans and resource requirements are documented for all work and ensure all work is completed accurately and timely. 
• Perform all facets of personnel management; initiating personnel actions to hire, promote or terminate assigned staff members.  Recommend organizational structure changes to improve the service level, efficiency and effectiveness of assigned functions.
• Manage the planning, execution and support of Assigned Functions.  Work with supervisor to ensure plans are in accordance with overall corporate strategic plans.  Evaluate, design and implement cost effective solutions (hardware, software and services), ensuring that solutions are evaluated from a long-term perspective.
• Function as a technology advocate within Assigned Functions, recommending solutions before needs become critical. 
• Communicate effectively and frequently with assigned Business Management of Assigned Functions, IT management, peers, subordinates, clients, vendors and other company management.  Develop rapport in interpersonal relationships through effective listening and communication skills. 
• Develop and maintain a leadership role within IT and assigned business function(s) contributing to IT and corporate goals as a team player.
• Function in a leadership capacity in both Assigned Functions and the IT Department as a whole.  Actively pursue a personal program of formal and informal study to ensure an enhanced, progressive ongoing leadership role.
• In conjunction with IT Sr. Management, participate in the development of annual capital and expense budgets for Assigned Functions.  Participate in the tracking of ongoing expenses for the Assigned Functions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, management/business information systems or related field.
• 8-10 years’ experience in business systems development, enhancement and maintenance with direct experience in programming, systems design and development; with heavy experience utilizing Systems Development Methodologies
• 3-5 years’ experience in managing complex business systems projects (analysis, design, development, testing, implementation and change management) within Assigned Functions.
• 2 + years managing multiple, complex business systems projects, developing and managing projects with aggressive milestones.
• Supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated ability to teach/mentor and educate staff in SAP/ERP or other complex business software solution as well as other IT systems capabilities and best practices.
• Must possess excellent critical thinking skills with the capability to envision creative solutions to complex and challenging business process/system issues.
• Heavy experience applying Systems Development Methodologies in the development of new business systems.
• Excellent interpersonal and management skills.
• Excellent communications skills with the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of management, users, staff and team members, both written and verbal.
• Possession or development of specific skills, knowledge and in-depth experience with non-SAP and SAP eWM, Logistics and Transportation Management and Yard Management systems.  Experience with non-SAP systems is also desired

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree
• 8+ years of IT experience working in a manufacturing organization for a $1+ billion organization.
• 8+ years of experience in Systems Development
• Experience managing Application Systems in an SAP/ERP environment
• Proven track record of developing talent and creating IT talent development programs.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Foster Farms is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minorities, Females, Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Foster Farms participates in E-Verify during the hire process at all locations for all new Team Members.