Director, General & Administrative IT

We believe in the power and joy of learning

At Cengage Group, our employees have a direct impact in helping students around the world discover the power and joy of learning. We are bonded by our shared purpose – driving innovation that helps millions of learners improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.  

Cengage Group’s portfolio of businesses supports student choice by providing a range of pathways that help learners achieve their goals and lead a choice-filled life.  

Our culture values inclusion, engagement, and discovery

Our business is driven by our strong culture, and we know that creating an inclusive workplace is absolutely essential to the success of our company and our learners, as well as our individual well-being. We recognize the value of diverse perspectives in everything we do, and strive to ensure employees of all levels and backgrounds feel empowered to voice their ideas and bring their authentic selves to work. We achieve these priorities through programs, benefits, and initiatives that are integrated into the fabric of how we work every day. To learn more, please see https://www.cengagegroup.com/about/inclusion-and-belonging/  

The Director of G&A IT is responsible for leading enterprise technology solutions that support critical business operations across Cengage Group's General & Administrative functions. This role manages diverse technology platforms including Product Information Management/Product Data Management systems, legacy and current ERP integrations, EDI, HR systems, and B2B e-commerce operations while ensuring seamless integration with enterprise platforms like SAP, CRM and other business-critical applications.   

What you'll do here:

Platform & Systems Management

• Oversee Product Information Management (PIM), Product Data Management (PDM), JD Edwards (E1), HR systems, EDI platforms, and related business applications

• Drive platform modernization initiatives and maintain technology roadmaps for assigned systems

• Develop and implement technical debt reduction strategies and architecture roadmaps focused on simplification and cost optimization

• Lead legacy system retirement and application rationalization initiatives to reduce complexity and operating costs

• Manage vendor relationships and evaluate new technology solutions to meet evolving business needs

• Ensure system reliability, performance, and security across all managed platforms  

Program & Project Delivery

• Deliver critical business initiatives on time and within scope, particularly those supporting company-wide transformation programs

• Partner with multi-functional teams on large-scale implementations (ERP, CRM, etc.) to ensure successful integration

• Manage Agile delivery processes and continuously refine development practices

• Proactively identify problems and opportunities, taking action without requiring direction

• Balance multiple projects across disparate systems while maintaining strategic focus  

Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

• Build and maintain strong relationships with business leaders across the organization

• Work closely with Product Management, Legal, HR, Finance, and Go-to-Market teams

• Communicate technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences

• Work to manage external vendors & outsource/offshore relationships

• Partner with business stakeholders to set priorities and manage expectations

• Act as a trusted advisor to internal customers, resolving issues and bridging gaps  

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop software engineering and technical teams

• Provide clear direction on priorities and empower teams to execute effectively

• Foster strong working relationships between technology teams and business process owners

• Cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and innovation

• Support team members' professional growth and career development  

Skills you will need here:

Required Experience

• 10+ years of progressive IT leadership experience, with a strong track record managing enterprise business applications (ERP, PIM/PDM, HR systems, e-commerce platforms)

• Proven success leading large-scale, multi-year system implementations and complex integrations in fast-paced, transformatio