Principal, IT Build Manufacturing

Work Location: ​Chicago​

Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.

Want to make an impact?

The Principal IT Product Manager, Manufacturing plays a strategic role in designing and governing SAP platforms and solutions across a large-scale, complex enterprise environment. This role ensures Ferrara’s Manufacturing Platform are secure, scalable, standardized, and aligned with strategic business and technology roadmaps.

This manager will work directly with Business leaders, IT Leaders and external Service Providers leading enterprise-wide SAP, non-SAP technology platforms facilitating the delivery of scalable, easy-to-sustain standardized solutions.  A keen understanding of the goals and objectives of the Manufacturing function is required.

Ways you will make a difference

Product Management Strategy & Delivery

• Design and maintain enterprise-level Manufacturing architecture (spread across Production Planning, Production Execution, Manufacturing Quality Management, Plant Maintenance) and ancillary applications e.g. RedZone, Waites, Trace Gains etc.
• Create scalable architectures for mission-critical SAP applications, processes, data platforms, and integration layers that span across multiple platforms and end-to-end business process
• A good understanding of MES(preferably RedZone, Condition Monitoring solution e.g. Waites, Engineering Systems and End-to-End processes
• Oversee the design of highly available, geo-distributed architectures optimized for performance and resilience.
• Enable best-in-class platform and products in Food Manufacturing Domain
• Develop technology roadmap aligned with business recommendations, solution concepts and business cases for new investments.
• Develop governance models, security guardrails, and architectural policies to ensure consistent delivery of projects.

Product Management- Delivery

• Provide technical and leadership guidance to the manufacturing team.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop, standardize, and optimize manufacturing processes.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently, ensuring alignment with production priorities and business objectives.
• Drive initiatives to improve quality, reduce costs, and implement advanced manufacturing technologies such as automation and mechanization.
• Oversee timely release of engineering documentation and technical processes.
• Partner with operations leadership to meet design, build, and test milestones for complex programs.
• Ensure robust engineering fundamentals and processes are applied consistently to maintain product integrity and process capability.
• Develop team goals, foster professional growth, and manage roles and accountability across the department.
• Allocate resources to support new and advanced manufacturing processes.
• Lead root cause analyses for new and sustaining products.
• Manage departmental budgets, staffing, and capital equipment planning.
• Maintain a strong focus on safety across all functional areas.

Security, Compliance & Risk Management

• Embed enterprise-grade security and compliance controls into all cloud applications.
• Ensure solutions adhere to corporate policies, regulatory standards, and industry frameworks
• Lead risk assessments for new cloud solutions and vendors to ensure operational continuity through robust disaster recovery and resilience patterns.

Technology Advisory Leadership

• Lead architectural efforts for large-scale transformation programs partnering with Enterprise Architect
• Work across multiple business lines, IT domains, and project teams to guide architecture decisions and resolve technical challenges.
• Experience in enterprise integration platform, integration with ancillary systems for Transportation Management System, Warehouse Management System, Waites, RedZone, TraceGains etc
• Managing budget for projects in Manufacturing Area
• Review solution designs and implementation approaches to ensure alignment with enterprise architecture principles.

Automation, Standardization & Optimization

• Define and support the development of enterprise platforms, standardization across global manufacturing sites, automate processes and drive Continuous Improvement/Continuous Deployment Model across all the sub