Job Description

Role
We are building a modern Group IT function, and you will help establish it from the ground up as a 'team of one' initially. As the Group IT Manager, you will create and execute the Group IT strategy, ensuring a secure, scalable, and reliable IT environment across our corporate and manufacturing sites.
You will oversee infrastructure, security, applications, ERP/CRM/MRP systems, vendor management, and business continuity. This is a hands-on leadership role with considerable strategic impact and high executive visibility, where you will work closely with our two Business Units, Ops, Finance, and our outsourced IT provider.
Success in this role means delivering:

• A pragmatic and executable Group IT strategy,
• Measurable improvements in security, performance, and reliability,
• A simplified and well integrated system landscape, and
• A prioritized project portfolio that accelerates business outcomes.

Responsibilities
1. Strategy & Governance

• Lead the development and implementation of the Group IT strategy, operating model, and KPIs.
• Establish effective IT governance, policies, and standards across sites.
• Align IT initiatives with business needs across Finance, Operations, R&D, Photonics, and Wireless.

2. Infrastructure & Identity

• Own the Group IT infrastructure: networks, cloud/on prem servers, endpoints and device standards.
• Oversee AD/M365 identity and access management.
• Ensure stable operations, monitoring, backups, patching, and performance delivered together with our outsourced IT provider.

3. Application Architecture

• Define and maintain the application and integration architecture (APIs, data flows, master data).
• Drive consolidation and reduce complexity across ERP, CRM, MRP, and collaboration tools.
• Ensure strong IT support for engineering, R&D, and production environments.

4. ERP, CRM & MRP

• Own the roadmap for ERP (finance, SCM, operations), including enhancements, integrations, and process improvements.
• Lead CRM evolutions and data integrations.
• Assess and implement the future Group MRP solution and ensure tight integration with ERP.

5. Cyber Security & Business Continuity

• Lead the cybersecurity agenda, including MFA, IAM, monitoring, logging, patching, and awareness.
• Oversee incident response together with the outsourced provider and communicate effectively at the executive level.
• Maintain and test business continuity and disaster recovery plans.

6. Vendor, Contract & License Management

• Reassess and optimize performance and value across all IT service providers.
• Lead SLA governance, vendor score carding, and escalation processes.
• Rationalize and optimize software licensing across the Group.

Qualifications

• Master's or bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, or similar
• Proven experience leading IT in an international SME or division (manager/head-of-level).
• Demonstrated ownership of ERP and business process enablement; experience with CRM and MRP selection/roll out.
• Practical cyber security experience (policy to execution).
• Excellent communication skills with both technical and non technical stakeholders.
• Language: Fluent English

Personal Attributes

• Pragmatic, structured, and collaborative.
• Strong stakeholder partner who can challenge and be challenged.
• High ownership mentality with attention to detail and quality.
• Results-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Role model for professionalism and company values

Skills Required