Head - IT Applications - Packaging Manufacturing Firm

The Head of IT Applications plays a crucial role in aligning technology solutions with business

objectives, ensuring the efficient operation of IT applications, and contributing to the overall success of the organization.

Key Tasks / Responsibilities:

- Head of IT Applications is a leadership position that involves overseeing the development, implementation, and maintenance of EPL's IT applications. Here are some key job responsibilities associated with this

Strategic Planning:

1. Develop and implement the overall IT applications strategy aligned with the organization's business goals.

2. Collaborate with senior management to understand business requirements and translate them into IT application solutions.

Team Leadership

1. Manage and lead a team of IT professionals, including application developers, analysts, and support staff.

2. Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment.

Application Development and Maintenance:

1. Oversee the design, development, testing, and deployment of IT applications.

2. Ensure the timely delivery of high-quality software solutions.

3. Implement best practices for software development and maintenance.

Technology Stack Management:

1. Stay updated on emerging technologies and trends in IT applications.

2. Evaluate and select appropriate technologies for application development and deployment.

Project Management:

1. Lead project teams in the successful delivery of IT application projects.

2. Monitor project timelines, budgets, and resources.

Vendor Management:

1. Collaborate with external vendors for software solutions or services.

2. Negotiate contracts and manage vendor relationships.

Quality Assurance:

1. Implement and enforce quality assurance processes for application development and deployment.

2. Conduct regular audits to ensure compliance with standards.

Security and Compliance:

1. Ensure that IT applications comply with security standards and regulations.

2. Implement measures to safeguard sensitive data.

User Support and Training:

1. Oversee user support services, ensuring timely resolution of issues.

2. Develop and implement training programs for end-users.

Budget Management:

1. Develop and manage the IT applications budget.

2. Optimize resource allocation for maximum efficiency.

Performance Monitoring:

1. Implement monitoring tools to assess the performance of IT applications.

2. Analyze performance data and initiate improvements as needed.

Documentation:

1. Ensure comprehensive documentation for all IT applications.

2. Maintain an updated repository of documentation for easy reference.

People Perspective:

1. Ability to lead and inspire a team of IT professionals.

2. Strong decision-making skills and the ability to provide clear direction.

3. Capability to align IT application strategies with overall business objectives.

4. Vision to anticipate future technological trends and plan accordingly.

5. Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey complex technical information to non-technical stakeholders.

6. Ability to collaborate and build effective relationships with cross-functional teams.

7. Proficient in project management methodologies to ensure successful project delivery.

8. Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and prioritize effectively.

9. In-depth understanding of IT applications, software development, and related technologies.

10. Knowledge of programming languages, development frameworks, and database systems.

11. Skills in negotiating contracts, managing vendor relationships, and evaluating third-party solutions.

12. Ability to make informed decisions regarding the selection and use of external vendors.

13. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to address complex technical challenges.

14. Ability to troubleshoot issues and implement effective solutions.

15. Understanding of IT security principles and the ability to implement measures to safeguard data.

16. Familiarity with regulatory compliance requirements relevant to IT applications.

17. Proficiency in budget planning and financial management related to IT applications.

18. Ability to optimize resource allocation for cost-effective solutions.

19. Ability to adapt to changing technologies and business requirements.

20. Willingness to embrace new methodologies and approaches.

21. Knowledge of quality assurance processes and the ability to implement and enforce them.

22. Commitment to delivering high-quality software solutions.

23. Ability to foster a collaborative and innovative team environment.

24. Skill in building and maintaining effective working relationships within and outside the IT department.

25. Focus on understanding and meeting the needs of internal and external customers.

26. Commitment to delivering IT solutions that enhance user experience.

Technical Perspective:

1. Expertise across all various modules of SAP HANA

2. Strong understanding of software development methodologies, coding languages, and frameworks.

3. Hands-on experience in application development and deployment.

4. Knowledge of software architecture and design principles.

5. Ability to design scalable, maintainable, and efficient software solutions.

6. Proficiency in database design and management.

7. Experience with relational and non-relational database systems.

8. Ability to design and implement systems integration solutions.

9. Familiarity with middleware and API integration.

10. Knowledge of cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).

11. Experience in deploying and managing applications in the cloud.

12. Understanding of IT security principles and best practices.

13. Ability to implement and manage security measures for applications.

14. Familiarity with testing methodologies and tools.

15. Experience in implementing and overseeing quality assurance processes.

16. Knowledge of DevOps principles and practices.

17. Experience in implementing continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.

18. Awareness of emerging technologies and trends in IT applications.

19. Ability to evaluate and adopt new technologies when beneficial.

20. Familiarity with mobile application development principles.

21. Experience in managing the development and deployment of mobile apps.

22. Knowledge of data analytics tools and reporting solutions.

23. Ability to leverage data for informed decision-making.

24. Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills.

25. Ability to analyze and resolve complex technical issues.

26. Understanding of regulatory requirements relevant to IT applications (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).

27. Ability to ensure compliance in application development and maintenance.

28. Strong documentation skills for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

29. Ability to create and maintain comprehensive documentation.

30. Experience in capacity planning for applications.

31. Ability to optimize resource usage for scalability.

32. Awareness of UX principles to enhance the usability of applications

33. Collaboration with UX designers to create user-friendly interfaces.

Key Skills/Experience Required:

- Min. 15+ years of experience in SAP is must, along with experience of working with multiple countries.

- CA preferred (commercial acumen)

- Must be from manufacturing industry, ideally primary packaging industry. However, other candidates with good business experience, even if from other industry may be considered

- 10+ years of implementation experience, transformation cum digitalization journeys undergone. Any exposure on AI ML