Why join us?Our purpose is to design for the good of humankind. It's the ideal we strive toward each day in everything we do. Being a part of MillerKnoll means being a part of something larger than your work team, or even your brand. We are redefining modern for the 21st century. And our success allows MillerKnoll to support causes that align with our values, so we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future for everyone.General purpose Develops strategy and directs all IT activities, including business systems and infrastructure components across the Europe region. Partners with business leaders to understand technology requirements and to support their strategic intiatives. Participates in the development of an enterprise-wide strategy for systems development and infrastructure integration. Ensures that MillerKnoll maximizes the use of technology throughout Knoll Europe and leverages enterprise standards to increase reliability and efficiency for our internal and external customers. Directs the activities of multiple individuals to ensure consistent and reliable technology operations.Essential functionsWork with the key stakeholders to define and to implement an Information Technology strategy for Knoll Europe.Recommend the selection or development of technology to deliver the agreed IT strategy, and the required business outcomes.Lead the Knoll Europe ERP implementation and other critical technology related business initiatives to support the business growth.Support the global technology integration.Ensure Knoll Europe's business continuity plans are maintained and tested, and that all legal and SOX requirements of the corporation are met.Manage the tactical and operational IT activities to ensure strategic objectives are met.Manage the Knoll Europe technology budget and accountable for expense.Build a highly functional technology team to support the Knoll Europe business.Communicate business strategy, corporate values, and financial results to team members.Job related skills and abilitiesStrong planning, people and project management skills.Excellent coaching, influencing and communication skills with a 'can do' customer focused approach.Deep knowledge of manufacturing business processes and the ability to lead an end-to-end ERP implementatation in a complicated manufacturing organization.Ability to control costs against set budgets and take corrective action when necessary.Ability to review business performance against set indicators to determine the quality of customer service being provided and take corrective action where necessary.Maintain close contact with key business partners to gauge perceived service levels and provide senior support where issues have not been resolved by others.Foster excellent working relationships with colleagues, customers, suppliers and our trade union.CommunicationsCommunicates facts and ideas clearly, accurately, effectively and persuasively in both written and oral English and Italian.Has effective presentation and listening skills coupled with a consultative style to ensure team commitment.Can provide concise information and is willing and able to conduct regular briefing processes.Able to communicate effectively across all functions and departments and at all levels.Problem solving and decision makingOpen to ideas and able to generate options and solutions. Good reasoning skills to assess opportunities and risks.Gathers information and evaluates facts and is receptive to others' ideas, but will ultimately make a decision.Can manage risk and is not afraid to make (or encourage others to make) reasoned decisions.Considers business priorities and knows when to involve his/her direct manager or managers from other departments.Actively supports continuous improvement.TechnologyHas hands-on experience implementing and supporting a mainstream ERP system in the manufacturing industry.Ability to understand systems and IT infrastructure to meet business unit objectives.Financial awareness and abilitiesIs capable of building realistic budgets and can contribute to the overall budgeting and forecasting process.Can participate as required in financial reviews with the senior management team.Can plan and manage resources on a daily basis.Responds positively to meet the needs of other departments and sets high service standards and acts professionally when with clients.Is able to build rapport, develops trust and is respected by all internal and external customers.Is capable of 'staying ahead' and can understand and head off issues.Is able to present solutions and not problems.Is able to report on IT system and project status's at review meetings, as required.Employee relationsIs clearly able to operate in occasionally tough employee relations environments and can establish constructive working relationships.Can contribute to the development and delivery of effective employee relations practices.Can operate in a unionised environment and is familiar with policy and local agreements.Is able to take appropriate actions to diffuse situations arising.Has an appreciation of employment law and the legal environment.Resource managementSubstantial impact on commercial success and business efficiency through the provision of effective business systems and infrastructure.Manage a team size of 5 to 7 employees or contractors.Contacts and relationshipsReports to the VP of Enterprise Application, International & Group Brands.Frequent contact with employees at all levels in the business across Knoll EuropeRegular contact with the Technology colleagues across the globe.Negotiation and management of Suppliers and Service providers.Person profileEducation and experienceAt least 5 years experience of Information Technology management in a business environment.Substantial experience in the implementation of integrated ERP solution.At least 5 years experience with formal project management methodologies.Exposure to working in a global environment including experience of collaborative/cooperative working across multiple timezones.Bachelor's degree or above.Degree level qualification in a technical subject, or MBA.Ideally 3 years experience in managing an entire IT department in a manufacturing process environment.Experience in the negotiation and management of contracts with third party suppliers for the supply of software and support.CompetenciesExcellent innovative leadership, motivation and interpersonal skills.Able to communicate clearly, both written and verbally in English and Italian.Able to articulate own thoughts clearly and persuade others.Ability to plan and hold business meetings to achieve required outcome.Able to lead decision making meetings without the formal structural authority.Prepared to accept responsibility, make decisions and take risk.Able to undertake both strategic direction/development and the precision execution of regular tactical tasks.Knowledge of modern computerised manufacturing systems, processes and techniques.Change management skills.Prepared to travel frequently throughout Europe.CharacteristicsIs a natural leader and team builder who listens, is sensitive to the needs of others and can create logical debate.Innovative and creative in devising solutions to problems and selling them to other members of the team.Motivates and develops staff through controlled delegation and supports them to achieve team and personal goals.Regularly appraises performance standards and takes corrective action as necessary.Is approachable, open, fair and consistent.Is willing to accept new challenges, implement change and be accountable for results.Is confident, optimistic and with the stamina and drive to meet targets and creates change as well as coping with sustained and changing job demands.Is credible, can operate at all levels and creates the right impression.Is flexible and able to embrace and cope with change.Has a high level of drive, initiative and assertiveness.Is able to work well under pressure.Is inquisitive and innovative.Is self-disciplined and an effective time planner.Has common sense and a pragmatic approach.Thinks logically and conceptually.Ability to engage with multinational and multicultural colleagues.Has personal goals and is able to balance the work/home relationship.Possesses a sense of humour.
