Business Applications Director

About the role

The Business Applications Director is accountable for ensuring that the current and future Customer Engagement (CE) and ERP systems effectively support the requirements of the Packaging Platform businesses.

This position is responsible for guaranteeing system alignment with business objectives, managing critical changes, and leading continuous improvements. The Director also oversees the deployment of ERP D365 across all Packaging platform operations, with a primary focus on facilities in the United States and Europe.

Success in this role requires a collaborative leader capable of coordinating both direct reports and matrix-managed team members to deliver high-quality, cost-effective, and timely solutions that reflect Barry-Wehmiller's best practices. The Director will serve as a key member of Barry-Wehmiller’s ERP and CE Center of Excellence.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Oversee platform ERP improvements and new implementations by handling analysis, coordinating configuration and enhancements, ensuring thorough documentation, supervising data extract-transform-load, managing integration, training, testing cycles, supporting go-live, and guiding stabilization.
• Lead a team of Solutions Analysts, fostering their skill development to support legacy systems while preparing them for Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365) deployments across the platform.
• Coordinate projects and guide team members, collaborating with Business Partners, Project Managers, and Enterprise Services to deliver effective solutions to business teams.
• Serve as the communication link between internal IT and the business community, ensuring transparency on project status, clear KPIs, timely decision-making, and managing escalations to maintain high-quality, on-time project delivery.
• Work in partnership with Solutions Architects to ensure the Platform uses the core BW ERP design and agreed methodologies. For any new requirements, consult with the BW Standards/COE to find suitable solutions while keeping systems standardized.
• Collaborate with Operations and Infrastructure teams to support daily operations and facilitate development and deployment of new systems.
• Manage Packaging Solution Analysts who provide Tier 3 support for divisional and platform systems, including legacy ERPs like Infor XA. Act as the main contact with Enterprise Services Support teams for Tier 1 and 2 issues, escalating as necessary to ensure excellent customer service.
• Collaborate with the Enterprise Business Applications team to develop the strategy, rollout, and iterative improvement of D365 Customer Engagement (CE) modules, ensuring business alignment and smooth integration with ERP and other enterprise systems.
• Manage cross-platform integrations by working closely with Solution Architects and IT teams to enhance business processes and data flow.
• Drive customer feedback efforts within D365 CE using tools like Customer Voice to gain insights and improve customer experience.
• Supervise the training and enablement of business users on D365 CE features and best practices.
• Provide stakeholders with regular updates on D365 CE project progress, user adoption, and continuous improvement activities.
• Develop strategy to ensure master data is accurate, consistent, and aligned with business objectives across all systems and processes.
• Ensure seamless integration of master data across ERP, CE and other enterprise systems.
• Track system performance, monitor KPIs, and manage vendor and ISV relationships to achieve operational excellence and maximize value for the business.
• Help set Platform IT budgets and oversee budgets for platform business application deployments and ongoing operations, along with enhancement/change budgets for current systems.
• Serve as the platform’s representative on the Change Advisory Board.

Qualifications

• B.S. or B.A. degree in Business Administration, Management, Project Management, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
• undefined

Knowledge and Experience

• Must have 7+ years of experience leading ERP deployments, from scope all the way to stabilization in a multinational company.
• Must have broad experience either as part of business operations or be very familiar with broad business operations and have a track record of the successful management of change.
• Must have experience delivering excellent user support within a matrix structure.
• Must have direct experience of leveraging and integrating enterprise level systems, inclusive of ERP, CE (CRM and Field Service), CAD, PDM/PLM, Shop Floor Systems, Business Intelligence, and Consolidation Systems.
• Ideal candidates will have experience implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP & CE SolutionsExperience in systems governance and change control.
• Experience estimating project costs.
• Preferred work experience in a manufacturing company with machine builder/OEM business processes.

Personal Attributes

• Excellent coordination and project management skills, the ability to bring strong oversight to multiple projects and changes running concurrently.
• Excellent ability to collaborate and engage with IT leadership, business customers and external third parties.
• Strong commercial acumen to manage operational and project budgets.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to explain technical concepts to a non-technical audience.
• Must be able to work across all IT technical platforms to coordinate joint resolution of business problems.
• Experience influencing cross-functional teams without formal authority and maintaining strong working relationships.
• Well-developed analytical skills; highly skilled at strategizing, planning, and problem solving.
• Skilled at influencing, prioritizing, and setting expectations to move toward a common goal.
• Collaborative and thrives working cross-functionally; team player willing to “roll up their sleeves” to drive initiatives.
• Ability to work independently.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, and developing others.

Supervisory/Responsibility: Direct supervision of a team of 4-8 Solutions Analysts.

Work Environment

Work is typically performed in a standard office sitting at a desk or table on a level surface.

Position Type

• This is a regular, full-time position with the understanding that a regular work week will require extended days and hours as needed to meet business needs.
• Travel:Moderate domestic and occasional international travel required as part of this role.

Physical Demands

The role requires the use of constant use computers and standard office equipment. Mental and visual attention is necessary to perform various duties.