IT Manager

Interface Recruitment is hiring an IT Manager for a multi-site speciality chemicals manufacturer supplying regulated industries. This is a hands-on, operational IT role supporting a fast-paced production environment-where uptime matters, cyber security matters, and "factory floor" systems must run reliably.

You'll own day-to-day IT operations, lead local IT support, and manage critical platforms across infrastructure, networks, cyber security, and core business systems including ERP and plant/production applications (e.g. MES, SCADA, OT networks). You'll also drive improvement projects: modernisation, resilience, standardisation and supplier performance.

This role is ideal for an IT Manager with strong manufacturing experience-comfortable bridging corporate IT and operational technology, and confident leading both people and vendors.

What you'll be doing

You'll take ownership of IT service delivery and technology risk across a manufacturing estate., * Lead IT service delivery across production and office environments: IT operations, ITIL processes, incident/problem/change management, and SLA performance.

• Manage site infrastructure: Windows Server, Active Directory, Group Policy, Microsoft 365, endpoint management and patching.
• Own network reliability and plant connectivity: LAN/WAN, Wi-Fi, VPN, switching/routing, segmentation and site-to-site resilience.
• Drive cyber security and governance: vulnerability management, MFA, access controls, security policies, audit readiness and incident response.
• Oversee manufacturing technology support: ERP support coordination, integration with MES/SCADA/OT systems, barcode/label/warehouse tech, and shop-floor devices.
• Manage suppliers and contracts: MSPs, telecoms, hardware/software vendors, licensing, renewals and cost control.
• Deliver IT projects end-to-end: scoping, budgeting, stakeholder management, risk control, cutovers and go-live support.
• Maintain documentation: runbooks, network diagrams, asset registers, DR plans, and SOPs aligned to compliance needs.
• Lead and develop the team: coaching, performance management, rota planning, and creating a proactive "fix it before it breaks" culture., * Microsoft 365, Azure AD/Entra ID, Exchange Online, Intune, Defender, SharePoint/Teams
• Windows Server, Active Directory, DNS/DHCP, Group Policy, RDS, file/print services
• Networking: Cisco/HP/Aruba (or equivalent), VLANs, firewalls, VPNs, SD-WAN (where used), Wi-Fi
• Security: MFA, Conditional Access, endpoint protection, SIEM concepts, vulnerability scanning, backups
• Manufacturing/OT: MES, SCADA, PLC connectivity awareness, OT network segmentation, shop-floor endpoints
• Business systems: ERP (e.g. IFS, Infor, SAP Business One, Dynamics), reporting, integrations, EDI/file transfers
• Backup/DR: Veeam (or similar), offsite backups, restore testing, BCDR planning
• Monitoring: infrastructure monitoring, alerting, capacity planning, log management

• Proven experience as an IT Manager (or IT Operations/Infrastructure Manager) in a manufacturing or industrial environment
• Strong knowledge of IT infrastructure, networks, Windows/Microsoft 365, and operational support
• Good working knowledge of cyber security controls and risk management in an enterprise environment
• Experience supporting ERP and factory/production systems (or collaborating closely with OT/engineering teams)
• Vendor management skills: contracts, SLAs, renewals, budget control
• Strong stakeholder communication-able to work with production, engineering, finance and senior leadership, * Experience with OT/SCADA/MES environments and network segmentation
• Familiarity with manufacturing compliance expectations (audit evidence, change control, SOPs)
• Project delivery experience: infrastructure refresh, M365 migrations, network upgrades, cyber uplift programmes
• ITIL certification or strong ITIL process knowledge