Senior Director of IT

Rooted in humility, hard work, and some fun and a little weirdness (one of our six ‘Guiding Principles’), we’re a dedicated manufacturer obsessed with experiential and outdoor marketing. Everything from design to production happens under one roof, ensuring our products are proudly American made. As a talented team of LEAN thinkers, we’re committed to continuous improvement and creative solutions, ready to get scrappy when needed to deliver magic for our clients., We’re seeking an experienced IT leader who can not only shape our technology strategy but also drive daily improvements across all departments. You’ll collaborate with teams to tackle bottlenecks and spark ideas for both short, and long term enhancements, ensuring seamless information flow throughout our organization. Your role will focus on breaking down silos and coordinating cross-departmental efforts to boost efficiency. Working closely with the Executive Leadership Team, you’ll help monitor our financial and cultural health, capture new opportunities, and develop strategies for growth while navigating the inevitable growing pains. This position reports into our headquarters in beautiful, Traverse City, MI and is not a remote or hybrid role.

• Custom Application Development: Lead the design and development of custom applications utilizing PHP (Laravel) and TypeScript (Vue 3) that seamlessly integrate with Salesforce, enhancing operational efficiency and user experience
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Engage with business stakeholders to identify opportunities for process improvement and optimization, ensuring alignment between technology solutions and organizational needs.
• Salesforce and ERP Optimization: Drive the customization and optimization of Salesforce and ERP systems to improve functionality, streamline workflows, and enhance overall business performance.
• AI-Driven Development: Champion forward-thinking AI initiatives, such as leveraging Claude and other tools to facilitate software development. Create custom agents tailored to meet specific business requirements and improve automation.
• Enterprise Wide Adaptation: Oversee the adaptation and implementation of technology solutions across the enterprise, ensuring that all systems and processes are aligned with the company’s strategic goals.
• Budget Management: Serve as the sole owner of the company-wide technology and infrastructure budget, monitoring expenditures and ensuring that spending aligns with organizational priorities. Manage outside vendor relationships as needed.
• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a diverse team of developers, system administrators, and helpdesk personnel, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and professional growth.
• Strategic Technology Initiatives: Lead enterprise-wide technology strategic initiatives, identifying and implementing solutions that drive business growth, improve efficiency, and enhance competitive advantage.

• Technical Expertise: A robust background in developing web applications using PHP, Java, C#, and/or Python. You should be well-versed in modern programming practices and frameworks.
• Hands-On Experience: Strong hands-on technical skills, with a willingness to dive into the code and contribute directly to projects. You’ll be an integral part of the development process.
• Cloud Platform Management: Proven experience in managing and optimizing environments on AWS and/or Azure, ensuring high availability, scalability, and security of our cloud infrastructure.
• Problem Solver: Ability to translate operational challenges into effective software solutions that enhance efficiency and drive business value. You should be adept at identifying pain points and innovating practical resolutions.
• Project Management Skills: Strong project management capabilities, including the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams, manage timelines, and oversee project budgets to ensure successful delivery.
• Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage with stakeholders at all levels, facilitating collaboration and understanding across departments.
• Leadership Qualities: A collaborative approach to leadership, with the ability to mentor and inspire team members while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• FUN AND A LITTLE WEIRD: boring dorks need not apply.

Pulled from the full job description Paid parental leave Parental leave 401(k) matching Paid time off Vision insurance Dental insurance Life insurance, * A market competitive compensation package including health, dental, vision, disability and life benefits.

• 4 weeks of paid time off in your first year plus 8 paid Holidays!
• A flexible work schedule. Work/life balance is important to us, and we encourage you to be active outside the office!
• Matching 401k (ROTH and Traditional)
• Paid Parental Leave (Maternity and Paternity)
• Annual Health and Wellness reimbursement
• Plant reimbursement (yep, we pay you to put a plant in the office!)
• A work culture to be proud of, we respect one another, accomplish a TON, and have fun doing it!