IT Business Systems Manager

Due to the nature of the role, occasional travel will be required to UK and potentially European sites. Occasional out of hours activities support will be a requirement of this position.

Key areas of responsibility

• Accountable for the overall performance, stability, and security of the business application landscape
• Responsible for the successful rollout of new business software and ERP systems, including replacement of legacy or fragmented platforms.
• Owns the ERP and applications roadmap, ensuring expansion of system functionality, improved workflows, and adoption of advanced capabilities.
• Leads application due-diligence, integration planning, and harmonisation efforts for future acquisitions across all business areas.
• Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, security protocols, and internal governance standards.
• Oversees full application lifecycle management: change requests, development, upgrades, integrations, and retirement.
• Manages documentation, system audits, quality assurance, data retention, and application-level data governance.
• Provides 2nd line support for business applications, offering best-practice guidance and functional expertise.
• Ensures teams remain up to date on ERP features, new releases, and evolving business requirements.

Task Management

• Lead the selection and implementation of new ERP system, ensuring process standardisation, data integrity, and smooth business adoption.
• Manage the maintenance, stability, and performance of all existing applications.
• Collaborate with stake holders to determine and agree the requirements and success criteria for proposed changes.
• Pro-actively drive system enhancements, and uptake in latest functionality to improve efficiencies for the business.
• Oversee functional enhancements, bug resolution, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive service-oriented application support aligned with ITIL principles.
• Ensure all new requirements and change requests are thoroughly analysed, scoped, and delivered effectively.
• Manage application integration efforts, ensuring seamless and secure data flow across systems.
• Develop and maintain KPIs and SLAs relating to application performance and service delivery.
• Direct upgrades, feature deployments, and functionality extensions across all business systems.
• Provide advisory support to the business about system usage, data structures, and best practices.

Resources Management

• Manages the applications budget, including licensing, development, support, and external consultancy costs.
• Oversees vendor relationships, contract negotiations, SLA reviews, and performance monitoring.
• Coordinates with external consultants and partners to support implementation and ongoing operations.
• Ensures optimal use of tools, licences, and systems to maximise value and minimise waste.

• Bring a strong background in IT applications, supported by a degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or a related discipline, or equivalent experience gained through 6 years in relevant roles.
• You will have proven senior leadership experience across business applications, including ERP platforms and other systems that are critical to day-to-day operations.
• Be confident leading major ERP implementations, large-scale system rollouts and the transition away from legacy or fragmented application environments.
• Understand the importance of studio graphics, artwork management and packaging-related systems, such as Esko, Adobe or similar platforms, in supporting business delivery.
• Be comfortable working with application lifecycle management, integration approaches, APIs, data flows and modern software architecture.
• You will be used to working in complex application environments that include SaaS, on-premise and hybrid systems.
• Be an engaging and credible leader, able to manage, develop and mentor application teams, including ERP analysts, system specialists and developers.
• Communicate clearly and confidently, translating technical detail into practical language that business stakeholders can understand and act on.
• Combine strategic thinking with commercial awareness, using technology to simplify processes, improve service and support operational performance.
• Comfortable leading complex, multi-site ERP migrations, transformation programmes and business change initiatives.
• You will bring strong analytical judgement, with the ability to diagnose issues, assess risk and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Collaborative and influential, building trusted relationships and creating alignment across departments without relying solely on direct authority.
• You will be able to support merger and acquisition activity by assessing, consolidating, integrating and standardising application landscapes., * A master’s degree in IT, Engineering, Business Administration or a related discipline would be advantageous.
• Relevant professional certifications, such as ITIL, PMP, PRINCE2 or recognised ERP platform certifications, would strengthen your application.
• Experience with DevOps, CI/CD, and modern development or release management practices would be beneficial.
• Experience in manufacturing, packaging, FMCG or another complex operational environment would help you make an early impact.

• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Free flu jabs
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Life insurance
• On-site parking