Vice President of Information Technology
Roskam Baking · Kentwood
Position Description and Purpose:
Founded in 1923 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Roskam Foods is a leading contract manufacturer that partners with world-renowned food brands, retailers, and food service providers to produce a myriad of frozen, refrigerated and shelf-stable products. We’re a scaled, diversified operation with over 2 million square feet of manufacturing and 50 production lines across 8 facilities in the U.S. and Canada. We believe in the power of purpose-driven leadership to generate value for all. And we’re on a mission to optimize the potential of our people and brands. We are passionate about multiplying possibilities for our employees and our partners.
Roskam Foods produces and packages food products with the goal of consistently meeting and exceeding customer expectations for quality, safety, and wholesomeness.
Key Essential Functions/Duties:
Enterprise Technology Strategy and Leadership
- Develop and execute a pragmatic technology roadmap aligned with Roskam Foods’ growth, manufacturing, customer, and operational priorities.
- Lead all IT functions, including enterprise applications, infrastructure, cybersecurity, service delivery, technical data architecture, integration, and vendor management.
- Translate business needs into clear priorities, investment decisions, accountable owners, and measurable outcomes.
- Support acquisition due diligence and integration planning, as applicable, by assessing technology platforms, cybersecurity, data, infrastructure, contracts, costs, risks, and required investments, and by helping execute practical post-close integration plans.
- Operate as a hands-on executive who can move from strategy and governance into issue resolution, project detail, and implementation when needed.
ERP Program Leadership
- Assume executive accountability for the Microsoft D365 Finance & Supply Chain program, including scope, governance, resources, schedule, risks, budget, quality, and adoption.
- Complete and stabilize the Canadian ERP implementation, resolve open issues, and convert lessons learned into a stronger template for the U.S. rollout.
- Kick off and lead the U.S. ERP implementation with disciplined process design, master data readiness, testing, training, cutover, and change management.
- Plan and execute the incorporation of a recent Canadian acquisition onto the common D365 platform and standardized business processes.
- Maintain a strong preference for standard functionality, limiting customization to compelling regulatory, customer, or business-critical requirements.
Manufacturing Systems and Business Partnership
- Partner closely with operations, finance, supply chain, commercial, quality, and plant leadership to improve business processes through technology.
- Ensure systems support the realities of complex, multi-site manufacturing, including planning, scheduling, inventory, traceability, quality, warehouse, maintenance, and production reporting.
- Build credibility on the plant floor by understanding operational constraints, responding quickly, and balancing enterprise standards with practical execution.
- Identify automation and digital opportunities that improve safety, quality, service, labor productivity, cost, and decision-making.
- Partner with the business owners of Redzone, Workday, OneStream, and other functionally managed platforms to clarify responsibilities and provide appropriate IT support for architecture, integration, cybersecurity, technical data, vendor management, business continuity, and future technology decisions.
Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, and Service Delivery
- Provide reliable, secure, and scalable infrastructure, networks, cloud services, end-user support, disaster recovery, and business continuity across all locations.
- Establish a risk-based cybersecurity program with clear controls, monitoring, incident response, testing, awareness, and executive reporting.
- Improve service management, issue escalation, root-cause resolution, asset lifecycle planning, and user satisfaction.
- Protect production continuity and ensure critical manufacturing and business systems have appropriate resilience and recovery capabilities.
Data, Integration, and Digital Enablement
- Own the technical data architecture, integration platforms, data models, system configuration, security, access controls, and reporting technology across the enterprise.
- Partner closely with Finance leadership and the Director of Master Data. Finance leadership owns the master data governance function, including the Director of Master Data and support team; the Director establishes standards, stewardship practices, and data quality accountabilities.
- Provide the systems, workflows, controls, monitoring, and technical expertise needed to enable effective master data governance and improve data readiness before each ERP phase.
- Identify and selectively pursue practical AI opportunities after the necessary ERP, data, security, and process foundations are in place, prioritizing capabilities embedded in D365, Copilot, and Roskam Foods’ existing Microsoft investments that can produce measurable operational or financial value.
- Advance the practical use of the Microsoft technology ecosystem—including D365, Microsoft 365, Teams, Power BI, Copilot, automation, and analytics—where there is a clear business case, appropriate governance, and an accountable adoption plan.
Governance, Vendors, and Investment Management
- Establish clear governance and accountability across IT-owned and business-owned technology platforms, including decision rights, project prioritization, architecture and integration standards, cybersecurity, responsible AI principles, technology and vendor risk, business continuity, and investment discipline, in coordination with the appropriate business and functional leaders.
- Own and maintain key IT internal controls, including system access, segregation of duties, system change management, cybersecurity, vendor risk, backup and recovery, and technology asset management; ensure controls are documented, tested, monitored, and remediated in partnership with Finance and other control owners.
- Own the complete IT operating and capital budget, including annual planning, forecasting, cost control, technology investments, ERP program spending, and benefits realization.
- Develop transparent business cases, evaluate total cost of ownership, prioritize investments rigorously, and identify practical, scalable solutions that maximize existing technology and produce measurable value within available resources.
- Lead strategic vendor relationships, contracts, licensing, implementation partners, and service-level accountability.
- Provide concise, fact-based reporting to the CEO and executive team, surfacing risks early with alternatives and recommendations.
Organization and Talent Leadership
- Assess and develop the IT organization, clarify roles and accountabilities, and ensure the team has the capabilities required for the ERP journey and ongoing operations.
- Build a culture of ownership, urgency, customer service, continuous improvement, and practical problem solving.
- Establish and regularly report meaningful departmental metrics covering service levels, system availability, cybersecurity, project delivery, internal-control performance, budget performance, user satisfaction, and team capability.
- Develop internal leaders while using external expertise selectively where it accelerates outcomes or fills specialized needs.
- Create repeatable processes and succession depth so critical knowledge is not concentrated in a single person or vendor.
Operating Expectations and CEO Partnership
The Vice President of Information Technology is expected to independently lead day-to-day technology decisions and execution while maintaining close alignment with the CEO and executive team on enterprise priorities, material investments, risk, and major program decisions.
- Bring forward technology strategy, ERP stage-gate decisions, material investments, and significant risk matters with clear recommendations.
- Own execution after decisions are made and maintain transparent accountability for milestones, costs, risks, and benefits.
- Escalate early when business decisions, resources, scope, or adoption threaten critical outcomes.
- Communicate in business terms and avoid unnecessary technical complexity in executive discussions.
Operating principle: Think strategically, engage directly in the details, create clarity, and deliver measurable results without allowing material surprises.
Leadership Scope
Direct leadership responsibility includes the enterprise IT organization and key external technology partners, with oversight spanning the following areas:
- ERP program, Microsoft technology ecosystem, enterprise applications, and partnership with business-owned platforms
- Infrastructure, cloud, networks, and end-user services
- Cybersecurity, business continuity, and disaster recovery
- Technical data architecture, integration, analytics platforms, artificial intelligence, and digital enablement; master data governance and the master data team remain under Finance leadership
- IT governance, vendors, operating and capital budgets, and project portfolio management
The Vice President of Information Technology will work closely with the CEO, executive leadership team, ERP program leadership, finance, operations, supply chain, quality, commercial teams, plant leaders, master data leadership, implementation partners, and strategic technology vendors.
Education/Experience/Skills/Qualifications:
The successful candidate must meet the required qualifications below and should also bring the additional experience and capabilities that follow.
- Required: Senior IT leadership experience in a complex, multi-site manufacturing environment.
- Required: Successful leadership of major ERP implementations from planning through stabilization and adoption.
- Required: Meaningful experience with Microsoft D365 Finance & Supply Chain in a manufacturing context.
- Required: Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise applications, infrastructure, cybersecurity, service delivery, technical data architecture, integration, and vendor relationships.
- Required: Grand Rapids, Michigan presence, with regular on-site availability and travel to operating locations as needed.
- Required: A bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, engineering, business, or a related field.
- Food manufacturing experience, including familiarity with traceability, quality, inventory, production, and supply chain requirements.
- Experience evaluating and selectively adopting practical AI capabilities, particularly within D365 and the Microsoft ecosystem.
- Demonstrated ownership of a significant IT operating and capital budget, including planning, forecasting, prioritization, cost control, vendor negotiation, and the ability to deliver results in a resource-constrained environment.
- Proven ability to operate strategically while personally engaging in project details, problem solving, and execution.
- Experience leading changes across plants and functions, with strong discipline in business processes, technical data readiness, testing, training, and adoption.
- Executive presence and concise communication skills, with the judgment to surface risks early and recommend practical actions.
Roskam Foods offers a competitive compensation package that includes medical, dental, and vision benefits, tuition reimbursement, life and disability insurance, and a 401 (k) plan with company match.
AAP/EEO Statement: Roskam Foods is a recognized veteran-friendly and equal opportunity employer.
We are excited to introduce you to all that Roskam has to offer—from the many valuable benefits to programs that support your lifestyle needs and opportunities for professional development. Roskam is an equal opportunity employer.