Business Systems Manager - Goodridge USA

The Company
Goodridge is the world’s leading manufacturer of performance fluid transfer systems.  We operate in the OEM, automotive, motorcycle, motorsport, defense and specialist industrial sectors.  This dynamic private company manufactures in ten facilities globally and supplies customers around the world with a unique combination of design, innovation, reliability and outstanding service. Goodridge has a turnover of over £50m and operates globally with manufacturing and distribution operations in the UK, USA, Mexico and Europe, employing more than 420 people worldwide.

The Role

To manage the development, support and use of the USA team’s business system. These include Infor System21, Infor Birst, Infor OS, Truecommerce EDI and InTouch MES. You will work as part of an international I.T. team of 9 and will report to the USA I.T. Manager. The job will involve elements of managing vendors, internal customers and making use of the existing applications support team across the group.

Key Responsibilities

•    Work closely with your internal customers to develop robust and efficient business processes
•    Work with our external support teams (Infor, Microsoft, TouchPath and Truecommerce) to develop new functionality where required
•    Manage the external support teams to ensure support is provided to a satisfactory level
•    Work as part of the Global I.T. Team to support all Business Systems activities in 9 sites
•    Provide a hands-on approach to problem solving – relying on training from our application vendors
•    Manage Business Systems project to ensure they are delivered on time, to budget and to specification
•    To act as the interface between our internal customers and the technical teams (internal and external) to translate business requirements into technical terms
•    To act as a coach for our internal customers to ensure they are as far as possible self-reliant
•    To establish and test our business continuity plans for all business applications
•    Ensure your knowledge remains current by utilizing vendor training programs and by liaising with the user communities in the USA

Skills 
•    Technical / Systems
o    Have a thorough understanding of how databases work
o    Be able to quickly understand how applications function 
o    Be able to translate customer requirements into technical terms
o    Be able to translate technical issues for customers to understand opportunities, problems or issues
•    Leadership
o    Have a balanced coaching style for peers and customers
o    Provide leadership by example
o    Be confident in discussions with all levels within the business 
o    Be able to demonstrate active listening
•    Decision Making
o    Only make a decision after some analysis
o    Take responsibility for decision making
o    Consults others before reaching a conclusion
o    Copes with decision making under pressure
o    Avoids procrastination
•    Persuading and Influencing
o    Be an effective negotiator
o    Remains calm when challenged
o    Be able to present arguments, using varying styles and approach
o    Be able to build solid working relationships
•    Drive and Energy
o    Be results orientated
o    Be able to commit to stretching goals
o    Be able to adapt to change
o    Tenacious and not easily discouraged
o    Maintains a sense of fun
•    Analysis
o    Be able to quickly identify problems
o    Demonstrates an understanding and account of the broader issues 
o    Be able to determine priorities
•    Communication
o    Speaks in a clear articulate manner
o    Is socially confident
o    Keeps people informed
o    Checks for understanding
•    Customer Focus
o    Be able to describe your internal customers and their requirements and expectations
o    Be able to make decisions and  transactions that positively impact the perception of our customers
o    Consistently demonstrates that meeting customer requirements is an absolute minimum standard

Education / Certification / Experience

•    Degree in related field (or 5 years experience)
•    A minimum of three years experience in a similar or related role
•    Bilingual English/Spanish – preferable but not essential
•    Excellent communication skills
•    Able to work independently and as part of a team
•    Ability to deliver projects on time and budget
•    Ability to create and maintain collaborative relationships with customers and coworkers 

First 12 Months KPI’s

The role will be subject to a 90 day onboarding plan which will include mutually agreed KPI success criteria for passing probation. Additionally, the first year’s objectives KPI’s will include some or all of the following (subject to review at the end of probation): -

•    Move from our legacy EDI system to Truecommerce for existing USA customers
•    Implement agreed business lead KPI dashboards using Birst or EPM
•    Implement MES at the Mexico plant
•    Implement Infor OS to the USA and Mexican plants
•    Introduce business workflows using Infor workflow