IT Manager – Manufacturing

Are you experienced in Information Technology and looking for a job where your knowledge and experience can make a difference? Look no further! Villari Foods is currently seeking an IT Manager to join our team in Warsaw, North Carolina.

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic IT Manager to oversee and manage the information technology infrastructure within our manufacturing facility specializing in fresh meat processing. This role will involve managing IT systems across the plant floor, including scale interfaces, mobile scanners, and other warehouse applications critical to production, inventory management, and logistics. The IT Manager will ensure that technology supports the entire manufacturing process, from production line operations to the warehouse, while also maintaining security, reliability, and compliance with industry standards.

Job duties:

• IT Systems Management: Oversee the installation, configuration, and maintenance of IT systems and software applications that support production, inventory tracking, warehouse management, and supply chain operations in a fresh meat processing facility.
• Plant Floor Systems Management: Manage and maintain the IT systems that control and monitor plant floor operations, including interfaces for weighing scales, production equipment, and automated machinery. Ensure seamless data flow between these systems and enterprise systems for real-time tracking of production, weight measurement, and quality control.
• Mobile Scanners & Warehouse Applications: Oversee the integration and support of mobile scanners and warehouse management systems (WMS). Ensure the mobile scanning devices used for inventory control, order picking, and tracking in the warehouse are operational, properly configured, and integrated with back-end systems.
• Network Infrastructure & Security: Manage the facility's network infrastructure, ensuring secure and stable connections between manufacturing systems, sensors, monitoring equipment, mobile devices, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Implement cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data and critical systems from unauthorized access.
• Software and Hardware Support: Ensure smooth operation and troubleshooting of software solutions specific to the manufacturing and food processing industries, including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), and automation systems. Provide on-site and remote support for hardware and software issues across the facility, particularly those affecting plant floor and warehouse systems.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Collaborate with management and production teams to analyze data from IT systems, providing insights to improve production efficiency, inventory management, and product quality. Develop and generate reports on key performance metrics, such as production uptime, system performance, inventory levels, and warehouse logistics.
• Regulatory Compliance & Quality Assurance: Ensure IT systems and processes comply with industry-specific regulations, including food safety, traceability, and quality assurance requirements. Work closely with the quality control and compliance teams to maintain accurate records and data integrity.
• Project Management: Lead IT-related projects, such as system upgrades, process automation, and new technology integration. Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources, coordinating with internal teams and external vendors.
• Vendor Management: Manage relationships with IT vendors and service providers, manage service level agreements (SLAs), and ensure that the IT infrastructure meets the needs of the manufacturing process.
• Disaster Recovery & Continuity Planning: Develop and maintain disaster recovery and business continuity plans to ensure the manufacturing operations can continue in the event of a technology failure or other disruptions

To qualify for this job, you must have:

•  Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. A master’s degree or IT certifications (e.g., CISSP, PMP, ITIL) is a plus.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in IT management, preferably within the manufacturing or food processing sector.
• In-depth knowledge of IT infrastructure, including servers, networks, hardware, and software systems used in industrial environments.
• Hands-on experience with plant floor systems, including integration of scale interfaces and manufacturing equipment.
• Experience managing mobile scanners, warehouse management systems (WMS), and other logistics tools.
• Strong understanding of food safety, regulatory standards, and quality control in the manufacturing industry.
• Familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle), Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), and warehouse technologies.
• Must be able to work On-site at the facility with occasional travel between company owned facilities.
• Must be able to work Full-time, with the possibility of evening or weekend work as needed for system upgrades or critical troubleshooting.

 We’d also love it if you have:

• Strong technical expertise in plant floor automation, scale interface management, and mobile scanning technologies.
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to work under pressure.
• Strong communication skills, capable of liaising with both technical teams and non-technical staff.
• Project management experience, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams to deliver IT solutions on time and within budget.
• Knowledge of cybersecurity best practices and data protection laws.
• Ability to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in manufacturing IT, particularly those relevant to plant floor systems and warehouse management.

What Villari Foods offers you:

• Medical insurance
• Company-paid life insurance
• 401K
• Paid vacation days and holidays
• Employee discounts on Villari meat products
• Opportunities for employee recognition
• Opportunities for promotion from within; more than 80% of our leaders started in an entry-level position at Villari Foods!

How Villari Foods is different:

• As a family-owned and operated business, we’re more connected with our team members and truly consider each employee a member of the Villari family.
• We’re a people-focused culture. Team members are not only known but also cared for by peers, leaders, and owners. You aren’t just a number.
• The experience each employee has working at Villari Foods is important to us. That’s why we strive for a better quality of work-life with a slower pace that avoids an eventual burnout.

Physical requirements and work environment:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. To perform assigned duties the following will occur: Standing on one’s feet for long periods of time, walking, and lifting. The employee is regularly required to sit/stand, reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is required to lift to up 75lbs on a daily basis. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus. Slips, trips, and falls; Cuts, lacerations, pinches; Amputations; Electrical shock; Strains; Flying debris; Kickbacks from machines. All safety gear must be properly worn, and all safety rules must be followed to assist in avoiding the above potential injuries. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to a cold, hot or wet environment. Hearing protection is required per company policy.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee is expected to perform other related duties at the discretion of his or her manager to meet the ongoing needs of the organization up to and including all general labor duties. These duties may include any or all of the following: machine loading/unloading, bagging/un-bagging, trimming, label application, box making, cart loading/un-loading, product movement

and general upkeep of the work area.

More about Villari Foods:
Founded in 1925 by Sam Villari, Villari Foods is still a family-owned business with a rich history. As a teenager, Sam came to America from Italy, instilled with the value his native culture placed on pure, good food as an integral part of the family and social life. Today, at Villari Foods, we combine our unwavering commitment to Old World quality with our capacity to keep pace with evolving customer demands – and exceed expectations for great taste, good health, variety, value, convenience, and creativity in the kitchen. With the fourth Villari generation now entering the business, our family remains dedicated to ensuring an exceptional experience for all who enjoy our products.

We offer a wide variety of quality pork and other meat products for retail, foodservice, and export markets. We understand and are responding to consumer preferences for meat products that are locally sourced, humanely raised, organic, and free of antibiotics, hormones, and steroids. And we’re well known for our smoked products.

As part of Villari Foods, we also have our own livestock and trucking operations, which allows for greater quality control and extraordinary customer service, including superior delivery options. We partner with local farms and are committed to environmental sustainability.

EEO Statement:

Villari Foods is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans’ status, status as a disabled individual, or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.

Salary : $60,000 - $80,000