IT Business Partner (R&D and Innovation)

Job Description

As the IT Business Partner (R&D and Innovation), you will support the IT Business Partner Manager (R&D, Quality) collaborating with business leaders, including leads from the Research & Development, and Innovation teams, to shape their strategies through technology solution implementations and product adoptions, fostering trust and strong relationships. Serving as a primary liaison between R&D and Innovation business leaders and IT teams, you will provide clear direction and accountability to drive business objectives.

Your role will focus on driving delivery for the R&D software applications (Devex, WebCenter), and supporting the IT Business Partner Manager (R&D, Quality) in identifying opportunities for additional value delivery or integration between groups such as Research & Development, Quality, Innovation, Packaging Engineering, and supporting organizations (such as marketing, supply chain, and finance). Developing a deep understanding of the organization's new product development and innovation and quality processes and pipelines and cultivating strong relationships with relevant business leaders will be pivotal to your success.

Additionally, you will play an active role in shaping demand, managing projects and service delivery management, and fostering growth of the IT-business engagement practice at Lindt North America and providing PLM platform governance on a global level. Your expertise in PLM tools such as DevEx, and WebCenter, as well as technology experience in SAP Quality Management (QM), and the integration points for each brand will be essential. The ideal candidate combines solid technical skills with proven experience as a leader and team worker.

This position is based in Stratham, NH, and requires approximately 10% travel, depending on project requirements and business needs.

Essential Functions

• Delivery Management and Technical Roadmap Development: IT Business Partner (R&D and Innovation) works with the IT Business Partner Manager and the Research & Development and Innovation leadership teams within each subsidiary to ensure delivery of changes and enhancements to the global Devex solution and LSNA IT solutions follows the normal cadence of releases, and looks for way to improve and optimize delivery outcomes for the stakeholders.
• Service Level Management: The IT Business Partner (R&D and Innovation) collaborates with business stakeholders to define and manage service level agreements (SLAs) for IT services. In partnership with the IT infrastructure team ensure all system infrastructure (servers, databases, etc.) are maintained, updated, and right sized in accordance with cyber security policies and procedures, system requirements, and application performance needs.
• Business Case Development: The IT Business Partner (R&D and Innovation) assists Research & Development and Innovation stakeholders in developing business cases for system enhancements, IT projects or initiatives. They help articulate the expected benefits, costs, and risks associated with proposed solutions and support the decision-making process for project prioritization and funding.
• Solution Scoping and Planning: Based on the identified needs, IT Business Partner (R&D and Innovation) is responsible for defining and scoping IT solutions. They facilitate solution design discussions, provide technical and business context, and are responsible for the development and execution of project plans and roadmaps in partnership with the vendor or 3rd party developer.
• Relationship Management: The IT Business Partner (R&D and Innovation) serves as a liaison between the Lindt and Sprüngli North American IT department and the R&D and Innovation business process teams within the North American business units building strong relationships and fostering collaboration.
• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Effective communication is the cornerstone of success for the IT Business Partner (R&D and Innovation). They communicate IT strategies, initiatives, and progress to business stakeholders in a clear and concise manner. They also ensure that business stakeholders are kept informed about IT service levels, system changes, and upcoming projects.
• Change Management and Adoption: The IT Business Partner (R&D and Innovation) supports the change management process by engaging with business stakeholders during the implementation of IT projects. They facilitate communication, training, and user adoption activities to ensure a smooth transition and maximize the benefits of the implemented solutions.
• Continuous Improvement: The IT Business Partner (R&D and Innovation) actively seeks feedback from business stakeholders to identify areas for improvement in IT services and processes. They participate in post-implementation reviews, conduct satisfaction surveys, and drive initiatives to enhance the value delivered by IT to the organization.
• Compliance and Security: The IT Business Partner (R&D and Innovation) collaborates with security and compliance teams to establish and maintain robust security protocols within the Research & New Product Development landscape. Ensuring that IT solutions comply with industry regulations and internal policies.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field required; master’s degree preferred.
• 2-3 years of relevant experience in technology products, including development, implementation, and project management of various technology platforms.
• Experience with Devex PLM and WebCenter software solutions
• 2-3 or more years of professional business analysis experience.
• Understanding of iterative development methodologies.
• Experience developing and running SQL queries for basic data analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience utilizing ServiceNOW
• Experience developing and running SQL queries for basic data analysis.
• Understanding of iterative development methodologies.
• Familiarity with system integration tools, processes, and error handling.

Personal Characteristics

• Strong leadership abilities with the capacity to motivate and inspire cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and foster collaboration across diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Proven ability to influence and negotiate with senior management and business leaders.
• Proactive in identifying and implementing improvements in IT services and processes to enhance omnichannel capabilities and customer satisfaction.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex business requirements and translate them into technical solutions.

Company Description

Lindt and Sprüngli (North America) Inc. is the Supply Chain and Business Shared Services Company supporting the Lindt & Sprüngli family of brands (Lindt USA, Ghirardelli Chocolates and Russell Stover Chocolates), headquartered in Kansas City, MO.

Employment by Lindt & Sprüngli (North America) Inc. is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, and satisfactory employment and background checks.

Lindt & Sprüngli (North America) Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law. Principals only, please.