Sr. Manager, ITBP - Planning & Idea to Launch

Work Location: ​Chicago​

Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.

Want to make an impact?

Technology powers Ferrara’s transformation of iconic brands into a world-class global business. Following a successful S/4HANA go-live, our IT organization is leading the next phase of digital evolution—scaling platforms, advancing data and analytics, and partnering closely with the business to deliver measurable impact. This is a chance to join a highly innovative IT team with strong executive sponsorship and influence across the enterprise.

Ways you will make a difference

Business Partnership & Strategy

• Act as the primary IT partner for Planning and Idea to Launch leadership, building trusted relationships and deep functional understanding 
• Shape the business technology strategy for Planning and Idea to Launch aligned to enterprise and supply chain priorities 
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve planning accuracy, innovation pipeline visibility, speed-to-market, and operational efficiency 
• Constructively challenge business requests that are misaligned to strategy or enterprise standards 

Business Process Redesign & Transformation

• Lead business process redesign and optimization across demand planning, supply planning, S&OP/IBP, sourcing, contracting, and procure-to-pay
• Translate end-to-end business processes and data flows into integrated system and solution designs
• Drive adoption of new processes and systems, influencing new ways of working across cross-functional teams

Portfolio & Project Management

• Own the IT demand and project portfolio for Planning and Idea to Launch functions
• Provide visibility into scope, timelines, risks, dependencies, and budgets across initiatives
• Escalate and resolve competing priorities across functions and stakeholders
• Ensure delivery discipline across Agile and waterfall methodologies

Solution Delivery & Application Ownership

• Oversee the delivery, enhancement, and sustainment of planning and Idea to Launch technology platforms 
• Maintain working knowledge of application architecture, integrations, and data dependencies
• Partner with IT delivery teams to manage upgrades, patches, and releases with minimal business disruption
• Ensure solutions can be extended, integrated, and optimized as business needs evolve

Financial & Risk Accountability

• Share accountability for Planning and Idea to Launch project and support budgets 
• Ensure effective use of IT investments and vendor spend
• Embed security, controls, and compliance requirements into solutions and processes

Decision-Making Authority

• Determines priorities and sequencing of Planning and Idea to Launch IT initiatives 
• Defines scope, delivery approach, and solution options
• Escalates and resolves competing functional points of view
• Authorized to adjust processes and delivery approaches to meet business objectives

Skills that will make you successful

• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen
• Deep curiosity and ability to diagnose root causes of complex problems
• Comfortable operating across multiple business partners with competing priorities
• Strong communicator who can translate between business and technology audiences
• Skilled at driving change, adoption, and cross-functional alignment

Experiences that will support your success

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business, Supply Chain, or equivalent experience
• 7+ years of progressive IT experience in business-facing roles
• Demonstrated experience supporting Planning and/or Procurement functions
• Strong background in process improvement, project delivery, and stakeholder management
• Proven ability to influence senior business and IT leaders

Preferred

• Experience with SAP S/4HANA, planning (IBP/APO or equivalent), and procurement platforms
• Experience in CPG, manufacturing, or process industries
• Knowledge of enterprise integration platforms and analytics solutions
• Certifications such as PMP, ITIL, Agile, APICS/CPIM

What We Offer

At Ferrara, we’re proud to support our employees by providing comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, dental insurance, a 401(k), and paid time off (PTO).  Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Candy-2025-OE-QR

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $125,875 - $176,225 annually.