VP Information Technology
Job Overview
About Us:
Since 1935, we’ve been on a mission to bring a little extra happiness to everyday life and inspire connections over food. We select the finest ingredients the world has to offer, craft premium products made with love, and never settle for shortcuts. We believe that when we share our food, we share a part of ourselves — and that’s the only way we’d put our name on it.
Today, our small family company has grown into a national leader in specialty olives, peppers, and sauces under the leadership of CEO Jeff Mezzetta, and our commitment to quality has never wavered. With an 80-year legacy behind us and a bright future ahead, we’re seeking passionate, driven candidates to help us bring our cherished family traditions to a new generation.
The ideal candidate will have an immediate connection to our Core Ingredients:
- Crunchy Crunchy: We are hungry for excellence.
- Own It: We think and act as an owner – with appetite, initiative, and responsibility.
- Connection: We build authentic relationships that foster trust and open communications.
- Vibrance: We come to work eager and passionate about fulfilling our vision. When we share our work, we share a part of who we are.
Our immediate need is to hire an interim VP IT while we recruit for the full time position. A critical priority for this 6 to 9 months interim role will be to lead the company’s enterprise-wide ERP transformation — aligning systems, data, and processes to drive operational excellence, cross-functional visibility, and scalable growth.
The VP IT will be responsible for shaping and executing the company's technology initiatives. This role requires a dynamic leader who can blend strategic thinking with hands-on execution, fostering innovation, and leveraging technology to drive business growth, improve processes, and ensure operational excellence.
Responsibilities:
Technology Strategy
- Develop and communicate a clear technology strategy aligned with the company's overall business goals and growth objectives.
- Identify emerging technologies and trends relevant to the food manufacturing industry and evaluate their potential impact on our operations and competitive advantage.
- Drive the implementation of digital transformation initiatives that optimize processes, increase productivity, and enhance customer experiences.
- Develop a comprehensive strategy for the successful implementation of an ERP system within 9-12 months of onboarding. Lead and manage ERP implementation from initiation to completion.
ERP Transformation Leadership
- Serve as the executive sponsor and program leader for the company’s enterprise-wide ERP implementation, ensuring alignment with business strategy, process redesign, and change management best practices.
- Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Finance, Supply Chain, and Commercial leaders to ensure end-to-end business process integration and data integrity.
- Establish governance structures, KPIs, and success metrics to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery and measurable ROI.
- Drive organizational readiness, stakeholder engagement, and end-user adoption across all functional areas.
- Oversee ERP vendor relationships, system integrators, and internal project teams to ensure accountability and quality.
Business Partnership, Leadership and Team Management
- Lead and mentor the technology team, including IT Operations, Business Applications, and Business Intelligence professionals.
- Unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service and business partnership. Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, innovation, continuous learning, and best-in-class service delivery within the technology department.
- Set performance expectations, provide regular feedback, and support and guide professional development for team members.
- Champion a culture of transformation by leading organizational change management efforts related to ERP, automation, and digital initiatives.
- Serve as a key partner to executive leadership in aligning technology investments with enterprise priorities, growth strategy, and customer experience.
Innovation and R&D
- Collaborate with R&D teams to identify opportunities for technology-driven product innovation and development.
- Lead efforts to research, prototype, and test modern technologies that can improve product quality, safety, and traceability.
- Identify and implement opportunities for automation, AI, and advanced analytics to improve forecasting, decision-making, and operational efficiency.
Information Security and Data Privacy
- Oversee cybersecurity measures to protect the company's sensitive information, systems, and intellectual property.
- Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations and industry standards in the handling of customer and employee data.
- Own the company’s data strategy, governance, and analytics roadmap to ensure consistent, trusted data across systems and functions.
Operational Efficiency and Enablement
- Implement robust technology solutions to streamline manufacturing processes, optimize supply chain management, and reduce operational costs.
- Collaborate with teams across the organization to optimize technology as a key enabler of organization effectiveness and efficiency.
Vendor and Stakeholder Management
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with technology vendors, partners, and industry stakeholders.
- Negotiate contracts and partnerships that align with the company's technology roadmap and objectives.
Budget and Resource Management
- Develop and manage the technology department's budget, ensuring cost-effective investments in technology solutions and resources.
- Monitor expenses, evaluate, and deliver ROI on technology initiatives.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; Master's degree preferred.
- Proven experience (10+ years) in technology leadership roles, preferably within the food manufacturing or Consumer Packaged Goods industry.
- Strong track record of driving digital transformation, innovative technology implementation, and process improvement.
- Proven experience in leading ERP implementation projects, preferably in a leadership role. Experience (5+ years) working with ERP systems relevant to the CPG or Food & Beverage industry.
- Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to balance short-term needs with long-term vision.
- Expertise in IT infrastructure, software development, data visualization, and cybersecurity.
- Experience specifically in a Microsoft environment high desirable: Azure AD, O365, InTune and data analytics (PowerBI); exposure to the IFS ERP platform a plus.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively at all organizational levels.
- Proven leadership and team management experience, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and develop high-performing teams.
Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace:
At Mezzetta, we embrace diversity and strive to create an inclusive environment where you know you belong. Part of that commitment includes a zero-tolerance policy and being an Equal Opportunity Employer that prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions at Mezzetta are solely based on merit, qualifications, abilities and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, national origin, disability, military or veteran status, family or parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law. All of us share in the responsibility of fulfilling this commitment and creating a culture where our team can thrive.