Sr. Manager, IT
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced and results-driven Senior IT Manager be the strategic technology partner for our Advanced Protective Material (APM) business. This leader will work directly with senior leadership at APM to identify and deploy technology solutions aimed at enhancing operational performance, driving business strategy, achieving growth, enabling operational efficiencies, and P&L impact. This leader will also be a leader within the global Avient IT organization and ensure that the APM IT strategy is fully aligned with corporate IT strategic initiatives, standards, and policies.
This leadership role will foster and own strong stakeholder relationships and harness digital, data, and AI technologies to boost efficiency, scalability, and security. The ideal candidate will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure IT strategies are aligned with business objectives.
Essential Functions
• Strategic Planning & Leadership:
o Define and articulate a clear product vision and strategy, aligning it with the overall business goals of APM and the global Avient business.
o Translate business needs and customer requirements into actionable product plans and roadmaps.
o Be a visionary strategic partner with key APM business stakeholders to drive business value realization, manage those outcomes in partnership with internal and external partners and focus on making an impact on growth and operating margins.
o Foster a culture of collaboration, driving cross-functional engagement with global Avient business partners & IT stakeholders, while promoting accountability, ownership, and shared responsibility to deliver successful digital initiatives that drive tangible business value and P&L impact.
o Navigate a complex organization to build consensus and alignment with stakeholders and project team.
o Work with project sponsor and stakeholders to manage scope, goals, deliverables, resource management, risks and issue management, budget, and timeline. Make sure projects meet business objectives and are executed according to plan.
o Work with partners to ensure that the maintenance and daily operations (“run”) of the APM business are meeting defined service levels (SLA) and business interruptions are mitigated. Collaborate proactively with Corporate IT to align support resources when necessary.
o Oversee the end-to-end vendor lifecycle, including selection, negotiation, onboarding, performance monitoring, and contract renewals.
o Act as the primary point of contact for resolving vendor-related issues and fostering strong relationships.
o Manage APM IT budgets, ensuring that investments in technology are cost-effective and deliver measurable value to the business.
o Ensure technology compliance with financial regulations and internal policies.
• Technological Vision
o Work closely with corporate IT teams to develop and implement APM strategies for applications, cyber-security, infrastructure, and data / AI innovations. Ensure APM IT strategies are fully aligned with corporate IT strategies.
o Lead the introduction and adoption of digital products, data intelligence and decision intelligence technologies within the APM business.
o Identify and enable innovative solutions through the APM application portfolio by leveraging automation and AI to optimize processes and reduce TCO.
o Identify growth opportunities for the broader Avient company that can leverage APM platforms and existing capabilities.
o Leverage and enforce cyber-security policies, ensuring compliance and readiness to mitigate potential risks.
o Oversee infrastructure modernization projects to enhance system performance, scalability, and reliability.
o Collaborate with internal APM stakeholders and corporate IT teams to define vendor requirements, service level agreements (SLAs), and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Team Management:
o Lead and mentor a team of IT professionals, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
o Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance metrics for team members.
o Provide training and development opportunities to ensure the team has the skills necessary to meet evolving business needs.
o Work collaboratively as part of broader IT leadership team.
• Project Management:
o Lead cross-functional projects related to the integration of IT systems with corporate functions business processes.
o Manage large-scale IT implementations with a focus on driving business value and innovation while minimizing disruptions and ensuring timely delivery.
o Track and report on project progress, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
o Work collaboratively with the enterprise PMO team.
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation:
o Evaluate and recommend new technologies that can improve corporate function efficiency, reduce costs, and support future growth.
o Drive continuous improvement in IT processes, systems, and services to enhance operational productivity and performance.
o Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to ensure the organization remains competitive.
Education & Experience Qualifications
o Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. Master’s degree in business administration, or similar discipline, preferred.
o Minimum of 7 - 10 years of experience in IT management, with management experience in several of the following areas:
Customer-Facing Applications (Sales, CRM, Customer Service)
Order to Cash (Order Fulfillment, Warehouse Mgmt., Inventory Mgmt. Receivables)
Procure to Pay (Sourcing, Planning, Manufacturing, Payables)
Finance (Financial Accounting, Controlling, Cost Analysis, Financial Closing)
Data Modernization and Analytics
o Proven experience in implementing and managing global business application platforms leveraging multiple partners for development and execution.
o Experience managing teams and leading cross-functional projects in a manufacturing or operations environment.
o Track record of successful, global manufacturing and / or operational project implementations that met identified project deliverables and metrics.
o Strong experience with the SAP ECC ERP platform preferred.
o Strong experience implementing Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) in a process manufacturing environment preferred. Siemens MES experience ideal.
o In-depth knowledge of IT systems and infrastructure relevant to corporate functions and operations.
o Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to troubleshoot complex IT issues.
o Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
o Project management expertise, with a proven ability to manage large-scale IT initiatives on time and within budget.
o Knowledge of IT security best practices, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning.
o Experience in implementing global digital transformation initiatives within a corporate function’s environment.
Environmental, Health, Safety, & Security (EHS&S) Requirements
• Avient integrates EHS&S into all aspects of our operations. Each position at Avient is responsible for complying with all applicable EHS&S requirements. Additionally, employees and management are responsible for reporting all EHS&S incidents immediately to ensure we keep EHS&S a priority within the organization. Security includes physical security and cyber security.
Who We Are
Avient Corporation provides specialized and sustainable material solutions that transform customer challenges into opportunities, bringing new products to life for a better world. Examples include:
• Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™, enables unmatched levels of performance and protection for end-use applications, including ballistic personal protection, marine and sustainable infrastructure and outdoor sports
• Unique technologies that improve the recyclability of products and enable recycled content to be incorporated, thus advancing a more circular economy
• Light-weighting solutions that replace heavier traditional materials like metal, glass and wood, which can improve fuel efficiency in all modes of transportation and reduce carbon footprint
• Sustainable infrastructure solutions that increase energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural resource conservation and fiber optic / 5G network accessibility
Avient employs approximately 10,000 associates and is certified ACC Responsible Care®, a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and certified Great Place to Work®. For more information, visit www.avient.com.
Why Avient
Our purpose at Avient Corporation is to be an innovator of materials solutions that help our customers succeed, while enabling a sustainable world. Innovation goes far beyond materials science; it’s powered by the passion, creativity, and diverse expertise of 9,000 professionals worldwide. Whether you’re a finance wizard, a tech enthusiast, an operational powerhouse, an HR changemaker, or a trailblazer in materials development, you’ll find your place at Avient. Join our global team and help shape the future with sustainable solutions that transform possibilities into realities. Your unique perspective could be the key to our next breakthrough!
We believe diversity of ideas and backgrounds gives us the creativity to be successful in a rapidly changing world. In support of this, we stress equality of opportunity for all qualified individuals in accordance with applicable laws. Decisions on hiring, promotion, development, compensation or advancement are based solely on a person’s qualifications, abilities, experience and performance.
Avient Leadership Behaviors
We believe that all of our global employees are leaders and that the six most important behaviors for driving our strategy and culture are the same no matter if an employee is a leader of self, a leader of others, or a leader of the business.
By playing to win, acting customer centric, driving innovation and profitable growth, collaborating seamlessly across Avient, and motivating and inspiring and developing others and yourself you will accelerate your ability to achieve Avient’s strategic goals, to meet our customer needs, and to accomplish your career goals.