IT General Manager / DGM Manufacturing

Location: Singadivakkam, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Department: Information Technology

Employment Type: Full-Time

Level: Senior Management

Role Overview:

We are looking for an experienced IT General Manager / DGM to lead the overall IT function for a large manufacturing organization. The role will have end-to-end responsibility for IT Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, IT/OT Security, SAP, MES, Business Applications, IT Projects, Plant IT and Vendor Management. The ideal candidate should have strong experience working in a manufacturing/plant environment, with the ability to align technology strategy with business and manufacturing operations.

Key Responsibilities:

1. IT Infrastructure & Plant IT:

- Lead IT infrastructure across corporate and manufacturing/plant locations.

- Manage servers, networks, data centers, storage, cloud, end-user computing and connectivity.

- Ensure high availability, reliability and scalability of IT systems.

- Develop infrastructure architecture, technology roadmap and lifecycle plans.

- Drive disaster recovery, business continuity, backup and system availability initiatives.

- Lead cloud adoption and infrastructure modernization initiatives.

- Ensure effective IT support for plant operations with minimum downtime.

2. IT/OT Security & Cybersecurity:

- Develop and implement the organization's overall cybersecurity strategy.

- Lead IT/OT security across manufacturing plants and enterprise environments.

- Manage network security, endpoint security, IAM, DLP, cloud security and vulnerability management.

- Lead cybersecurity incident response and risk mitigation.

- Ensure compliance with relevant security standards such as ISO 27001, NIST and CIS Controls.

- Coordinate security audits, penetration testing and vulnerability assessments.

- Drive cybersecurity awareness across the organization.

3. SAP, MES & Business Applications:

- Own the strategy and management of enterprise applications including SAP, MES and other business applications.

- Ensure effective integration between SAP, MES and shop-floor/OT systems.

- Manage SAP landscape, upgrades, enhancements and application support.

- Oversee MES systems supporting production planning, shop-floor data collection, quality and OEE.

- Partner with Manufacturing, Finance, Supply Chain, HR and other business functions to identify technology requirements.

- Ensure application availability and SLA adherence.

- Drive automation and digital transformation initiatives across manufacturing operations.

4. IT Project & Digital Transformation:

- Lead large-scale IT implementation and digital transformation projects.

- Manage project scope, timelines, budgets, resources and risks.

- Establish IT project governance and PMO practices.

- Coordinate with internal stakeholders, system integrators and technology partners.

- Ensure successful implementation, adoption and post-go-live support.

- Identify opportunities for process automation and technology-led productivity improvements.

5. Vendor & Commercial Management:

- Manage strategic relationships with IT OEMs, system integrators, MSPs and technology vendors.

- Lead vendor selection, negotiations, contracts and SLA management.

- Monitor vendor performance and ensure delivery against agreed KPIs.

- Manage IT budgets, licensing, AMC and technology procurement.

- Drive cost optimization without compromising service quality or security.

6. IT Leadership & Governance:

- Lead and mentor teams across infrastructure, applications, cybersecurity, plant IT and project management.

- Define the IT strategy and technology roadmap aligned with business objectives.

- Prepare and manage the annual IT budget.

- Establish IT policies, SOPs and governance frameworks.

- Present IT performance, risks, projects and technology initiatives to senior management.

- Drive a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Candidate Requirements:

- 20- 25+ years of overall IT experience, with significant experience in senior IT leadership roles.

- Experience in a large manufacturing organization is mandatory/preferred.

- Should have managed IT operations supporting manufacturing plants/shop-floor environments.

- Strong exposure to SAP and MES.

- Strong understanding of IT Infrastructure, Cybersecurity and IT/OT environments.

- Experience managing large IT teams and multiple technology functions.

- Strong experience in IT project/program management.

- Proven experience in vendor management, contract negotiations and IT budgeting.

- Strong stakeholder management and business partnering skills.

Education:

- Full-time BE/B.Tech from a reputed engineering institution is mandatory.

- Preferred backgrounds: Computer Science, Information Technology, Electronics, Electrical or related engineering disciplines.

- MBA / Master's degree will be an added advantage.

Preferred Certifications:

- PMP / PRINCE2

- CISSP / CISM

- ITIL

- SAP certifications

- AWS / Azure / GCP certifications