Pretek

About Birdsong Peanuts

Birdsong Peanuts is a family-owned agricultural company specializing in peanut processing, with operations across Virginia, Georgia, and Texas. Headquartered in Suffolk, Virginia, we have built a stable organization with low turnover and strong, established relationships. Our company values collaboration and consensus-driven decision-making, and we are committed to long-term growth and operational excellence in this specialized agricultural business.

Position Overview

We seek a Director of Information Technology to lead our technology operations and succeed our current IT Director. This is a Director-level position reporting to the CFO and requires someone who is interested in a career with our organization. We seek a leader who can balance stability with thoughtful, business-driven innovation. The ideal candidate will bring fresh perspective and selectively drive change where it adds measurable value.

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide mentorship and leadership to the IT department, including supervision of existing team members
• Maintain and optimize our IBM iSeries Power 10 platform running custom RPG-based applications critical to our peanut processing operations
• Manage vendor relationships, including RPG programmer, RPG development partner, and infrastructure support provider
• Manage and improve cybersecurity strategies to protect company data and systems across multiple locations
• Oversee IT infrastructure including laptops, desktops, printers, servers, and network systems
• Plan and execute technology initiatives that align with business objectives, providing strategic guidance on technology investments and improvements
• Manage IT budget and vendor contracts and negotiate contracts to optimize service delivery and cost-effectiveness
• Travel occasionally to company facilities in Georgia and Texas
• Develop Subject Matter Expertise in the peanut business to ensure technology solutions support operational needs
• Lead business continuity planning and disaster recovery strategies to safeguard critical data and maintain a proactive approach to cybersecurity and crisis management, including openness to external expertise
• Identify and implement opportunities for process improvement, including the use of new technologies and automation to streamline workflows and increase efficiency
• Foster a customer-centric IT culture, ensuring that technology solutions are aligned with the needs and goals of internal business partners
• Ensure compliance with industry standards such as PCI and NIST, as well as intellectual property laws
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align IT initiatives with business goals and objectives

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field
• 8+ years of IT leadership experience in corporate environments
• Experience managing IT operations and leading technical teams
• Strong cybersecurity knowledge and implementation experience
• Familiarity with IBM iSeries/AS400 platforms
• Experience with multi-location IT infrastructure management
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments
• Strong communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Willingness to work on-site four to five days per week in the Suffolk Office
• Demonstrated ability to drive business ROI through technology initiatives
• Extensive knowledge of network infrastructure including MPLS, WAN, VPNs, DNS, VoIP technologies, and firewalls

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in agriculture, manufacturing, or distribution industries
• Background in food processing or commodity businesses
• Knowledge of RPG programming
• Experience managing third-party vendor relationships for specialized systems
• Relevant technical certifications (CISSP, CISM, ITIL, etc.)
• Demonstrated expertise in project management methodologies and change management practices

Key Competencies

• Customer Focus: Proactively aligns IT initiatives with the needs and goals of internal business partners, ensuring technology solutions deliver measurable value and impact
• Business Acumen: Balances cost, risk, and return by making informed decisions that drive business ROI, supporting operational efficiency and strategic objectives within a family-owned business
• Organizational Agility: Navigates a consensus-driven, multi-location environment by selectively driving change where the business has appetite, while respecting established processes and company culture
• Building Effective Teams: Fosters a collaborative, customer-centric IT culture by mentoring and engaging team members, encouraging input, and building trust across departments and locations
• Influencing Without Authority: Influences stakeholders and drives improvements by building relationships, communicating effectively, and delivering results through others

Position Requirements

• Location: This position requires on-site at our Suffolk, Virginia headquarters. Remote work is not available for this role.
• Travel: Occasional travel to Georgia and Texas facilities
• Work Schedule: Standard business hours with occasional evening or weekend work for system maintenance

Compensation and Benefits

• Base Salary: $165K–$210K
• Target Bonus: 10-20%
• Relocation Assistance: Available for qualified candidates.

Tenure & Commitment

We offer stability, a collaborative work environment, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on a family-owned business. We seek candidates interested in a long-term role and value stability and growth while bringing new energy and perspective.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter that addresses your experience in relation to the qualifications listed above. In your cover letter, we encourage you to include specific examples such as:

• Your experience with IBM iSeries/AS400 platforms or similar legacy systems
• Your approach to leading IT in a collaborative, family-owned business environment
• Why you are interested in a long-term position with our organization
• Your experience with cybersecurity in multi-location operations
• We value thoughtful applications that demonstrate alignment with our organizational values and technical needs.

Applications should be submitted via Indeed.

Job Type: Full-time

Base Pay: $165,000.00 - $210,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• IT: 8 years (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Suffolk, VA 23434: Relocate with an employer provided relocation package (Preferred)

Work Location: In person