Kao Specialties Americas

Information Technology Manager

About the job

Kao Specialties Americas LLC (KSA) is a specialty chemical manufacturer. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Kao Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, we deliver tailored solutions and high-quality products to meet the diverse needs of our customers. We pride ourselves on our commitment to Yoki-Monozukuri, meaning excellence and innovation, enriching the lives of our valued consumers and customers.

Job Summary

We are seeking a seasoned and highly skilled IT Manager to lead and optimize IT operations, systems, and infrastructure across Kao Specialties Americas LLC. This role will serve as the primary liaison between technology strategies and the overarching objectives of Kao Corporation, leveraging deep expertise in business processes, advanced analytical capabilities, and exceptional communication skills to drive strategic alignment, foster innovation, and ensure success across our North American sites.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all IT-related inquiries from Kao Corporation, ensuring global harmonization and adherence to best practices.
• Translate business objectives into actionable IT strategies, roadmaps, and initiatives that deliver measurable results.
• Identify and implement technology solutions that improve efficiency, quality, and innovation across operations.
• Maintain visibility into critical initiatives, projects, and IT services through scorecards and performance metrics aligned with company objectives.
• Ensure compliance with IT governance, security standards, SOX requirements, and regulatory guidelines.
• Monitor IT performance and provide timely updates to business leadership.
• Champion IT-driven change initiatives and ensure smooth adoption across North Carolina and Texas manufacturing sites.
• Develop and execute communication and training plans to prepare business users for upcoming changes and new capabilities.
• Apply post-implementation best practices for SAP S/4HANA, continuously identifying opportunities to enhance processes and efficiency.
• Conduct advanced data analysis to support strategic decision-making.
• Stay informed on industry trends and emerging technologies to recommend innovative solutions.
• Establish and enforce IT standards, processes, and policies to ensure operational consistency and excellence.
• Lead improvement to the digital workplace, enabling seamless collaboration and system integration across Kao Specialties Americas locations.
• Partner with Cybersecurity teams to mitigate risks and maintain compliance with global security protocols.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with business leaders to understand goals, challenges, and priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, or related field (Master's preferred)
• 10 + years in IT Business Relationship Managements, IT governance, or related IT leadership roles.
• 7 + years translating business requirements into optimized designs and developing business cases.
• Experience with SAP (S/4HANA, including Master Data Governance, Vistex, and Business Warehouse), CRM platforms, and Reporting tools & dashboards.
• Proficiency with Power BI, Azure Data Lake, MS Project, SharePoint
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including negotiation and stakeholder management.

*

Work Hours: This position is in-office. Hybrid / Remote work not available.

Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm

BENEFITS

• 401(k) matching
• Health Insurance
• Flexible spending account (health & dependent)
• Health Savings Account
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee product discount
• Company Paid & Supplemental Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Voluntary benefits

KSA offers a competitive compensation and benefits package which includes medical, dental, life insurance, savings plan, and paid time off.

Kao Specialties Americas LLC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, or veteran status in its education or employment programs or activities.

http://chemical.kao.com/us/

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Information Technology Leadership: 10 years (Required)
• SAP S/4HANA: 5 years (Required)

Work Location: In person