IT Business Partner Lead (Logistics and Warehouse Management)

Job Description

As the IT Business Partner lead (Logistics and Warehouse Management), you will collaborate with business leaders, including heads of Lindt North American COE and subsidiary's Logistics and Warehouse Management functions to shape their strategies through technology solution implementations and product adoptions, fostering trust and strong relationships. Serving as the primary liaison between Logistics and Warehouse Management business leaders and IT teams, you will provide clear direction and accountability to drive business objectives.

Your role will involve advocating for and in partnership with SAP Solution Architects, optimizing the Lindt North American SAP S/4 solution; identifying opportunities for additional value delivery or integration between groups (such as Logistics and Warehouse Management, finance and operations). Developing a deep understanding of the North American companies supply chain Logistics and Warehouse Management organizations and cultivating strong relationships with relevant business leaders will be pivotal to your success.

You will play an active role in shaping demand, defining product roadmaps, managing project delivery and vendors, and establishing and nurturing an IT-business engagement practice at Lindt North America. Your expertise in SAP Logistics and Warehouse Management solutions such as SAP Sales (SD), Procurement (MM) , Inventory Management (IM) Production Planning (PP-PI), and Warehouse Management (WM) as well as their connection point to the SAP Financial Accounting and controlling (FICO) module will be essential. The ideal candidate combines solid technical skills with proven experience as a leader and team worker.

This position is based in Kansas City, MO, and requires approximately 25% travel, depending on project requirements and business needs.

Essential Functions

• Relationship Management: The Business Partner Lead (Logistics and Warehouse Management) serves as a liaison between the Lindt and Sprungli North American IT department and demand and supply chain Logistics and Warehouse Management leadership teams within the North American business units, building strong relationships and fostering collaboration. In doing so the IT Business Partner Lead (Logistics and Warehouse Management) will understand the needs, challenges, and priorities of those business stakeholders and work towards delivering IT solutions that meet their requirements.
• Strategic Alignment: The Business Partner Lead (Logistics and Warehouse Management) ensures that IT initiatives align with the overall business strategy of the organization. They actively engage with business leaders to understand their strategic objectives and provide input on how technology can enable and support those objectives.
• Service Delivery Management and Technical Roadmap Development: The Business Partner Lead (Logistics and Warehouse Management) works closely with the logistics and warehouse management leadership teams within each business unit to ensure delivery of LSNA IT solutions is constantly improving. They lead monthly service delivery reviews with the Lindt North American leadership teams as well as on a periodic basis as part of the Technology Plan Dialog, engage the Lindt North American logistics and warehouse management teams to align the IT roadmap for logistics and warehouse management within each brand with the Lindt North American Technology Roadmap
• Business Case Development: The IT Business Partner Lead (Logistics and Warehouse Management) assists Logistics and Warehouse Management stakeholders in developing business cases for IT projects or initiatives. They help articulate the expected benefits, costs, and risks associated with proposed solutions and support the decision-making process for project prioritization and funding.
• Solution Scoping and Planning: Based on the identified needs, the IT Business Partner Lead (Logistics and Warehouse Management) collaborates with the Lindt and Sprungli North American IT Technical Delivery team to define and scope potential IT solutions. They participate in solution design discussions, provide business context, and contribute to the development of project plans and roadmaps.
• Communication and Stakeholder Engagement: Effective communication is a key responsibility of the IT Business Partner Lead (Logistics and Warehouse Management). They communicate IT strategies, initiatives, and progress to business stakeholders in a clear and concise manner. They also ensure that business stakeholders are kept informed about IT service levels, system changes, and upcoming projects.
• Service Level Management: The Business Partner Lead (Logistics and Warehouse Management) collaborates with business stakeholders to define and manage service level agreements (SLAs) for IT services. They monitor and report on service performance, address any concerns or issues, and work towards continuous improvement of IT service delivery.
• Change Management and Adoption: The IT Business Partner Lead (Logistics and Warehouse Management) supports the change management process by engaging with business stakeholders during the implementation of IT projects. They facilitate communication, training, and user adoption activities to ensure a smooth transition and maximize the benefits of the implemented solutions.
• Vendor Management: In some cases, the IT Business Partner Lead (Logistics and Warehouse Management) may be involved in managing relationships with IT vendors or external service providers. They collaborate with The Lindt North American Procurement Team to evaluate vendor capabilities, negotiate contracts, and ensure that vendor services align with business requirements.
• Continuous Improvement: The IT Business Partner Lead (Logistics and Warehouse Management) actively seeks feedback from business stakeholders to identify areas for improvement in IT services and processes. They participate in post-implementation reviews, conduct satisfaction surveys, and drive initiatives to enhance the value delivered by IT to the organization.
• Technology Innovation: The IT Business Partner Manager (Logistics and Warehouse Management) stays abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends related to logistics and warehouse management systems, acting as the primary technical point of contact in North America for Global logistics and warehouse management Technical Initiatives.
• Project Management: The IT Business Partner Manager (Logistics and Warehouse Management) collaborates with the SAP Solution Architects and third parties and from time to time directly managed the planning and execution of project deliverables and reporting.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in information technology, supply chain management or related field required.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in SAP logistics solution areas including Sales (SD), Procurement (MM), Inventory Management (IM) Production Planning (PP-PI), and Warehouse Management (WM).
• Experience in leading cross-functional teams to drive process improvements, cost reductions, and operational efficiencies throughout the supply chain and warehouse management lifecycle.
• Familiarity with industry best practices in inventory management and order fulfillment, leveraging SAP standard functionalities to enhance performance and responsiveness.
• Skilled in project management methodologies, with a focus on delivering projects on time and within budget, while ensuring alignment with business objectives and customer expectations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organization and across functional areas.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the implementation of SAP's EWM capabilities and integration into S/4.
• Experience in implementation of SAP / Hybris Sales and integration touchpoints with SAP Sales (SD)
• Experience in leading cross-functional teams to drive process improvements, cost reductions, and operational efficiencies throughout the supply chain and warehouse management lifecycle.
• Familiarity with industry best practices in inventory control, demand forecasting, and order fulfillment, leveraging technology solutions such as SAP to enhance performance and responsiveness.
• Skilled in project management methodologies, with a focus on delivering projects on time and within budget, while ensuring alignment with business objectives and customer expectations.
• Excellent communication and people skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organization and across functional areas.

Company Description

Lindt and Sprungli (North America) Inc. is the Supply Chain and Business Shared Services Company supporting the Lindt & Sprungli family of brands (Lindt USA, Ghirardelli Chocolates and Russell Stover Chocolates), headquartered in Kansas City, MO.

Employment by Lindt & Sprungli (North America) Inc. is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, and satisfactory employment and background checks.

Lindt & Sprungli (North America) Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law. Principals only, please.