IT Business Partner - R&D

Job Summary

The purpose of this role is to provide functional and technical expertise for all IT products supporting our R&D efforts. This role will partner with R&D leadership to define the IT roadmap and deliver key R&D IT initiatives and projects including all changes, system upgrades, and deployments of new solutions in line with business requirements. The role will work closely with cross functional internal teams from IT, R&D and also with external vendors. 

Job Responsibilities

•    Lead the development and delivery of the R&D roadmap aligned to SBFE strategic and functional priorities. 
•    Lead and facilitate workshops with key stakeholders to define the R&D IT roadmap. 
•    Develop and maintain ongoing relationships and become a trusted business partner to R&D functional leaders.
•    Follow good practices, templates, policies, tools for R&D IT aligned with Accelerate project methodology. 
•    Prepare and deliver IT training and associated systems training material where required. 
•    Manage the portfolio of R&D IT initiatives and individual projects:
•    Lead cross-functional teams and resources from internal teams and 3rd party vendors. 
•    Manage resources, schedules, financials and adhere to stage gate quality and control guidelines throughout the full systems development life cycle.
•    Manage issues, risks and change requests to ensure successful and on-time project delivery.
•    Regular status reporting on project milestones, deliverable, dependencies, risks and issues, and communicating to functional leaders. 
•    Monitor technology advancements in R&D and beverage industry, and apply relevant practices to existing or new solutions. 
•    Facilitate technology and vendor scoping, contribute to RFI/RFP selection processes. 
•    Define statements of work and specifications with selected vendors. 
•    Manage vendor delivery, timesheet/billing with appropriate challenge and negotiation.
•    Deputise for the Senior IT Manager – Core Functions as required.  
 

Skills and Experience

•    Strong IT experience in R&D, supply/manufacturing, quality or related areas. 
•    Experience in successfully leading projects on-time, on-schedule and within budget.
•    Excellent experience in SDLC Methodologies, Agile, SCRUM, SDLC / Waterfall.
•    Experience with R&D and related IT systems such as SAP, Coheris, Ennov, Harmony, Labware LIMS, Fizz, Optiva, Sharepoint. 
•    Strong experience leading, motivating and managing project teams, including internal and external resources, while holding team accountable for performance.
•    Ability to demonstrate decisiveness in resolving business problems, making decisions and identifying priorities.
•    Self-motivated and flexible with ability to adapt to shifting priorities, demands and timelines through analytical and problem-solving capabilities. 
•    Strong communication skills; both written and oral with technical and non-technical staff.
•    Experience negotiating vendor contracts.
•    Technically competent with various software programs, including but not limited to Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio), Microsoft Project and ServiceNow. 
•    Adaptable to Suntory Leadership Spirit > Commitment to Growth, Yatte Minahare, Gemba Focused, Better Together, Future Oriented