Full-time Information Technology (IT) Manager

Territory details:

Hours: Full time
Reports to: Chief Financial Officer
Location: Work from either our Waupun, Wis., office OR Lansing, Mich., office. A hybrid-working option that includes a home office may be available after all training, role transition, etc. is complete.

Your purpose:

Experience a career working with CentralStar Cooperative, a member of the Select Sires Federation and the fastest-growing Dairy Herd Information (DHI) program in the United States. As the Information Technology (IT) Manager for our agricultural cooperative, you’ll be responsible for managing IT-support relationships and acting as systems administrator for the goal of overseeing the cooperative’s computer networks and continually efforting improvement of the company’s network systems. You’ll work closely with directors and business-unit managers to identify hardware, software, and data needs, as well as scheduling support, training, installation, etc. as needed.

Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Manage relationships between IT vendors (currently Convergence Networks and Algorithm) and the cooperative;
• Consult with management and other team members regarding needs for data, computers, communication, personnel requirements, processing schedules, and regulatory and legal responsibilities;
• Confer with data-processing and project managers to obtain information on limitations and capabilities of existing system and capabilities required for data-processing projects and projected workload;
• Evaluate factors such as the number of departments serviced by data-processing equipment, reporting formats required, volume of transactions, time requirements, cost constraints, security, and access restrictions to determine hardware configurations;
• Administer network system and customer-relationship-management system;
• Maintain infrastructure, hardware, back-up, and cloud services (via Convergence);
• Analyze information to determine, recommend, and plan layout for type of computers and peripheral equipment, or modifications to existing system, that will provide capabilities for proposed needs;
• Monitor functioning of equipment;
• Enter data to store, retrieve, and manipulate it for analysis;
• Train users of new or modified equipment and/or software programs;
• Consult with business units to establish emergency protocol;
• Manage the implementation of disaster-recovery plans in the event of a disaster or emergency;
• Assist in the preparation and management of an annual business-unit budget;
• Work collaboratively with members of the executive-staff team to understand business strategies, goals, objectives, and key performance measures;
• Actively work to expand personal knowledge through professional development;
• Strive to continually build trust, value others, communicate effectively, drive execution, foster innovation, collaborate with others, solve problems creatively, and demonstrate high integrity; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the dairy industry (agriculture) is beneficial, but not required;
• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, or related field, with five or more years of experience in network administration preferred (a combination of successful experience and education will be considered);
• Certified Network Engineer (CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network A+, CompTIA Sec+) preferred;
• Experience in enterprise-resource-planning (ERP) systems required (Acumatica preferred);
• Outstanding communication and people skills, with service-oriented attitude;
• Must be self-directed and motivated with a high degree of initiative;
• Strong planning, organizational, and time-management skills required, with the ability to coordinate multiple projects/assignments simultaneously and to quickly adapt to changing situations;
• Ability to enter data into a computer terminal to store, retrieve, and manipulate it for analysis of system capabilities and requirements;
• Maintain a strong understanding of workflows with the ability to identify and document gaps in processes and systems, achieving resolution with appropriate technology;
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written-communication skills to effectively communicate with team members, various customers/cooperative members, and CentralStar Cooperative personnel at all levels;
• Must be able to utilize effective training skills to teach users, with varying technological abilities, how to use new or modified equipment and/or software programs;
• Display consistent professionalism;
• Strong work ethic, with the ability to work independently, as well as in a team structure;
• Must be able to honor confidentiality;
• Requires a valid driver’s license and a safe driving record;
• Must be able and willing to honor some travel, as necessary, throughout CentralStar’s service area; and
• Excellent computer skills, including but not limited to e-mail, spreadsheets, presentation programs, and customer-management programs, with the ability to learn other associated software, as needed.

Compensation:

• Salary;
• Paid time off;
• Health-, dental-, and vision-insurance options;
• Flexible-spending account;
• 401 (k) – retirement savings plan with up to 4% match;
• Company-sponsored life insurance and long-term-disability insurance;
• Optional short-term-disability insurance;
• Continuing-education opportunities;
• Employee-assistance program;
• Employee-awards program; and
• Company vehicle provided for work-related travel.

About CentralStar Cooperative:

CentralStar’s goal of enhancing producer profitability through integrated services is fulfilled by incorporating an array of products and services critical to dairy-and-beef-farm prosperity. CentralStar’s product and service offerings include Accelerated Genetics, GenerVations and Select Sires genetics; extensive artificial-insemination (A.I.) technician service; genetic, reproduction, and dairy-records consultation; DHI services; diagnostic testing; herd-management products; research and development; and more. CentralStar’s administration and warehouse facilities are located in Lansing, Mich., and Waupun, Wis., with laboratories in Grand Ledge, Mich., and Kaukauna, Wis. The cooperative serves dairy and beef producers throughout Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, with additional DHI territory in various surrounding states.