Operating Unit IT Leader

Founded over 35 years ago, First Quality is a family-owned company that has grown from a small business in McElhattan, Pennsylvania into a group of companies, employing over 5,000 team members, while maintaining our family values and entrepreneurial spirit. With corporate offices in New York and Pennsylvania and 8 manufacturing campuses across the U.S. and Canada, the companies within the First Quality group produce high-quality personal care and household products for large retailers and healthcare organizations. Our personal care and household product portfolio includes baby diapers, wipes, feminine pads, paper towels, bath tissue, adult incontinence products, laundry detergents, fabric finishers, and dishwash solutions. In addition, we manufacture certain raw materials and components used in the manufacturing of these products, including flexible print and packaging solutions.

Guided by our values of humility, unity, and integrity, we leverage advanced technology and innovation to drive growth and create new opportunities. At First Quality, you’ll find a collaborative environment focused on continuous learning, professional development, and our mission to Make Things Better®.

We are seeking a Operating Unit IT Leader for our First Quality Print & Packaging located in Anderson, SC.  This critical role is responsible for aligning technology strategy with business objectives, driving digital transformation, and ensuring IT delivers maximum value to the organization. As the senior IT leader on-site, you will own all aspects of IT operations at the facility level while actively contributing to the company’s broader technology roadmap. You will partner closely with business leaders to identify opportunities where technology can create competitive advantage, improve efficiency, and support sustainable growth.

Primary responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as an active member of the Site Leadership Team

• Partner with business leaders to develop and execute the Operating Unit Business Technology Roadmap

• Translate business strategy into technology requirements and recommend innovative solutions

• Identify and introduce industry best practices that deliver new business value

• Lead the development of the IT Capability Plan (processes, solutions, and services)

Project & Portfolio Management

• Facilitate project request intake, prioritization, and selection with business stakeholders

• Ensure projects deliver maximum ROI and business value

• Oversee delivery of IT projects — on time, within budget, and to stakeholder expectations

• Support change management and resource planning for technology initiatives

• Manage the full project governance lifecycle

IT Operations & Service Delivery

• Own all site-level IT operations, infrastructure, and services

• Ensure IT services are optimal, reliable, and aligned with business needs

• Manage vendor relationships and third-party service providers

• Drive continuous improvement through customer satisfaction surveys, service level agreements (SLAs), and IT performance metrics

• Resolve escalated issues and provide proactive feedback to central IT on service quality

Financial & Resource Management

• Develop and manage the annual Operating Unit IT budget and resource plan

• Ensure proper resourcing and skillsets for project execution

• Monitor and optimize IT assets and expenditures

The ideal candidate should possess the following:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field (required)

• 10+ years of progressive IT experience

• Strong manufacturing industry background (highly preferred)

• Demonstrated experience leading IT teams and managing complex projects in a 24/7 operational environment

Leadership & Skills

• Proven leadership ability with experience managing and developing IT professionals

• Strong business acumen — ability to understand and articulate business requirements across all functions

• Excellent project and process management skills (PMP knowledge is a plus)

• Superior problem-solving, decision-making, and analytical capabilities

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to work effectively across multiple time zones and with global teams

Technical & Functional Knowledge

• Broad knowledge across all major IT disciplines (infrastructure, applications, cybersecurity, data, etc.)

• Experience with systems development, analysis, design, and IT operations

• Understanding of business processes, budgeting, and operational management

• Familiarity with manufacturing technologies and systems (MES, ERP, automation, etc.) is a strong advantage

Additional Requirements

• Fluent in English (additional language skills preferred)

• Ability and willingness to engage at all levels of the organization

• Comfort working in a fast-paced, results-oriented manufacturing environment

What We Offer You

We believe that by continuously improving the quality of our benefits, we can help to raise the quality of life for our team members and their families. At First Quality you will receive:

• Competitive base salary and bonus opportunities

• Paid time off (three-week minimum)

• Medical, dental and vision starting day one

• 401(k) with employer match

• Paid parental leave

• Child and family care assistance (dependent care FSA with employer match up to $2500)

• Bundle of joy benefit (years’ worth of free diapers to all team members with a new baby)

• Tuition assistance

• Wellness program with savings of up to $4,000 per year on insurance premiums

• ...and more!