IT Business Relationship Manager

The BRM Regional Lead in Brazil and LATAM will serve as the primary IT liaison for LATAM regional business stakeholders, ensuring IT services, solutions, and strategies align with local business needs and priorities. This role is critical in representing the region within the global IT framework, with a strong emphasis on supporting the manufacturing operations and leveraging IT to drive business value.

The Regional Lead will oversee a team of BRM, technical and functional team in Brazil, ensuring effective IT-business alignment, managing regional IT demand, and driving the successful delivery of IT initiatives. Reporting to the BRM Americas Lead, this role collaborates closely with global and regional IT teams to ensure alignment with corporate goals while addressing the unique challenges and opportunities in Brazil and LATAM.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the team in Brazil, ensuring their alignment with business priorities and IT strategies.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture that emphasizes innovation, partnership, and continuous improvement.
• Act as the primary escalation point for IT-related issues impacting the region.

2. Relationship Management

• Serve as the key point of contact for senior business stakeholders in Brazil and LATAM, including leaders in manufacturing, sales, etc. across the region.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with regional business and manufacturing leadership to understand their goals and challenges.
• Represent regional business needs and priorities in discussions with the BRM Americas Lead and global IT leadership.

3. Support for Manufacturing Operations

• Partner closely with the manufacturing leadership team in Brazil to ensure IT systems, applications, and infrastructure support production requirements.
• Oversee IT support for manufacturing-critical systems such as ERP, MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems), and supply chain platforms.
• Identify and implement technology improvements to enhance manufacturing efficiency, reduce downtime, and improve production quality.
• Ensure business continuity plans, and disaster recovery strategies are in place for manufacturing IT systems.

4. IT Demand Management

• Collaborate with business and manufacturing leaders to gather, prioritize, and manage IT requirements across Brazil and LATAM.
• Evaluate the feasibility and alignment of IT demands with global IT strategies and budgets, ensuring key manufacturing needs are prioritized.
• Work with the BRM Americas Lead to advocate for LATAM-specific requirements and initiatives within the global IT organization.

5. IT Service Delivery Oversight

• Monitor the performance of IT services in the region, ensuring they meet agreed service levels and business expectations.
• Oversee the delivery of IT projects in Brazil and LATAM, ensuring alignment with global standards and timely execution.
• Proactively address and resolve IT performance issues affecting manufacturing and business operations in the region.

6. Regional Strategy and Alignment

• Provide feedback and insights from Brazil and LATAM to the BRM Americas Lead to shape regional and global IT strategies.
• Support the implementation of global IT initiatives in Brazil and LATAM, tailoring solutions to meet local requirements while adhering to global standards.
• Drive digital transformation initiatives in the region, particularly within manufacturing, to modernize processes and improve operational efficiency.

7. Governance and Risk Management

• Ensure IT operations in Brazil and LATAM comply with local regulations, as well as global IT governance frameworks.
• Identify risks related to IT service delivery or project execution in the region and develop mitigation strategies.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field (Master's degree preferred).

Experience

• 10+ years of experience in IT, with at least 5 years in leadership roles focused on business relationship management, IT strategy, or IT service delivery.
• Strong background in supporting IT systems and processes for manufacturing facilities, including ERP, MES, and supply chain systems.
• Proven track record of managing IT projects or programs in Brazil and LATAM.
• Experience working within a global IT organization and collaborating with diverse teams across regions.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and guide a regional IT team.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior business and manufacturing stakeholders.
• Deep understanding of IT trends, manufacturing technologies, and how they align with operational efficiency and business goals.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English; Spanish proficiency is a significant advantage.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of local regulations and compliance standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience implementing smart factory initiatives, IoT, and automation in manufacturing.
• Familiarity with LATAM-specific business practices, economic conditions, and cultural nuances.
• Certification in frameworks such as ITIL, COBIT, or Agile methodologies.