IT Manager

Job Title: Maintenance Technician
Location: 2577 AR-59, Decatur, AR

About United Petfood

United Petfood is a private label producer of high-quality dry & wet pet food, biscuits and snacks. We are a Belgian family business with 25 high-tech pet kitchens in Europe and the US.

Joining us means joining an international, passionate, and driven team with one common goal: a healthy planet filled with healthy pets! But it doesn’t stop there—we truly care about building encouraging, supportive, long-lasting partnerships, both inside as well as outside of our fast-growing family company. By only working with the very best ingredients and most innovative technology available, we ensure a place in which you can grow, bloom, and make thousands of pets happy worldwide!

Check out our website: United Petfood Producers USA, Inc.

Position Summary

The IT Manager is responsible for the day-to-day management, reliability, security, and continuous improvement of IT systems and infrastructure at our Decatur, Arkansas manufacturing facility. This is a highly hands-on role serving as the primary on-site IT resource where someone who enjoys broad autonomy would thrive.

The IT Manager will take ownership of local IT operations while partnering occasionally with the IT team at our Indiana location and Group IT on strategic initiatives.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with an ownership mindset and is comfortable moving between strategic projects and hands-on troubleshooting. This position plays an important role in supporting plant operations by ensuring reliable and secure technology across both business and manufacturing environments.

Duties & Responsibilities

IT Operations & Infrastructure

• Manage day-to-day IT operations and provide hands-on technical support for the Decatur facility.
• Maintain the availability, performance, reliability, and security of IT systems supporting plant and business operations.
• Lead infrastructure lifecycle projects, including installation, replacement, upgrade, and refresh of IT hardware and systems.
• Administer Windows Server, Active Directory, Microsoft 365, user accounts, permissions, licensing, and related systems.
• Manage and support network infrastructure, including LAN, WAN, VPN, Wi-Fi, firewalls, switches, and routing.
• Develop and maintain accurate network documentation and topology, including appropriate network segmentation and segregation.
• Manage virtualization environments, including Hyper-V.
• Oversee data backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity processes and periodically verify recovery capabilities.
• Implement and monitor cybersecurity controls in alignment with company and Group IT standards.
• Troubleshoot hardware, software, network, connectivity, and system issues and coordinate resolution as needed.
• Manage the deployment, replacement, and lifecycle of computers, network equipment, and other IT hardware within an active manufacturing environment.
• Maintain accurate IT documentation, asset records, system configurations, procedures, and inventory.

Manufacturing & OT Support

• Partner with plant operations, engineering, maintenance, and external OT resources to support technology used within the manufacturing environment.
• Assist with IT infrastructure supporting PLC, MES, SCADA, and other shop-floor systems where applicable.
• Support secure integration and communication between IT and OT environments while maintaining appropriate cybersecurity controls and network segmentation.
• Coordinate troubleshooting and project activities involving both IT and production systems while minimizing operational disruption.

Vendor & Partner Management

• Serve as the primary site contact for external IT service providers and technology vendors.
• Coordinate IT service contracts, monitor vendor SLA performance, and escalate unresolved or critical issues when necessary.
• Coordinate implementation of IT and OT projects with local teams, external partners, and Group IT.
• Assist with evaluating technology solutions, equipment, services, and infrastructure needs.

Governance & Continuous Improvement

• Report to the Plant Manager for local priorities, site-level activities, and budget requirements while aligning with the Group IT Manager on global IT standards, initiatives, and strategy.
• Ensure local systems and practices comply with company IT policies, cybersecurity requirements, and Group IT standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve system reliability, security, efficiency, and user experience.
• Support technology planning and budgeting for hardware, software, licensing, infrastructure, and IT services.
• Participate in local and Group IT projects and initiatives.
• Stay current on emerging technologies, cybersecurity risks, and IT best practices relevant to manufacturing operations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in IT systems engineering, systems administration, infrastructure, or IT management.
• Strong hands-on experience with Windows Server, Active Directory, Microsoft 365, and virtualization technologies, including Hyper-V.
• Strong networking knowledge, including LAN, WAN, VPN, Wi-Fi, firewalls, switches, routing, and network segmentation.
• Working knowledge of cybersecurity principles and best practices within IT and/or OT environments.
• Experience managing backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to install, replace, upgrade, and troubleshoot IT hardware and infrastructure within a live operating environment.
• Experience managing user accounts, permissions, licensing, devices, and IT assets.
• Experience working with third-party IT vendors and service providers.
• Manufacturing, industrial, or food production experience preferred.
• Familiarity with Operational Technology environments, including PLCs, MES, SCADA, industrial networks, or shop-floor systems, strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong ownership mentality with the ability to independently manage site IT priorities and responsibilities.
• Excellent troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize and respond effectively to issues that may impact manufacturing operations.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with production employees, plant leadership, vendors, technical partners, and global IT teams.
• Ability to translate technical information for non-technical users and business leaders.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.
• Ability to balance daily technical support needs with longer-term infrastructure and improvement projects.
• Flexible, hands-on approach with a willingness to step in and resolve issues at all levels.
• Fluent in English.

Workplace Safety

• Follow all company safety policies and procedures while working within office and manufacturing environments.
• Participate in required safety training and comply with site safety, food safety, and security requirements.
• Follow applicable safety requirements when installing, troubleshooting, or servicing technology within production areas.
• Immediately report unsafe conditions, incidents, near misses, or other safety concerns.

Why Join Us?

At United Petfood, we believe in investing in our employees and providing opportunities for growth and development. As our IT Manager, you will have significant ownership of the technology supporting our Decatur facility while also collaborating with colleagues across our growing U.S. and global organization.

This role offers the opportunity to combine hands-on technical work with infrastructure planning, cybersecurity, manufacturing technology, and strategic IT initiatives in a fast-growing international company.

We offer competitive pay, benefits, and a supportive work environment where your expertise and contributions can make a direct impact on our operations.

Equal Opportunity Employer: United Petfood Producers USA Inc. is an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

o creating an inclusive environment for all employees.