Sr. Manager, IT Business Solutions

Tire Discounters, the nation's largest family-owned and operated tire business, was founded almost 50 years ago. We are dedicated to providing exceptional automotive service with a focus on transparency and care to our nearly 2,300 team members. We offer diverse career paths, industry-leading training, and a commitment to our core values.

As a family-owned tire and automotive service retailer, our mission is to prioritize people and safety above all else. We are dedicated to delivering a "WOW" experience to our customers and team members, with a commitment to always do the right thing and challenge the status quo.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Senior Manager, IT Business Solutions plays a vital role in positioning IT as a strategic, business oriented partner by delivering tailored IT solutions that align with organizational objectives and drive measurable value. Acting as a key liaison between IT and core business functions-including Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain, Pricing, HR, Legal, and Store/Office Operations-this role focuses on understanding business needs, translating them into impactful IT solutions, and ensuring seamless alignment with organizational goals. Additionally, the position is responsible for developing and executing technology strategies and value-driven IT services and products that foster innovation, enhance operational efficiency, and support sustainable business growth.

The Senior Manager leads IT business partnerships, oversees project portfolios, and drives the product lifecycle, including solution discovery, competitive analysis, roadmap development, requirements definition, manages service delivery, assesses and mitigates technology risks, and ensures that projects align with key business goals.

As the primary IT point of contact for functional areas, the Senior Manager fosters relationship management by collaborating with leadership and key stakeholders to define opportunities, prioritize projects, and drive initiatives based on criteria such as return on investment, productivity, and compliance. Additionally, the Senior Manager provides highly-valued strategic consulting support and communicates decisions, priorities, and project updates across appropriate levels of the organization.

The Senior Manager also provides leadership and mentorship to IT Business Partners, ensuring alignment between IT strategies and business goals. By proactively sharing insights on technology risks and opportunities, this position plays a key role in enhancing operational efficiency, fostering innovation, and delivering measurable value across the organization.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Collaborate with business stakeholders to develop and continuously refine capability roadmaps that inform product roadmaps, IT resource planning, and solutions while fostering strong relationships to understand strategic priorities and align IT initiatives with business objectives.
• Oversee and mentor IT Business Partners, driving accountability, innovation, and seamless partnership between IT and business units.
• Partner with business leaders to identify technology opportunities that optimize or transform business operations by enhancing efficiency, streamlining processes, reducing non-value-added activities, improving productivity, and delivering innovative solutions.
• Proactively lead the development and management of the IT project portfolio, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and with measurable value.
• Translate business needs into detailed IT specifications and strategies, ensuring alignment with technical standards and organizational objectives.
• Collaborate with internal teams, external vendors, and partners to design and implement innovative IT solutions that enhance operational efficiency.
• Manage product lifecycle processes, including research, competitive analysis, roadmap development, and product launches, prioritizing employee-centric solutions.
• Partner with Data/BI teams to establish system data maps, define requirements, and ensure robust data-driven decision-making.
• Provide leadership in IT strategy development, project prioritization, and resource allocation, presenting business cases and ROI analyses to stakeholders.
• Monitor IT service performance, ensuring adherence to SLAs, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement of systems and processes.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex IT issues, ensuring timely resolution and effective communication with stakeholders.
• Act as a senior business analyst, translating product strategies and business needs into actionable requirements and balancing employee experience with business impact.
• Coordinate system integration, customization, and production timelines in collaboration with functional departments and technical teams.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies, assess emerging technologies' potential impacts on the business model, provide guidance on leveraging them effectively, recommend innovative solutions that drive growth and efficiency.
• Administer and support critical IT systems such as ERP, WMS, HRIS, LMS, and PowerBI, providing training, documentation, and job aids as needed.
• Lead the development and delivery of new products and solutions to meet evolving client needs while managing transformation projects.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Strong knowledge and competency in software engineering and product management with proven expertise in developing, implementing, and integrating IT solutions across ERP, WMS, HRIS, Payroll, Finance, LMS, BI tools (e.g., PowerBI), and identity management platforms (e.g., Okta).
• Proficient in leveraging Microsoft Core Technologies and implementing best-in-class systems to align IT strategies with business objectives.
• Deep expertise in technical architecture principles, patterns, and frameworks, knowledge of IT governance frameworks.
• Expertise in managing all phases of the product lifecycle, from ideation to post-implementation, with awareness of emerging IT trends and their practical applications.
• Strong business orientation, skilled in evaluating business functions, identifying opportunities, and translating business requirements into actionable IT solutions that align with business strategies and drive initiatives to improve efficiency.
• Ability to evaluate technical solutions, assess risks, and ensure scalability and security of IT systems
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills for evaluating technical solutions, identifying risks, and resolving complex IT challenges.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively engage diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership, technical teams, and external vendors.
• Proven relationship-building and interpersonal skills to foster collaboration, establish trust, and achieve business results in dynamic environments.
• Ability to manage IT transformations, mitigate resistance to change, guide business units and adapt to shifting priorities while balancing competing demands.
• Commitment to delivering innovative IT services and solutions that enhance organizational efficiency, employee experience, and measurable business value
• Curiosity and a keen awareness of current and emerging IT trends and their potential applications in business settings
• Flexibility to work in a dynamic environment, addressing evolving business needs and technological advancements.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Finance or a closely related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5-7 years of experience related to IT product management or IT business partner role, demonstrating a strong track record of success.
• Proven experience in managing all elements of the product development lifecycle, from concept through to deployment and optimization.
• Experience in managing IT projects and initiatives from initiation to completion, showcasing experience in project planning, resource management etc.
• Experience in managing IT solution delivery, ensuring that solutions are implemented efficiently, aligned with business processes
• Strong background in project management, with a Project Management Certification (e.g., PMP) being a plus.
• Familiarity with multi-tenant retail environments, demonstrating the ability to adapt and deliver solutions across multiple stakeholders or customers.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and/or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, handle and/or feel; lift/carry up to 25 pounds, and reach with hands and arms.
• The role requires the ability to focus for extended periods of time while performing tasks such as working on a computer.
• Ability to operate office equipment such as computers, printers, and telephones.