We’ve been retained by a well-established, privately held distribution and logistics company specializing in the movement of perishable goods to identify a Vice President of Information Technology. Headquartered in southern New Jersey and operating nationally, the company has built a reputation for operational excellence, long-standing customer partnerships, and innovative supply chain capabilities.

With recent backing from a respected private equity firm, the company is poised for aggressive growth through both organic expansion and strategic M&A. As a vertically integrated organization with its own logistics infrastructure and customized ERP, they operate a hub-and-spoke distribution model optimized for perishable goods. With a leadership team that values innovation while respecting legacy systems and culture, this is a company where a thoughtful IT leader can drive real business impact.

This is a full-time, on-site leadership opportunity for a forward-thinking technology executive to lead the evolution of the company’s enterprise systems and infrastructure. The ideal candidate will bring strategic vision and hands-on leadership to advance core platforms, enhance digital capabilities, and support an already strong team through its next chapter of growth.

The Role You’ll Play

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will lead the modernization and scalability of the company’s enterprise IT operations. You’ll serve as a key technology partner to the executive team, unifying legacy systems with future-facing infrastructure to support aggressive growth targets. You’ll be expected to:

• Build and execute an enterprise IT strategy aligned with business and PE-backed growth objectives

• Lead and mentor the IT and Enterprise Systems teams (~9 people), with 2 Directors as direct reports

• Drive modernization while maintaining system stability and honoring team tenure

• Create scalable processes around project management, security, and infrastructure

• Evaluate and streamline vendor relationships

• Guide the roadmap for future ERP strategy

• Improve documentation, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning

• Enhance cross-functional alignment and collaboration across IT and enterprise systems functions

Background Profile

The ideal candidate is a strategic and hands-on technology leader with a broad command of enterprise systems and a proven ability to lead IT functions within fast-paced, multi-site distribution or supply chain environments. This person should bring a balance of high-level strategic thinking and the ability to drive execution across infrastructure, business applications, and enterprise platforms. They should be skilled at building relationships across the business, leading change with empathy, and fostering accountability within the technology organization.

• 10+ years of progressive experience in IT leadership, with 5+ years at the senior/director+ level

• Strong command of ERP systems, within distribution, logistics, or supply chain environments

• Experience with related systems such as WMS and TMS, including integrations and data flow across platforms.

• Experience defining and driving ERP strategy and roadmaps (including evaluation, modernization, or replacement)

• Skilled in enterprise system integration and digital transformation initiatives

• Deep expertise with vendor selection and vendor management, including outsourced MSPs

• Strong knowledge of IT best practices in areas such as:

• IT Service Management (ITSM)

• Project Portfolio Management (PPM)

• Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC)

• Cybersecurity and disaster recovery planning

• Experience overseeing software platforms, including SaaS and hybrid infrastructure environments

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and foster collaboration across business units

• Demonstrated ability to lead legacy teams through transformation with humility and a trust-building leadership style.

• Strong communication and executive stakeholder engagement skills

• Hands-on leader with a servant-leadership style and the ability to build trust with technical and non-technical teams

• Comfortable in PE-backed, high-growth, or change-oriented environments

Preferred

• Experience in M&A environments, including post-merger IT integration planning and execution

• Exposure to Progress/OpenEdge ERP environments (legacy not required, but helpful)

• Background in food, beverage, or other perishable goods industries

• MBA or Master’s degree in Information Systems, Technology Management, or related discipline