Director, IT Operations & Business Systems

We’re a mission-driven brand committed to innovation, sustainability, and empowering our team to work smarter and more securely in today’s technology landscape. As we continue to grow, we’re seeking a Director, IT Operations & Business Systems to lead and scale our internal technology ecosystem.

This role will own the strategy, governance, and execution of IT operations and business systems across the organization. You will lead the evolution of our IT function from a primarily operational support model to a strategic enabler of business performance, ensuring our systems, data, and infrastructure are secure, scalable, and aligned with company growth.

As a key cross-functional leader, you will oversee IT operations, vendor partnerships, and enterprise systems, while partnering closely with Finance, Operations, People, and Digital teams to drive efficiency and innovation. This role blends strategic leadership with hands-on oversight and is ideal for someone who thrives in a high-growth, values-driven environment.

This role is hybrid and open to candidates based in Los Angeles or Orange County, CA.

Responsibilities

IT Strategy & Leadership

• ● Define and execute a multi-year IT and business systems roadmap aligned with company growth and strategic priorities
• ● Serve as the functional owner of internal business systems, ensuring they support scalability, efficiency, and data integrity
• ● Act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on technology investments, risks, and opportunities
• ● Establish governance frameworks for IT operations, security, and systems architecture
• ● Build and evolve IT policies, standards, and best practices across the organization
• ● Define governance for AI tools and automation, and drive their adoption to improve operational efficiency across the business

Business Systems Ownership

• ● Oversee the selection, implementation, integration, and optimization of enterprise systems (ERP, HRIS, CRM, collaboration tools, etc.)
• ● Ensure systems are interconnected, scalable, and aligned with business processes
• ● Oversee wholesale and fulfillment system integrations, including EDI and 3PL
• ● Partner cross-functionally to identify system gaps and drive process improvements through technology
• ● Lead data governance initiatives to ensure accuracy, accessibility, and security of business-critical data
• ● Own SaaS lifecycle and license management to control costs and reduce risk from application sprawl

IT Operations & Infrastructure

• ● Oversee the lifecycle of company-owned devices, infrastructure, and core systems
• ● Ensure reliable, secure, and scalable IT environments that support a hybrid workforce
• ● Maintain oversight of identity and access management, including SSO and MFA
• ● Drive continuous improvement of IT service delivery and employee experience

Vendor & MSP Management

• ● Own relationships with external IT vendors, including the Managed Service Provider (MSP)
• ● Define and enforce SLAs, KPIs, and performance standards
• ● Evaluate vendor performance, optimize partnerships, and identify opportunities for consolidation or cost savings
• ● Ensure vendor-delivered work aligns with company standards, security requirements, and long-term strategy

Security, Compliance & Risk Management

• ● Establish and oversee IT security programs to protect company data and systems
• ● Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and frameworks (e.g., SOC 2, GDPR, CCPA)
• ● Implement and monitor controls related to data privacy, system access, and infrastructure security
• ● Lead risk assessments, audits, and remediation efforts
• ● Own business continuity and disaster recovery planning, including backups and incident response
• ● Foster a culture of security awareness across the organization

Project & Budget Leadership

• ● Own the IT budget, including forecasting, planning, and cost optimization
• ● Prioritize and lead cross-functional IT and systems projects (implementations, upgrades, integrations)
• ● Evaluate and recommend new technologies to enhance productivity, scalability, and security
• ● Balance short-term operational needs with long-term strategic investments

Process, Documentation & Enablement

• ● Establish scalable processes and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for IT and systems management
• ● Ensure high-quality documentation for systems, workflows, and policies
• ● Lead internal enablement efforts, including training and change management for new tools and systems
• ● Elevate IT from a support function to a proactive, service-oriented partner to the business