IT Applications Manager (34157)

Job Summary

The IT Applications Manager is responsible for the strategic ownership, governance, and lifecycle management of enterprise applications supporting KLS Martin L.P. and affiliated entities. This role ensures applications deliver measurable business value, operate reliably and securely, and evolve in alignment with business strategy and regulatory requirements.

The IT Applications Manager leads a proactive, value driven Application Services function that owns the full application lifecycle from evaluation and onboarding through optimization, modernization, and retirement. This role is accountable for technical stewardship, quality assurance, vendor performance, continuous improvement, and business value realization across the supported application portfolio.

The IT Applications Manager partners with Regulatory, Quality, Project Management, Infrastructure, Security, and Business Leaders to ensure effective resource allocation, roadmap alignment, compliance adherence, and successful execution of enterprise initiatives.

The IT Applications Manager provides governance and strategic leadership for enterprise collaboration and low code platforms including Microsoft SharePoint and Power Platform, ensuring secure, scalable, and compliant usage while driving automation and process optimization across the organization.

Essential Functions, Duties, And Responsibilities

• Own the technical health, performance, stability, availability, and security posture of assigned enterprise applications.
• Establish and monitor KPIs for application reliability, user adoption, performance, compliance, and business value realization.
• Develop and maintain application roadmaps aligned to business strategy and enterprise architecture standards.
• Proactively identify improvement, automation, integration, and optimization opportunities across the application portfolio.
• Conduct periodic application health, risk, and maturity assessments and implement corrective and improvement actions.
• Identify and reduce technical debt across supported systems.
• Lead application onboarding including risk assessment, validation, regulatory alignment, and structured implementation planning.
• Own upgrade strategy, patch alignment, lifecycle planning, and modernization initiatives.
• Lead application rationalization and retirement decisions to optimize portfolio effectiveness and cost.
• Ensure proper documentation, knowledge transfer, and continuity planning for all supported applications.
• Manage total cost of ownership including licensing optimization and vendor cost management.
• Lead and oversee the Quality Assurance function across the application portfolio, ensuring structured verification, validation, regression testing, and release readiness practices are consistently applied throughout the application lifecycle in compliance with regulatory and quality requirements.
• Define and continuously improve SDLC and STLC standards, quality controls, change management practices, and release governance frameworks.
• Partner with Regulatory and QMS to define, execute, and periodically review validation frameworks.
• Own vendor relationships for assigned applications including performance management and SLA oversight.
• Participate in contract reviews, renewal evaluations, and strategic vendor planning.
• Ensure external developers and system integrators adhere to internal technical, security, and compliance standards.
• Act as a strategic advisor to business stakeholders and translate business objectives into application improvement roadmaps.
• Ensure measurable return on investment from application investments and lead periodic value review sessions with stakeholders.
• Lead and develop the Application Services function, ensuring clear accountability, capability growth, and performance across application analysis, quality assurance, and collaboration platforms.
• Lead the transformation of the Application Services team from reactive support execution to proactive lifecycle ownership and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear accountability for defined application portfolios and domain ownership.
• Develop team capability in automation, integration, analytics, QA practices, and application governance.
• Coordinate with IT Director and Project Management to ensure resource alignment and successful execution of enterprise initiatives.
• Provide governance and strategic leadership for Microsoft SharePoint and Power Platform, driving secure, compliant, and scalable adoption while proactively expanding automation and process optimization initiatives across the organization.
  
  

The above cited duties and responsibilities describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to the job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that an incumbent may be expected or asked to perform.

Qualifications

Educational and Experience Requirements

• 7 years of progressive experience in enterprise application management, product ownership, or application lifecycle leadership within a regulated environment.
• 3 years of people management experience leading cross functional application, quality assurance, or enterprise platform teams.
• Demonstrated experience owning the full application lifecycle including evaluation, onboarding, validation, optimization, upgrades, modernization, and retirement.
• Experience establishing and improving SDLC and STLC processes in a regulated environment
• Experience overseeing software verification and validation activities including traceability, documentation, and compliance controls.
• Experience defining and monitoring application performance, reliability, and business value KPIs.
• Experience managing third party vendors, SaaS providers, or external development partners including SLA oversight and contract participation.
• Experience leading application modernization initiatives and reducing technical debt.
• Experience working cross functionally with Regulatory, Quality, Infrastructure, Security, and Business stakeholders.
• Experience driving operational transformation from reactive support models to proactive lifecycle ownership preferred.
• Experience governing or leading enterprise collaboration and low code platforms such as Microsoft SharePoint and Power Platform preferred.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, with technical and non-technical members of the organization including senior and executive leadership.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships across Regulatory, Quality, Infrastructure, Security, Project Management, and Business functions.
• Strong understanding of enterprise application architecture, system integrations, data flows, and cross system dependencies.
• Strong knowledge of software development lifecycle and software testing lifecycle practices within regulated environments.
• Knowledge of verification and validation frameworks, traceability requirements, and compliance controls applicable to enterprise systems.
• Ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical system governance and quality assurance controls.
• Ability to establish and monitor application performance, reliability, and business value metrics.
• Ability to proactively identify system risks, inefficiencies, automation opportunities, and optimization initiatives without waiting for formal direction.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to think strategically and operationally.
• Ability to evaluate technical debt, lifecycle risks, and modernization opportunities and recommend appropriate actions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and balance operational stability with strategic improvement initiatives.
• Strong leadership skills with demonstrated ability to develop, mentor, and transition teams toward proactive lifecycle ownership models.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment across competing priorities.
• Knowledge of vendor management practices including SLA governance and performance evaluation.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, and Visio.
• Strong writing skills with the ability to develop documentation, executive reports, and business cases.
• Strong understanding of Microsoft 365 collaboration and low code platforms including SharePoint and Power Platform governance and controls.
• Confidence in making independent as well as collaborative decisions as required by the situation.
• Ability to work effectively in both onsite and remote environments as required by the business.
  
  

Skill Requirements

• Typing/computer keyboard
• Utilize computer software (specified above)
• Retrieve and compile information
• Maintain records/logs
• Verify data and information
• Organize and prioritize information/tasks
• Operate office equipment
• Advanced mathematical concepts (fractions, decimals, ratios, percentages, graphs)
• Verbal communication
• Written communication
• Public speaking/group presentations
• Research, analyze and interpret information
• Investigate, evaluate, recommend action
• Leadership and supervisory, managing people
• Basic mathematical concepts (e.g. add, subtract)
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Sitting for extended periods
• Extended periods viewing computer screen
• Reading
• Speaking
• Hear/Listen
• Maintain regular, punctual attendance
• Writing
  
  

Hazards

• Normal office environment
  
  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.