Manager of Data & Analytics, DevOps and Emerging Technologies

Client is seeking an experienced, technology forward and hands-on Manager of Data & Analytics, DevOps and Emerging Technologies to join the Boise corporate IT team.

This position will be responsible for spearheading the transformation of our data & analytics initiatives, paving the path for adopting emerging technologies like AI, ML, RPA, data lake, and autonomous capabilities, and evolving the custom application portfolio through DevOps practices.

The successful candidate will direct, oversee, and ensure the implementation of Master Data best practices and data governance, set AI guidelines and policies, manage ETL, SQL, and other databases, select and implement a data lake, and build out our analytics capabilities across descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive levels.

The candidate will design, develop, enhance, maintain, and oversee legacy and cutting-edge systems, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance. The ideal candidate is grounded in data, analytics, and database management, and brings extensive expertise in piloting, structure, and operationalizing emerging technologies. This role will be partly hands-on while also focusing on building strong business partnerships and managing a small group of data engineers, analytic/software engineers, business analysts, BI developers, and web/mobile developers.

Responsibilities

Data Governance & Stewardship

• Operationalize data governance by defining stewardship roles, escalation paths, and data ownership across business functions.
• Lead master data domain alignment (business partner, product, location, UoM, asset, material/item).
• Define and monitor data quality KPIs and remediation processes.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulatory requirements related to data usage and retention.

DevOps & Application Product Management

• Establish application portfolio governance, including rationalization, modernization, and retirement strategies.
• Drive DevSecOps practices, embedding security, testing, and observability into CI/CD pipelines.
• Ensure operational resilience, incident response readiness, and disaster recovery for critical digital products.

Integration, Projects & Architecture Alignment

• Define and enforce integration patterns (API, event-driven, batch, OT ingestion).
• Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture to reduce point-to-point integrations and technical debt.
• Ensure consistent data interfaces between ERP, manufacturing, analytics, and external systems.
• Serve as a key contributor to IT/OT convergence strategy.
• Work closely with the PMO to assign engineers to Business Projects.

Emerging Technology & AI Governance

• Define AI, automation, and LLM governance frameworks, policies and guidelines, including ethical use, data controls, model lifecycle, and risk management.
• Establish clear intake, evaluation, and exit criteria for emerging technology initiatives.
• Transition successful prototypes/pilots into operationalized, supported platforms.
• Monitor industry trends and vendor ecosystems relevant to agriculture, food processing, and manufacturing.

Business Partnership & Value Realization

• Act as a strategic advisor to business leaders on how data and automation drive measurable value.
• Translate business problems into data, analytics, or automation solutions with clear ROI.
• Define and track value realization metrics for data, analytics, and automation initiatives.
• Work with the PMO to apply change management practices and adoption strategies to ensure solutions are actually used.

People, Vendor & Financial Management

• Build, mentor, and retain a high-performing, cross-functional team across data, analytics, DevOps, and engineering.
• Establish clear career paths and skills development plans.
• Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and performance.
• Develop and manage budgets for data platforms, tools, cloud services, and external partners.

Leadership & Governance

• Serve as a core member of the IT leadership team, contributing to enterprise IT strategy and roadmap planning.
• Provide executive-level reporting on progress, risks, and outcomes.
• Champion standards, reuse, and disciplined execution across IT initiatives.