IT CoE Application Architect for Planning

About the Role:

We have a current opening for a IT CoE Planning Application Architect and are actively reviewing applications.

The IT CoE Planning Application Architect is responsible for Ferrero's Group IT applications portfolio in the Planning area, enabling business users to fulfil their needs through advanced IT solutions.

The role focuses on end-to-end Advanced Planning Management, with a strong emphasis on the Kinaxis Maestro platform and its integration with SAP ERP.

The Application Architect collaborates closely with the Global IT organization (Platform and Delivery Center) to deploy, support, and continuously improve IT applications in line with Ferrero's global architecture and business strategy.

Main Responsibilities:

Application Strategy

• Lead the architecture for assigned planning capabilities, identifying improvement and consolidation opportunities.
• Provide proactive recommendations to support IT and business strategy.
• Align the application landscape with business requirements to maximize effectiveness and IT savings.
• Contribute to defining and maintaining the application strategy and architecture for planning functions and to the design of the most efficient business process.
• Assess the impact of business demands and changes on applications and related costs (feasibility studies, business cases).
• Ensure applications are available, supported, and maintained in accordance with business requirements and global IT standards.

Application Lifecycle Management

• Define major aspects of application architecture, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards.
• Act as subject matter expert for the Kinaxis Maestro application landscape.
• Design, enhance, and maintain planning applications, ensuring smooth upgrades and data consistency.
• Manage the full application lifecycle, from development and configuration to maintenance, testing, and deployment.
• Oversee data migration and integration activities, especially between Kinaxis Maestro and SAP ERP.
• Implement and document application and interface enhancements as per formal change control processes.
• Collaborate with infrastructure teams to ensure robust, secure, and scalable environments.

Project & Change Management

• Lead and execute application projects, both major (in partnership with Platform PMs) and minor, ensuring delivery within scope, time, and budget.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for planning processes and tools.
• Guide change management activities and deliver user training to maximize adoption and value realization.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Maintain constructive relationships with suppliers and technical vendors, contributing to evaluation and selection processes.
• Act as a key point of contact for business stakeholders, ensuring alignment between IT solutions and business needs.
• Communicate effectively with global and local teams, fostering a collaborative and productive environment.

This role will have also very important interaction with business stakeholders and external parties therefore managerial skills and attitudes are required.

About You:

• Bachelor or master's in information technology, Engineering, or related fields.
• Minimum 4-5 years of experience in the Planning area, with deep expertise in Advanced Planning capabilities provided by leading APS systems.
• Proven experience in multinational Consumer Goods companies and large-scale IT transformation projects.
• Hands-on experience with Kinaxis Maestro, including end-to-end implementation and integration with SAP ERP. Ability to configure, customize, and optimize Kinaxis Maestro solutions to meet business requirements. Data modelling, data integration, and troubleshooting skills on the Kinaxis platform. Eventual Kinaxis certifications will be considered an important element for the selection.
• Availability for minimal travels.
• Experience cross-functional team leadership. Project management skills will be considered a plus.
• Demonstrates strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, as well as exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

As part of our recruitment process, Ferrero may use artificial intelligence (AI) enabled tools to assist with reviewing candidate applications. These tools are used solely to support recruiters by summarizing application information and identifying potential alignment with job requirements. AI does not independently screen out or select candidates, and it does not replace human judgment. Final decisions regarding candidate progression are always made by Ferrero recruiters and hiring managers.

Our Benefits & Perks:

Careers with caring built in - discover our benefits here.

The base salary range for this position is $122,854 - 163,806. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors permitted by law. This range represents the anticipated salary for this position at this time.

In addition to base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other benefits.

About Ferrero:

Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world's largest sweet-packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Find out more about Ferrero at ferrero.com.

DE&I at Ferrero:

Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding.

Find out more here.

Ferrero is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable human rights laws. Ferrero will recruit, hire, train, and promote all persons without regard to race, creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity), religion, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, or history of disability (except where physical or mental abilities are a bona fide occupational requirement and the individual is not able to perform the essential functions of the position even with reasonable accommodations), citizenship, or any other protected characteristic.

Ferrero will accommodate the needs of applicants with disabilities throughout all stages of the selection process. If you need accommodation during the recruitment process, please advise the People & Organization (HR) Representative. Information relating to the need for accommodation and accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.