IT Applications Manager

Shape What’s Next at Select Custom Solutions At Select Custom Solutions, we don’t just make ingredients— we create possibilities. From La Crosse, WI, our team brings innovation and expertise to contract manufacturing, branded dairy and non‑dairy ingredients, custom blends, and ingredient distribution. With modern facilities and cutting‑edge capabilities, we help some of the world’s most trusted brands deliver products that make a difference in people’s lives. With a strong focus on growth, innovation, and excellence, Select Custom Solutions offers opportunities to be part of meaningful work that impacts industries worldwide. Whether you’re working hands‑on in manufacturing or supporting operations, your contributions help drive the future of food and nutrition. We’re proud to be partnered with Select Milk Producers, one of the nation’s most progressive dairy cooperatives. With over 110 family‑owned dairies and multiple processing plants and joint ventures nationwide, our partnership connects us to a powerful network driving the future of food and nutrition. Join us—and help shape what’s next.

What Select offers you:

• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Off Uniform Program
• Shoe Allowance
• Onsite Gym
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Leadership Development Opportunities to support our local communities
• Chance to apply best practices in sustainability and environmental initiatives
• Commitment to producing high quality nutritious products and providing nourishment around the world

What this role is all about:

We are looking for an IT Applications Manager near La Crosse, WI.

*To be considered, applicants must currently reside within 90 miles of La Crosse, WI.

* Location: This role can be primarily hybrid/remote but would require occasional onsite days.

Schedule: Monday – Friday, regular business hours + on call/weekends as projects dictate

Job Duties:

• Plan, direct, and oversee the development, support, and enhancement of the organization’s business applications, including the ERP system, custom in‑house applications, other off‑the‑shelf business applications, and reporting solutions.
• Provide leadership, direction, and day‑to‑day supervision to the IT applications team
• Work with development staff, analysts, and business owners to plan and execute enhancement and support projects based on defined requirements and technical specifications; establish realistic estimates and manage efforts against them to keep projects on target to meet deadlines.
• Ensure that application support activities are appropriately managed to support day‑to‑day business needs and operations.
• Provide oversight for all business application platforms to ensure they perform to the needs of the business and remain reliable, secure, and well‑maintained.
• Oversee the design, development, and delivery of data and reporting solutions that provide accurate, consistent, and accessible information for data‑driven decision‑making.
• Track and report the status of enhancement and support requests while ensuring that project requirements are adequately defined.
• Drive application and development planning in alignment with the technical strategies of the business and that considers the future needs of the organization.
• Evolve existing application systems, integrations, and architecture across ERP, business applications, and reporting systems as needed.
• Establish and enforce standards, documentation, and best practices for application configuration, development, data governance, and reporting.
• Collaborate with IT and business teams to gather requirements and translate business needs into functional and technical specifications.
• Help team members resolve problems, both technical and interpersonal, and provide guidance to coach, motivate, and lead staff to their optimum performance levels and in their career development.
• With prior approval, evaluate, recommend, and coordinate the purchase of software and services, and manage relationships with external vendors and service providers.
• Oversee and promote the responsible adoption and use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and capabilities to improve application development, support, and reporting, and advance departmental and organizational goals.
• Responsible for employee relations, including work direction of employees, hiring, training, performance reviews, administering policies and procedures, disciplinary action, and compensation recommendations.
• Direct the implementation of departmental objectives, goals, and policies.
• Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies, procedures, and guidelines.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all‑inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time.

Qualifications:

• Education Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, or related field required. Equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be considered.
• Experience Required: Minimum five (5) years of experience supporting software development processes (SDLC) required.
• Minimum one (1) year of experience in a supervisory, lead, or coordinator role preferred Experience supporting, administering, or implementing an ERP system such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or a similar ERP.
• Experience programming in C#.NET, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or related programming environments, and a solid understanding of Transact‑SQL and database administration required.
• Knowledge of reporting tools, including Power BI or similar systems Experience with software development to integrate ERP and related applications, including working with APIs, required.
• Understanding of functional business areas such as Accounting, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing required.
• Enterprise application development experience preferred.

Where you’ll be working:

Our La Crosse, WI, plant is home to approximately 330 employees. This facility supplies the food, beverage, and nutritional industries with innovative functional ingredients and superior quality contract manufacturing services. La Crosse, WI, is nestled between the Mississippi River and the rolling river bluffs. This town is home to a plethora of colleges, high‑quality health care, community events, and cultural opportunities. If you want to enjoy outdoor activities there are many opportunities, such as hiking, cycling, skiing, and boating. The town hosts multiple events annually and is famously known for their Oktoberfest celebration as well as offering a minor league baseball team. Visit the La Crosse Chamber site for more information on local events.

AA/EEO – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

As you pour milk over your cereal or add it your coffee, do you ever stop and think where does it come from? I know, silly question — cows! But have you ever thought further, like where do these cows live? How are they treated? Select Milk Producers, Inc. takes that guesswork out. You can rest assured that the more than 10 billion pounds of milk that Select Milk produces each year comes from innovative sustainable farming and extraordinary animal care and comfort. Select Milk formed in 1994 out of a desire by a group of family dairy producers to develop a national footprint for the perfect milk. Founded on honesty, trust, and quality, Select Milk believes in providing their customers with the highest quality fresh milk and doesn’t settle for anything less. Select Milk believes in operating all aspects of their business with the highest standards, including its cooperative of 99 family dairy farm members. "We strive to go above and beyond what’s expected in providing for our families, leading our employees, caring for our land and animals, serving our customers, producing quality milk, and serving one another. This commitment is more than our business, it’s in our culture and our character. We believe in being accountable, in doing what’s right, in performing at our best, in setting a higher standard."