Ingram Content Group (ICG) is hiring a VP Application Services join our IT team in our LaVergne, TN (greater Nashville area) headquarters.This individual Provides executive-level product, technical, and strategic leadership across Ingram Content Group’s software engineering, software architecture, data engineering, and artificial intelligence teams. Accountable for the full technology product lifecycle, from design and development through deployment, operations, and continuous improvement, ensuring that platforms and products deliver measurable business outcomes. Partners with senior business leaders to define and execute platform roadmaps that advance ICG’s competitive position in the global book supply chain. Translates complex technical strategy into clear business value and drives organizational alignment across a matrixed engineering portfolioWant to help explore and build new ways to deliver content to the world?At Ingram, our Technology team is blazing a trail by providing content distribution services to thousands of publishers with key initiatives around business intelligence, machine learning, continuous integration and omnichannel.  We support diverse people and technology that highlights innovation through SaaS platforms, metadata, cloud, and containerization.  Our teams are agile, and emphasize authenticity, creativity, and transparency upon a fact-based foundation. The world is reading, and it is our goal to connect as many people to the content they want in the simplest ways.  If you are an IT professional who strives to deliver results through collaborative partnerships, understands what drives business, and enjoys working in a connected culture, we can’t wait to meet you!The ideal candidate will have the following minimum qualifications:Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent10 years of experience in a technical leadership role managing diverse engineering teams in a matrix organization8 years of early career experience with hands on coding in at least 2 of the following languages: C, Java, C#, Ruby, Angular, Bootstrap, Python8 years of experience with SOA, integration, big data management including MDM.5 years of experience with SaaS based products, including product and engineering experience5 years of experience with Business Intelligence, Data Visualization, Machine Learning, Predictive / Prescriptive AnalyticsKey Responsibilities:Establishes and maintains the technical strategy and application architecture that provides for the growing demands of the businessOwns and advances the engineering culture, including developer experience, AI-assisted development tooling, engineering productivity metrics, and talent practices that attract and retain high-performing technologists.Develops and presents compelling technology investment cases to executive audiences, translating engineering strategy into business impact terms including ROI, risk, and competitive differentiation.Monitors the evolving technology landscape, including AI/ML, cloud, and industry trends, and integrates relevant developments into the engineering strategy and roadmap with appropriate speed and discipline.Understands the current application portfolio and determine risk and future direction consistent with the overall long-term IT strategyOwns the operational excellence and on-time delivery of the applications portfolio through disciplined processes, clear metrics and accountable teamsWorks with external third parties to assess partnership opportunities and define external requirementsSet the engineering standards for architecture, quality and delivery, and hold teams accountable to themProvides leadership in the recruitment, development and retention of a high-performing team, in accordance with budgetary principles and personnel policiesContribute actively at the senior leadership level, driving both strategic and tactical initiatives across the companyKnowledge of modern data-platform engineering at scale, lakehouse architecture, data mesh principles, data-product ownership and the modern data stack, with production experience standing up pipelines and governed data products that the business relies on.Ability to provide AI/ML leadership through to production, demonstrated experience leading AI/ML product initiatives, including working knowledge of large language models, generative and agentic AI, model evaluation, and responsible-AI governance frameworks.Knowledge of Cloud-native, high-scale application architecture, event-driven and API-first patterns, microservices, message streaming, containerization, infrastructure-as-code and cloud security best practices on Azure and/or GCP, proven in a transaction-intensive, near-100%-uptime environment.A solid understanding of Service-Oriented Architecture and API products.Working familiarity with modern object-oriented and web languages such as .NET, Java and PythonDemonstrated ability to scale and manage developer-productivity programs, including AI-assisted development tooling and platform engineering, across teams of 50+ engineers.Experience building and implementing actionable business intelligence metrics, dashboards and analytics to support all functional areas of the business.Ability to apply scaled agile delivery frameworks (SAFe, LeSS, etc.) across a portfolio of teams.Demonstrated experience improving operational reliability in a transaction-intensive, 100%-uptime environment.Experience effectively managing offshore development relationships and contracts.Strong knowledge of big-data management, data visualization and building business intelligence capabilities, plus an understanding of custom-built SaaS solutions, machine learning and predictive analytics.Knowledge of leading-edge technologies in the publishing industry (on-demand printing, eBooks, digital libraries, etc.) is helpful but not required.Executive presence and business translation, the gravitas and communication skill to present funded technology investment cases to the C-suite in terms of ROI, risk and competitive differentiation, and to command trusted relationships with major customers. This is a defining requirement, not a nice-to-have.Builds and retains elite engineering talent and culture, a proven track record attracting, developing and retaining high-performing technologists and owning the developer experience.Uses influence and knowledge rather than position or title to communicate and gain support for ideas, business plans and initiatives.Possesses strong business and financial acumen, return on invested capital, customer strategy, strategic thinking, and managing profit-versus-growth decisions.A decisive change-driver with strong operational judgment, does not hold back in determining what needs to be done and drives the change through
