About Ketjen
Ketjen Corporation is a provider of advanced catalyst solutions to leading producers in the petrochemical, refining, and specialty chemicals industries. Our company is driven by a strong set of core values: curiosity, care, collaboration, humility, accountability, and integrity. These values guide our decisions, shape our culture, and define how we work together to deliver exceptional value to our customers and communities.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Enterprise IT Director to lead our Enterprise technology department. The ideal candidate will provide vision and leadership in the development and execution of IT initiatives that align with our overall business objectives. The director will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of our Enterprise technology infrastructure, systems, and enterprise applications, ensuring their reliability, security, and scalability to support business growth and operational efficiency.

This role requires a blend of deep technical knowledge, exceptional leadership, and strong business acumen. The Enterprise IT Director will mentor a multidisciplinary IT team and collaborate with executive leadership and other departments to identify technology needs and implement effective, cost-efficient solutions. This role will report to Ketjen’s Director of IT Business Relationship and will be based in our Houston area office (Clear Lake).

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and planning:

• Develop and execute the company's long-term technology roadmap, ensuring IT infrastructure and systems are aligned with business goals.
• Assess emerging technologies and industry trends to identify potential opportunities for innovation and competitive advantage.
• Present IT strategies, metrics, and budget proposals to C-level executives, clearly articulating the business value and ROI of key initiatives.

Operational management:

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the IT department, including networks, servers, storage, cloud environments, and end-user support.
• Implement and enforce IT policies and procedures, including those for security, data management, and business continuity.
• Manage relationships with external technology vendors, negotiating contracts and ensuring optimal service delivery.

Team leadership:

• Manage, mentor, and motivate a high-performing team of IT professionals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.
• Oversee recruitment, performance evaluations, and ongoing training for IT staff.

Cybersecurity and risk management:

• Develop and enforce robust cybersecurity protocols to safeguard sensitive data and systems.
• Establish and regularly test disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and standards, such as HIPAA or SOX.

Cross-functional collaboration:

• Act as the primary liaison between IT and other business units to understand their technology needs and deliver effective solutions.
• Collaborate with other department leaders to execute cross-functional projects.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

•  Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in information technology, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership or managerial role.
• Proven experience developing and implementing enterprise-wide IT strategies and overseeing large-scale projects.
• Extensive knowledge of IT infrastructure, enterprise systems (e.g., ERP, CRM), cloud computing (e.g., AWS, Azure), networking, and security.
• Experience with project management methodologies, such as Agile or ITIL.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Proven success in managing IT budgets and controlling costs.
• Excellent analytical and decision-making skills.