JOB DESCRIPTION

Role:  Global Head of IT

Location: Zabrze, Poland (legal entity: Dogmates Sp. z o.o.)

📣A bit about the role

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Global Head of IT to lead and oversee our IT infrastructure and operations across multiple sites of ButternutBox. This is a unique opportunity to:

• Shape IT Strategy: Oversee IT across our factories (SAMs in Zabrze, PL and Rudie’s in Doncaster, UK) and our offices in London, Warszawa, Amsterdam, and Berlin.
• Drive Operational Excellence: Ensure that our manufacturing and office environments are supported by reliable, secure, and scalable IT systems. Directly manage IT infrastructure at the Zabrze factory, ensuring robust and efficient systems.
• Manage a Growing Team: Directly manage IT operations at our Zabrze factory and support a dedicated team of two at Rudie’s, while collaborating with cross-functional teams across a global organisation of 850+ team members.
• Innovate and Improve: Work hands-on with ERP, WMS, and connectivity systems to optimize workflows and support the evolving needs of our business. Be available on-call to mitigate technical issues and minimize downtime in the factory. You will also help manage key tooling we use across the business, including Google GSuite, Slack, Notion etc.
• Be a Key Collaborator: Work closely with Operations, People, and our managed services providers to implement best practices, security updates, and data protection measures.
• Enjoy a Fun Culture: Bring your passion for startups and love for dogs to a role where you can truly make an impact.

🔎 A bit about you

We’re looking for a candidate who is as passionate about technology as they are about leading teams and solving complex challenges in a startup environment. Ideally, you:

• Are a Hands-On Leader: You have a “get stuck in” attitude, with a proven ability to manage diverse priorities effectively. You’re comfortable balancing strategic planning with tactical, day-to-day problem solving.
• Bring a Broad Skill Set: You possess advanced knowledge of network technologies, IT infrastructure, and connectivity. You have a track record of managing both on-site IT operations and remote teams across multiple locations.
• Excel in Communication & Collaboration: Your excellent communication skills allow you to work seamlessly with cross-functional teams, from Operations to People. You’re adept at aligning IT strategy with overall business goals, ensuring that technology drives efficiency and innovation.
• Are Process-Oriented & Innovative: You have a constant interest in improving processes, tools, and methodologies to support evolving business needs. You’re passionate about staying ahead of industry trends and applying best practices to drive continuous improvement.
• Have a Passion for Startups & Dogs: You thrive in a fast-paced startup environment and are excited by the opportunity to make a global impact. And yes—you are obsessed with dogs!
• English & Polish: You have excellent English and Polish.

If you’re ready to take on a challenging and rewarding role that bridges global IT strategy with hands-on operational leadership, we’d love to hear from you.

🐶 Background

Butternut Box was founded in 2016 and has seen outstanding growth and significant investment during its rapid evolution. A certified B-Corp, Butternut Box is committed to doing better for the planet, people and dogs. In 2023, the business secured £280m of investment from General Atlantic and L Catterton. This significant investment has allowed the business to rapidly develop its international expansion plans. These plans centre around European expansion with the Czech Republic next market to launch. Beyond that, there are several markets that would be attractive considerations including: Austria, Nordics, Italy and France.

Butternut Box fully acquired PsiBufet, a Polish Direct to Consumer dog food brand in 2023. This business provides a foothold from which to establish a new manufacturing plant to serve these markets. As it stands, the business currently serves over 300,000 dogs across the UK, Poland, Benelux and Ireland. To achieve the growth demands will require the UK factory, ‘Rudie’s Kitchen’, to deliver increased output whilst a new Polish operation is commissioned and brought online.

The new site is in Zabrze. This new site will be 37,000 M2 (compared to the original UK site at 18,000 M2) and will eventually have 8 lines with the capacity to produce 1,200T per week.

Work is required to ready the building for food manufacturing, and this is underway. Once this is completed, equipment will be installed to allow a fulfilment operation to be moved from an established site. It isn’t anticipated that many of the existing team will move so a new team will need to be recruited and trained to allow first orders to be processed by autumn 2025. Further equipment is being installed and commissioned in readiness for the first production to commence by the beginning of November 2025. Again, a production team will need to be recruited and trained to make this possible. It is envisaged that much of this training will utilise the knowledge and experience gained at Rudie’s.

Our Values & ways of working

A business with people at the very core.  The company has great employee retention and prides itself on giving everyone the chance to stretch themselves in a supportive and inclusive environment.

The business’ values are: Dedicated and Determined; Open and Honest; Genuine Care; Strive for Better and For the Love of Dogs.

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