Regional IT Leader – Europe at Watts Water in St Neots, England, GB

The Regional IT Leader for EUROPE is responsible for aligning global IT strategy with local business needs, leading regional technology operations, enabling digital transformation, and acting as a trusted partner to business leaders. Additionally, this role also plays a critical part in supporting M&A initiatives across the region—leading IT diligence, integration planning, and transition execution to ensure seamless onboarding and business continuity. This role reports to Global CIO. Dotted line to Europe VP/MD Location: Europe Region (Preferred: UK, France, Germany, Italy)

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior IT representative across the EUROPE region.

• Translate global IT strategy into regional execution plans aligned with business growth and operational priorities.

• Lead regional execution of ERP Transformation efforts and other enterprise initiatives.

• Oversee regional infrastructure, network, end-user computing, and collaboration tools in partnership with global infrastructure & operations teams.

• Ensure reliable, secure, and cost-effective IT services across plants, sales offices, and distribution centers.

• Drive continuous improvement through standardization, automation, and strong vendor performance.

• Support regional M&A activity, including IT due diligence, integration planning and execution —covering infrastructure, applications, cybersecurity, data, and end-user support.

• Ensure alignment with global cybersecurity standards, IT policies, and regulatory compliance (e.g., data privacy, SOX).

• Support regional risk management, audits, and business continuity planning.

• Promote adoption of IT governance and architecture standards across the region.

• Lead a distributed team of IT professionals and site support resources.

• Manage vendor relationships and ensure contract adherence, service level compliance, and cost efficiency.

• Develop a high-performance culture through coaching, development, and accountability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. MBA or similar business training preferred.
• 15+ years of IT leadership experience, including roles with regional or multi-country scope.
• Experience in manufacturing or industrial environments is required.
• Strong track record of delivering ERP programs, digital transformation, and operational excellence.
• Hands-on experience with IT integration during M&A transactions, including due diligence and post-close execution.
• Familiarity with cloud infrastructure, ITIL service management, cybersecurity controls, and regional regulatory environments.
• Fluency in English required; additional language skills (e.g., French, German, Italian) are a plus.

Key Competencies

• Executive presence and ability to engage with regional and global leadership
• Strategic mindset with a bias for action and delivery
• Cross-cultural sensitivity and strong interpersonal skills
• Resilience in navigating complex, matrixed environments
• Ownership mentality with strong organizational and financial discipline