Program Manager

About the Role

The Process Manager is Applied Fluid Power’s owner of how work flows through its ERP systems and how that work produces clean, reliable data. This role sits at the intersection of business operations and data integrity — responsible for the P21 golden template, ERP process design, and the pipeline that moves operational data into Applied Fluid Power’s analytics and AI platforms. It is a critical hire for Applied Fluid Power’s three‑year data strategy, ensuring clean data at the point of entry.

Responsibilities

• ERP Process Design & Governance: Own and maintain the P21 golden template across ~20 subsidiaries; define and enforce data entry standards at the process level; identify and close process gaps that produce bad, missing, or inconsistent data; partner with subsidiary operations leaders to align local processes to Applied Fluid Power standards.
• P21‑to‑Prism Pipeline: Own the data pipeline from P21 (ERP) to Prism (analytics layer), ensuring completeness, timeliness, and accuracy; define field mapping, transformation logic, and data quality thresholds; work with IT to troubleshoot and resolve pipeline failures.
• Epicor / Cloud Migration Coordination: Serve as the business‑side point of contact for the Epicor lift‑and‑shift migration; validate that cloud migration preserves data quality and process integrity; ensure the golden template is carried forward, not overwritten, during migration.
• Cross‑Functional Coordination: Coordinate tightly with the Data Manager on governance, metadata standards, and AI pilot readiness; ensure ERP processes support data tagging, supplier connectivity, and downstream AI use cases; participate in the community of practice as the ERP and process subject‑matter expert.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience with ERP systems, with hands‑on P21 / Epicor experience strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of distribution or industrial business processes (order management, procurement, inventory, service).
• Demonstrated ability to design and document business processes that produce clean, structured data.
• Experience working across multiple business units or subsidiaries with varying levels of process maturity.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and working without a large team beneath you.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with ERP cloud migrations (lift‑and‑shift or re‑implementation).
• Familiarity with data pipelines, analytics platforms (e.g., Power BI, Prism), or data governance concepts.
• Prior experience at a fluid power, industrial distribution, or manufacturing company.

How This Role Fits

The Process Manager reports into Applied Fluid Power’s Data & AI function and coordinates closely with IT, Finance, and subsidiary operations leadership. The role works in tandem with the Data Manager—who owns governance standards and the business data framework—while the Process Manager owns the ERP‑side execution of those standards. This is a foundational hire with executive visibility, meaningful scope, and the ability to shape Applied Fluid Power’s operational data infrastructure over the next three years.

Company Overview

Founded in 1923, Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE: AIT) is a leading value‑added distributor and technical solutions provider of industrial motion, fluid power, flow control, automation technologies, and related maintenance supplies. The company serves MRO and OEM end users in virtually all industrial markets through multi‑channel capabilities that provide choice, convenience, and expertise.