Director, Infrastructure and IT Services

Job Description

Cespira is a joint venture between Volvo Group and Westport Fuel Systems, dedicated to advancing sustainable transportation solutions. With offices in Gothenburg, Vancouver, and Brescia, Cespira develops and commercializes High‑Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) technology for heavy‑duty engines, supporting hydrogen and renewable fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are a Tier 1 automotive manufacturing company with over 200 employees across Canada, Sweden, Italy and China.

Position: Director of Information Technology – Global IT Lead

We seek a hands‑on, business‑oriented leader to manage our global IT function, operating strategically while engaging deeply in day‑to‑day execution.

Job Responsibilities

• Oversee IT infrastructure across all global sites, including networks, cloud environments (Azure), servers, and user support services.
• Ensure high uptime, system performance and data security through effective maintenance and incident management.
• Maintain IT service standards and helpdesk support for a distributed workforce.
• Define and execute an IT roadmap aligned to business priorities, balancing scalability with cost‑efficiency.
• Drive standardization and continuous improvement of systems and processes across geographies.
• Manage IT projects from business case through deployment, emphasizing delivery and measurable impact.
• Provide oversight of configuration, integration and optimization of enterprise systems including ERP, MES, WMS and plant‑floor technologies.
• Work closely with operational and plant leaders to ensure systems enable efficiency, visibility and traceability in production and logistics processes.
• Evaluate and deploy scalable system solutions for a mid‑size industrial organization.
• Maintain cybersecurity policies and practices to protect data, infrastructure and intellectual property.
• Ensure IT controls support global compliance needs, including IATF 16949 and audit requirements.
• Lead and coach a small, global IT team and coordinate with external vendors for effective support and delivery.
• Build scalable partnerships with technology providers across geographies.
• Provide hands‑on leadership while developing IT capabilities aligned to long‑term business growth.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Engineering or related field; Master’s degree is a plus.
• 10+ years of progressive IT experience, including 5+ years in an IT leadership role.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge of IT infrastructure and ITIL/ITSM processes.
• Proven experience managing enterprise IT infrastructure, cybersecurity and cloud solutions.
• Strong financial acumen and experience managing IT budgets and vendor contracts.
• Prior experience in a manufacturing environment with enterprise systems oversight is an asset.
• Experience leading IT in mid‑size companies with global operations.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP, MES and WMS.
• Experience with Microsoft Azure, cybersecurity frameworks and multi‑site infrastructure management.
• Hands‑on, pragmatic leadership style, balancing strategy with execution.
• Ability to identify opportunities for cost‑effective investment in IT systems, including staffing, sourcing, purchasing and in‑house development.
• Experience reviewing and negotiating hardware and software acquisition and maintenance contracts.
• Strong change management skills and proven ability to build relationships and influence at all levels in a matrix management environment.