Senior Automation Program Manager

The Automation Director is responsible for developing and executing the automation strategy for a designated manufacturing value stream. This leadership role provides technical direction, organizational leadership, and portfolio governance for automation initiatives supporting safety, quality, delivery, capacity, and cost objectives.

The Director serves as the technical authority for the assigned domain and is accountable for defining automation roadmaps, establishing standard architectures, developing technical standards, and ensuring consistent execution of automation projects across multiple facilities. The position partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and external automation integrators to deliver scalable and sustainable automation solutions.

This role leads a team of Project Managers and automation professionals responsible for executing automation projects from concept development through production implementation. The Director is expected to evaluate emerging technologies, identify strategic automation opportunities, and ensure alignment with the company's long-term manufacturing and operational excellence objectives.

The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in manufacturing automation, strong business acumen, exceptional leadership capabilities, and significant experience leading large-scale capital projects in regulated manufacturing environments. 30 % travel is required and a possiblity of more travel could be required based on the project and location.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and maintain the automation roadmap for the assigned value stream.
• Identify and prioritize automation opportunities aligned with business objectives and operational strategies.
• Establish a long-term vision for automation technologies, equipment platforms, and manufacturing systems.
• Drive standardization of equipment, controls architecture, software platforms, and automation methodologies across facilities.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and determine applicability to manufacturing operations.

Technical Leadership

• Serve as the technical authority for automation solutions within the assigned domain.
• Establish engineering standards, design guidelines, and best practices for automation systems.
• Review and approve automation concepts, technical proposals, system architectures, and equipment specifications.
• Provide guidance on AI, robotics, machine vision, material handling, packaging, assembly automation, cleanroom, and digital manufacturing technologies as applicable.
• Ensure automation solutions meet safety, quality, reliability, maintainability, and regulatory requirements.

Project Portfolio Management

• Provide strategic oversight for multiple automation projects across various facilities.
• Ensure projects align with approved business objectives, budgets, schedules, and technical standards.
• Review project risks, resource requirements, and execution plans.
• Support project teams in resolving complex technical, operational, and organizational challenges.
• Monitor portfolio performance and drive corrective actions when necessary.

Capital Planning and Financial Management

• Support development of multi-year automation investment strategies.
• Review and approve project business cases, cost estimates, and return-on-investment analyses.
• Ensure effective management of assigned capital budgets.
• Drive projects toward achievement of expected operational and financial benefits.

Organizational Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop Project Managers and technical resources within the automation organization.
• Establish performance expectations and promote continuous development of team capabilities.
• Foster collaboration among engineering, operations, quality, facilities, maintenance, and supply chain organizations.
• Build a culture of ownership, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Support succession planning and organizational capability development.

Vendor and Integrator Management

• Evaluate, select, and manage strategic automation integrators, OEMs, and technology partners.
• Develop long-term partnerships that support business growth and technology advancement.
• Ensure vendors meet cost, quality, schedule, and performance expectations.
• Participate in contract reviews, vendor assessments, and technical due diligence activities.

Quality, Compliance, and Safety

• Ensure all automation projects comply with applicable quality systems, regulatory requirements, and company policies.
• Promote a culture of safety in equipment design, construction, commissioning, and operation.
• Ensure appropriate validation, documentation, and change control processes are followed.
• Support compliance with FDA, ISO, GMP, and other applicable industry standards.

Operational Excellence

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives utilizing automation technologies.
• Support manufacturing productivity improvements, capacity expansion, quality enhancement, and labor optimization projects.
• Develop metrics to measure automation effectiveness and business impact.
• Share best practices across facilities and business units.

• 15 Years of experience in manufacturing automation, capital engineering, or industrial automation.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing automation strategies within multi-site manufacturing operations.
• Proven experience leading large capital investment projects and automation portfolios exceeding several million dollars annually.
• Significant experience managing external automation integrators, equipment suppliers, and engineering service providers.
• Experience in regulated manufacturing environments including FDA, ISO, GMP, or similar quality systems.
• Demonstrated success implementing robotics, vision systems, automated assembly, packaging, material handling, or manufacturing automation technologies.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams involving Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Facilities, and Finance.
• Proven track record driving operational improvements through automation and technology deployment.
• Experience supporting global or multi-site manufacturing organizations preferred.
• Progressive leadership experience managing engineering, automation, or technical organizations.