Controls Manager

Position Summary

The Process Controls Manager will serve as the company's subject matter expert for automation and process control systems, providing strategic direction while supporting operational excellence across projects and facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the company's long-term automation and process control strategy.

• Develop and maintain multi-year automation and optimization roadmaps.

• Evaluate emerging technologies, industry trends, and customer needs to identify opportunities for innovation.

• Guide capital investment planning to ensure automation systems remain reliable, scalable, and competitive.

• Serve as the organization's primary controls and automation subject matter expert.

• Assess existing automation and process control systems to identify improvement opportunities.

• Support planning and execution of automation projects, including review of specifications, proposals, electrical drawings, P&IDs, PLC programming, project documentation.

• Coordinate controls support contracts, service calls, and system health assessments.

• Provide troubleshooting support for automation systems and testing environments as needed.

• Oversee external automation and controls service providers.

• Manage vendor relationships, contract compliance, service quality, and project performance.

• Ensure compliance with applicable quality, safety, and regulatory standards.

• Monitor and report key performance indicators, risks, budgets, and project progress.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives through performance analysis and data-driven decision making.

• Partner with Engineering, IT, Sales, Operations, and suppliers to align automation initiatives with business priorities.

• Act as a liaison between executive leadership, operational teams, and external technology partners.

• Represent North American automation requirements and preferences within the broader organization, with particular emphasis on Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation platforms.

Qualifications

• Required Education: Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Automation, Industrial Systems, or a related technical field.

• Required Experience: 7+ years of experience in process controls, automation, or industrial systems.

• Proven experience leading automation projects and managing external vendors or service providers.

• Experience developing automation strategies and long-range technology plans.

• Familiarity with industry standards and regulations, including: NECA, NRTL, ISO, OSHA.

• Strong knowledge of: PLC systems, SCADA platforms, MES systems, Industrial IoT technologies, AI/ML applications in manufacturing and automation.

• Experience with Allen-Bradley control systems strongly preferred.

• Ability to analyze performance metrics such as OEE, quality, efficiency, and reliability.

• Understanding of risk management and compliance frameworks including SIL and ISO standards.

• Professional Skills: Strategic planning and organizational leadership, vendor and stakeholder management, project governance and execution, strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, financial and budgeting acumen, excellent communication and presentation skills, continuous improvement mindset.

• Software Proficiency: Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, SharePoint.