Electrical & Automation Manager **1st Shift

About the role

The Electrical & Controls Manager is responsible for leading plant electrical, controls, automation, and OT support activities to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing operations. This role combines people leadership, hands-on troubleshooting, automation strategy, capital project execution, and continuous improvement ownership across processing, packaging, utilities, and facility support systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, develop, and manage the electrical and controls team through clear expectations, scheduling, training, performance management, and accountability for execution.
• Own plant support for PLC, HMI, VFD, instrumentation, power distribution, safety circuits, and supervisory systems across Fresh, Arils & Beverage processes. Occasional regional travel as needed to support other facilities.
• Provide direct technical leadership for advanced troubleshooting of electrical, automation, networking, and controls-related failures using schematics, software tools, and field diagnostics.
• Drive control system lifecycle management, including migration plans for obsolete PLC, HMI, network, and drive platforms.
• Lead integration and startup of new equipment, as well as controls upgrades for existing lines, utility systems, and facility infrastructure.
• Support plant electrical infrastructure and low-voltage control systems, including troubleshooting, design review, documentation updates, and expansion planning.
• Support plant data and digital initiatives through historians, MES, SQL-connected systems, reporting tools, and machine-level integration projects.
• Use CMMS data, downtime trends, and failure history to prioritize reliability actions and capital improvements.
• Provide on-call or escalated support for critical production issues, shutdowns, startups, and major project activities as required.
• Ensure compliance with electrical safety requirements, arc flash expectations, LOTO practices, and machine safety standards; escalate material risks to plant leadership.
• Manage approved controls contractors, system integrators, and vendors to ensure work is executed safely, on schedule, within budget, and to plant standards.

Qualifications

• PLC & Control Systems: Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, CompactLogix, MicroLogix, and legacy SLC5 systems; Siemens S7/TIA Portal platforms; exposure to B&R automation systems preferred; ability to troubleshoot, modify, and support PLC logic, I/O architecture, and integrated machine controls.
• Industrial Networks & Communications: Ethernet/IP- Profinet; DeviceNet; ControlNet; Remote I/O systems; OPC communications preferred.
• HMI / SCADA Systems: Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus / FactoryTalk View ME & SE; Siemens HMI platforms; Wonderware / AVEVA platforms; SCADA, Historian, MES, and data collection systems; knowledge of visualization, alarming, trending, and operational reporting systems.
• Drives & Motion Control: Allen-Bradley PowerFlex series drives; SEW Eurodrive systems; B&R motion and drive platforms; Emerson and Yaskawa drives; VFDs; Servo systems; Motion control applications; Motor control centers (MCCs); Soft starters and motor protection systems.
• Electrical & Instrumentation: Electrical control panels; Relay logic; Safety circuits; Instrumentation systems; 24VAC / 24VDC / 4–20mA control systems; Level; Pressure; Flow; Temperature; Position and distance measurement devices.
• Software & Digital Systems: SQL databases; Historian systems; MES platforms; Data integration systems.
• Engineering & Design Tools: Electrical schematics; Panel layouts; P&IDs; Mechanical drawings; AutoCAD; AutoCAD Electrical; Visio; Electrical design documentation.

Education & Experience

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing electrical, automation, controls, or reliability teams within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong ability to lead cross-functional initiatives involving Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Safety, and external vendors or contractors.
• Proven experience managing multiple priorities including production support, capital projects, continuous improvement initiatives, and emergency plant support.
• Experience supporting high-speed manufacturing, packaging, or processing operations within food, beverage, CPG, or related industrial environments preferred.
• Strong understanding of reliability methodologies, root cause analysis, preventive maintenance, and continuous improvement principles.
• Working knowledge of electrical safety standards and safe work practices including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Arc Flash, and machine safety systems.
• Support capital planning, budgeting, and project justification activities related to controls, electrical infrastructure, reliability improvements, and automation modernization initiatives.
• Prior experience leading capital projects, equipment upgrades, or plant modernization initiatives preferred.
• Ability to foster a collaborative team environment built on communication, accountability, engagement, and mutual respect.
• Strong leadership, coaching, mentoring, and technical development skills.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage electrical & controls budget.
• Proactive leader who demonstrates ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement mindset across plant operations and team performance.
• Self-directed leader capable of balancing strategic planning with hands-on operational support when required.
• Ability to support off-shift, weekend, and emergency operational needs in a 24/7 manufacturing environment.