Associate Director - Automation Engineering – Biologics

Role Summary

The Associate Director-Automation Engineering oversees the process control engineers and consultants supporting daily operations of the Biologics facility, ensuring reliable and compliant control applications and systems. This role develops and leads the automation engineering function, aligning with the process control technical agenda, business priorities, and compliance objectives, including during project startup and site growth toward GMP manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Administrative Leadership
• Supervise and coach process control team, including performance reviews and development plans
• Staffing, including recruiting, resource planning, and succession planning
• Process control work coordination
• Review and monitor financial performance; commit to meeting targets
• Develop and implement the Automation Engineering Business Plan
• Demonstrate a commitment to environmental, health, and safety
• Identify, track, and report key indicators of functional performance
• Ensure team operates in a state of compliance
• In coordination with automation and compliance consultants, set and reinforce standards for appropriate rigor in automation work products
• Assure focus by engineers and completion of critical assignments with monitoring and reporting
• Foster teamwork within the department and demonstrate key interpersonal skills
• Ensure technical depth and rigor with departmental deliverables
• Make decisions independently and network with others as appropriate
• Lead and participate as a member of management teams

Qualifications

• Required: Minimum B.S. in Engineering and experience in Automation Engineering, preferably in Biologics manufacturing
• Required: 10+ years working experience in Biopharma engineering, IT, operations, or manufacturing
• Preferred: Experience in design, development, commissioning and qualification of highly automated greenfield manufacturing sites utilizing SCADA, DCS and MES systems (DeltaV, Rockwell, Syncade, etc)
• Preferred: Experience as a member of group leadership in running the plant, including participation in management sub-teams
• Preferred: Successful application of organizational models through recruiting and retention of employees

Skills

• Leadership and people management
• Strategic planning and execution
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills
• Technical depth and rigor in automation systems
• Independent decision-making and networking across functions
• Ability to operate effectively in a team-based management environment

Education

• Minimum: B.S. in Engineering (required)