Director - Automation Engineering

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Fort Dodge, IA
In-Office
Healthtech • Pharmaceutical • Manufacturing
The Role

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!

As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. We’re driven by our vision of ‘Food and Companionship Enriching Life’ and our approach to sustainability – the Elanco Healthy Purpose™ – to advance the health of animals, people, the planet and our enterprise.

At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.

Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Your Role: Director, Automation Engineering

This Director has the responsibility to provide leadership for Process Automation support and ownership of the Operational Technology systems at our Fort Dodge, Iowa site. This includes operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, project support, continuous improvement, and lifecycle management for all automation systems including DCSs, PLCs, and BMSs, as well as improvements related to compliance enhancement, risk reduction and efficiency increasement. Additionally, the director partners with other leaders to influence and implement improvements across functional disciplines to ensure that the site achieves all business plan objectives and remains compliant with all regulatory requirements including computer system validation.

Your Responsibilities:

  • Operational Management: Oversees daily departmental activities, resource allocation, budget, and business plan. Manages headcount, overtime, and expenses. Collaborates with stakeholders and prioritizes tasks based on business goals, escalating issues as needed.

  • Continuous Improvement: Drives automation value improvement by leveraging best practices, leading computer system validation, and utilizing data-driven problem-solving. Actively participates in site operations to identify and implement automation solutions.

  • People Development: Fosters employee growth through performance management plans aligned with individual, departmental, and site goals. Provides coaching, mentoring, and career counseling, and manages performance reviews and related documentation. Develops succession plans.

  • Collaboration and Alignment: Works closely with Global Engineering to align with corporate initiatives, standards, and policies. Partners with Human Resources on personnel matters.

  • Safety Leadership: Cultivates a strong safety culture by promoting awareness, accountability, proactive risk reduction, and timely incident reporting. Ensures safety is integrated into all automation tasks.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field.

  • Minimum 5 year's experience within a regulated industry.

  • Knowledge of automation systems and equipment Commissioning and Qualification processes and knowledge of cGMP’s and guidelines.

  • Proven experience leading teams focused on front-line support as well as strategic plan.

What You Need to Succeed (preferred qualifications):

  • Experience working within the animal health or pharmaceutical industry.

  • Exposure to Lean Six Sigma principles.

  • Knowledge of the principles and guidelines of CFR 9 and the USDA.

Don’t meet every single requirement?Studies have shown underrecognized groups are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Elanco we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive work environment. If you think you might be a good fit for a role but don't necessarily meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this role or other roles!   

 

Elanco Benefits and Perks:  

We offer a comprehensive benefits package focusing on financial, physical, and mental well-being while encouraging our employees to pursue our purpose! Some highlights include:  

  • Multiple relocation packages  

  • Two weeklong shutdowns (mid-summer and year-end) in the US (in addition to PTO)  

  • 8-week parental leave  

  • 9 Employee Resource Groups  

  • Annual bonus offering  

  • Flexible work arrangements  

  • Up to 6% 401K matching 

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

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The Company
HQ: Greenfield, Indianna
8,445 Employees

What We Do

At Elanco, we work to improve the health of animals through innovative products and services for pets and farm animals around the world. As a global animal health company, we provide solutions that empower our customers to advance a vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life. Since 1954, Elanco has committed to empowering veterinarians, farmers, and all those who care for animals with the tools they need to help animals live healthy lives.

Healthier animals are the key to making our lives better - This is the fundamental belief uniting all global Elanco employees. That’s why we are committed to the idea that our business can be a unique force for good for all in society.

Through our Elanco Healthy Purpose™ framework of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments, we focus on delivering sustainable solutions to advance the well-being of animals, people and the planet. This program also enables our employees around the world to take paid time off to make an impact as a volunteer, offering their time or talent to give back to our customers, causes and communities. #ElancoHealthyPurpose #WeAreElanco

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