fairlife, LLC is a Chicago-based nutrition company that creates great-tasting, nutrition-rich and dairy products to nourish consumers.
With over $3B in annual retail sales, fairlife’s portfolio of delicious, lactose-free, real dairy products includes: fairlife® ultra-filtered milk; Core Power® High Protein Shakes, a sports nutrition drink to support post-workout recovery; fairlife® nutrition plan™, a nutrition shake to support the journey to better health.
A wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola company, fairlife, LLC has been recognized by both Fast Company and Nielsen for its industry leading innovation.
To learn more about fairlife and its complete line of products, please visit fairlife.com.
job purpose:
The Automation Project Manager serves as the technical leader responsible for driving the design, development, and deployment of advanced manufacturing automation and OT (Operational Technology) systems. This role focuses heavily on engineering and technology integration, ensuring robust, secure, and scalable automation solutions across multiple sites. The position requires strong technical expertise in industrial controls, networked OT environments, automation platforms, and system interoperability to deliver high-performance manufacturing solutions. While the role involves coordination of execution activities, its core focus is providing technical direction, ensuring engineering excellence, and leading automation design from concept through implementation.
- Develop and manage detailed automation project plans, including scope, objectives, schedules, and deliverables.
- Lead cross-functional teams to ensure projects meet timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
- Identify and mitigate risks, resolve roadblocks, and ensure smooth project execution.
- Align project goals with stakeholder expectations through effective collaboration and communication.
- Oversee integration of engineering systems, automation technologies, and operational processes.
- Provide technical leadership in automation design, development, and implementation.
- Manage software development efforts including custom applications, code reviews, and QA.
- Build vendor relationships to identify innovations and optimize technologies.
- Qualify contractors, manage cost forecasts, and accelerate schedules as needed.
- Define and enforce commissioning, qualification, and validation standards via vendor agreements.
- 10+ years in dairy/beverage industry, including 7+ years in automation project management.
- Strong leadership, team-building, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Proven expertise in project management, cost forecasting, and construction standards.
- Ability to manage complex, multi-stream projects with tight timelines.
- Proficiency in SharePoint, PMO 365, and Office 365 for project tracking and reporting.
- Experience with automation platforms (Ignition, ControlLogix, FT View, FT Historian, etc.).
- Skilled in interpreting and updating engineering drawings (CAD/SolidWorks preferred).
- Required experience with aseptic/dairy systems (UHTs, homogenizers, valves, pumps, etc.)
#LI-Hybrid #LI-BB1
#LI-BB1
*Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered.
fairlife, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. All qualified applicants and employees will be given equal opportunity. Selection decisions are based on job-related factors.
In addition to its nondiscrimination commitment, the Company will also provide reasonable accommodation of qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the Company. If you have a disability and would like to request accommodation in order to apply for a position with us, please email [email protected].
For Recruitment Agencies
At fairlife, we manage the majority of our hiring internally through our dedicated Talent Acquisition team, which is actively engaged in direct candidate sourcing. Most of our roles are filled through applications submitted via our careers site or through direct outreach by our team.
As our recruitment is primarily handled in-house, we work only occasionally with external agencies, and only those on our existing, pre-approved vendor list. At this time, we are not reviewing or expanding that list.
Unsolicited resumes or submissions from external agencies not authorized by our Talent Acquisition team will be considered direct candidate applications. As such, fairlife will not assume responsibility for any placement fees associated with these submissions.
Top Skills
What We Do
fairlife, LLC is a Chicago-based dairy company that creates great-tasting, nutrition-rich and value-added products to nourish consumers.
With more than $1B in annual retail sales, fairlife’s growing portfolio of delicious, lactose-free, real dairy products includes: fairlife® ultra-filtered milk; Core Power® High Protein Shakes, a sports nutrition drink to support post-workout recovery; fairlife® nutrition plan™, a nutrition shake to support the journey to better health; and fairlife® Light Ice Cream.
A wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola company, fairlife, LLC has been recognized by both Fast Company and Nielsen for its industry leading innovation.
The company is driven by its values of caring for the people, animals, and planet it touches across its business. By providing nourishing products, implementing stringent care standards for animals, and stewarding efficient operations and responsible packaging, fairlife, LLC puts a focus each day on making a positive impact for all.
To learn more about fairlife and its complete line of products, please visit fairlife.com.
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