Automation and OT Project Manager

Audubon Companies•Metairie, LA

About The Position

Audubon is seeking an Automation and OT Project Manager to join its team in the Metairie, Louisiana office. The role leads the planning and execution of industrial automation, control systems, operational technology (OT), and cybersecurity projects for industrial clients. The Project Manager is accountable for scope, schedule, budget, resources, and client communication from project initiation through commissioning and closeout, coordinating with Automation and OT supervisors, technical leads, and client representatives to deliver engineering and field activities in accordance with contractual, quality, and safety requirements. The position also supports proposals and business development, manages project financial performance and contract administration, and coordinates testing, commissioning, cutover, documentation turnover, and project closeout. Employees are responsible for supporting Audubon’s and its clients’ health, safety, and environmental policies and procedures, including required training, hazard reporting, and compliance with safe work practices and applicable regulations. Travel to client facilities may be required to support meetings and field implementation, testing, and commissioning.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline.
At least six years of experience in industrial automation, control systems, OT, or cybersecurity project delivery, including demonstrated responsibility for managing technical projects.
Experience managing project scope, schedules, budgets, forecasts, resource plans, and change orders across multiple concurrent assignments.
Working knowledge of PLC, DCS, SCADA, HMI, and historian systems and associated engineering, integration, testing, and commissioning activities.
Understanding of industrial networks, Windows-based infrastructure, virtualization, secure remote access, backup and recovery, and OT cybersecurity project requirements.
Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams, vendors, and client operations personnel while maintaining clear responsibilities and project commitments.
Experience preparing proposals, labor estimates, project execution plans, technical reports, and client presentations.
Proficiency with project scheduling and cost tracking tools, including Microsoft Project or equivalent software, and Microsoft Excel.
Strong client communication, negotiation, organizational, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to resolve execution issues and escalate risks promptly.
Ability to travel to client facilities and support project meetings, field implementation, testing, and commissioning as project requirements dictate.

Nice To Haves

Experience in LNG, refining, petrochemical, chemical, pipeline, or offshore facilities.
Familiarity with NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISA/IEC 62443 concepts.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management training.

Responsibilities

Develop project execution plans, work breakdown structures, deliverable lists, schedules, budgets, and acceptance criteria with clients and technical leads.
Establish project baselines, monitor progress against scope, schedule, and budget, identify deviations, and implement corrective actions.
Coordinate personnel assignments with Automation and OT supervisors, balancing priorities, technical skills, resource availability, and field support needs.
Manage project financial performance, including labor and procurement costs, forecasts, estimates to complete, and margin performance; report financial risks and required actions.
Serve as the primary client contact for project execution, communicate status and decisions, and maintain action logs.
Control scope changes through impact assessments, client approvals, and change orders; communicate approved changes and update project baselines.
Coordinate automation work involving PLC, DCS, SCADA, HMI, and historian systems, including upgrades, migrations, and integration with existing plant infrastructure.
Coordinate OT work involving industrial networks, servers, virtualization, secure remote access, cybersecurity assessments, and infrastructure modernization.
Schedule deliverable reviews with technical leads and verify engineering, configurations, and documentation meet project requirements and Audubon quality procedures.
Manage project risks, dependencies, and critical-path activities, escalating issues that could affect plant operations, cybersecurity, cost, or delivery commitments.
Coordinate vendors, subcontractors, and procurement activities, including technical scope alignment, equipment delivery, and integration responsibilities.
Plan factory and site acceptance testing, commissioning, and cutover with technical leads and client operations personnel, including outage windows and recovery readiness.
Maintain project documentation and support invoicing, progress reporting, and contract administration with project controls and finance personnel.
Support proposals and business development by preparing execution strategies, labor estimates, schedules, and resource plans, and identifying additional client service opportunities.
Coordinate turnover of final documentation, as-built records, training materials, and punch list items; capture lessons learned and complete project closeout.
Promote and comply with Audubon and client HSSE requirements, including planning for site access and field execution.
Perform duties in a manner that protects personal and team health and safety.
Participate in required HSE training, meetings, and reporting activities.
Identify and report hazards, near misses, and unsafe conditions.
Follow safe work practices and comply with applicable regulatory requirements.