Automation Manager

Amcor•Syracuse, NY

5d•$100,000 - $117,000

About The Position

At Amcor, we are committed to creating an exceptional Employee Experience where our people feel safe, respected, included, empowered, and supported in their professional growth. The Automation Manager plays a critical leadership role in delivering that commitment while driving technical excellence and operational performance. The Automation Manager is responsible for leading site automation strategy, engineering initiatives, capital project execution, and technical capability development to support safe, reliable, efficient, and sustainable manufacturing operations. This role serves as both a technical leader and a people leader, partnering across functions to strengthen organizational capability, develop talent, and drive a culture of continuous improvement. Success in this role requires a leader who exemplifies Amcor's core values of Safety First, Integrity, Accountability, Respect, Inclusion, and Continuous Improvement while fostering an environment where employees can thrive, contribute, grow, and speak up.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical field.
7+ years of manufacturing engineering, automation, controls, or technical leadership experience.
3+ years of people leadership experience with demonstrated success in developing and coaching teams.
Experience managing automation systems, PLCs, HMI/SCADA platforms, industrial networks, and manufacturing controls infrastructure.
Proven experience leading capital projects and cross-functional initiatives.
Strong knowledge of manufacturing reliability, maintenance, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams and develop technical talent.
Excellent communication, coaching, and stakeholder management skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience within packaging, consumer products, food, beverage, pharmaceutical, or highly regulated manufacturing environments.
Knowledge of GMP requirements and engineering change management processes.
Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, or Operational Excellence methodologies.
Professional Engineering certification or advanced technical certifications.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute site automation and controls strategies aligned with operational and business objectives.
Lead the design, implementation, optimization, and lifecycle management of automation systems, controls infrastructure, and manufacturing technologies.
Manage capital projects from concept through commissioning, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, and within budget.
Drive equipment reliability, uptime improvement, downtime reduction, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) improvements.
Lead engineering change management activities and ensure compliance with applicable technical, regulatory, and GMP requirements.
Partner with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Safety, and Supply Chain teams to achieve site performance goals.
Identify and implement innovative technologies that improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and sustainability.
Establish and maintain technical standards, documentation, and best practices across automation and engineering processes.
Create and maintain a respectful, inclusive, and psychologically safe work environment.
Foster a culture where employees feel comfortable raising safety, quality, compliance, operational, and ethical concerns.
Promote collaboration, trust, and effective communication across teams and functions.
Recognize and celebrate employee contributions and achievements.
Lead with transparency, consistency, and integrity.
Support employee engagement initiatives and action planning efforts.
Ensure fair, respectful, and consistent treatment of all employees.
Model and uphold Amcor's Code of Conduct and leadership expectations.
Lead, coach, mentor, and develop engineering, automation, maintenance, and technical professionals.
Create and support Individual Development Plans (IDPs) aligned with employee career aspirations and business needs.
Conduct regular coaching and development conversations focused on performance, engagement, and growth.
Identify skill gaps and implement training plans to support both operational requirements and employee development goals.
Promote knowledge sharing, collaboration, and cross-functional learning.
Develop cross-training programs that increase workforce flexibility and capability.
Mentor future technical and operational leaders through succession planning initiatives.
Support onboarding and successful integration of new employees.
Partner with Human Resources and site leadership to identify learning and leadership development opportunities.
Ensure training programs include competency validation, certification requirements, and appropriate documentation.
Encourage employees to speak up regarding safety, quality, operational, compliance, and ethical matters.
Reinforce Amcor's commitment to a non-retaliation workplace.
Respond to employee concerns promptly, professionally, and respectfully.
Hold self and others accountable for maintaining company standards.
Promote ownership, accountability, and problem-solving at all levels.
Support constructive feedback and collaborative decision-making.
Prioritizes employee safety above production, schedule, or cost pressures.
Leads proactive risk assessment, hazard elimination, and safety improvement initiatives.
Fosters a workplace where every employee is treated with dignity and professionalism.
Values diverse perspectives, experiences, and contributions.
Makes ethical decisions aligned with Amcor values and policies.
Builds trust through honesty, transparency, and consistency.
Takes ownership for commitments, results, and team performance.
Drives execution while maintaining safety, quality, and compliance standards.
Creates opportunities for all employees to contribute, learn, and develop.
Promotes collaboration and diverse thinking.
Encourages innovation, learning, and employee-driven improvement initiatives.
Uses data, employee feedback, and best practices to improve business performance.

Benefits

Medical, dental and vision plans
Flexible time off, starting at 80 hours paid time per year for full-time salaried employees
Company-paid holidays starting at 8 days per year and may vary by location
Wellbeing program & Employee Assistance Program
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
Life insurance, AD&D, short-term & long-term disability, and voluntary benefits
Paid Parental Leave
Retirement Savings Plan with company match
Tuition Reimbursement (dependent upon approval)
Discretionary annual bonus program (initial eligibility dependent upon hire date)