Director of Operations Technology & Automation

Charter Manufacturing•Saukville, WI

About The Position

Charter Steel is seeking an experienced manufacturing leader to lead its Operations Technology, Automation and Controls organization across seven manufacturing facilities. The position connects operations, manufacturing strategy and technology, ensuring technical resources and investments focus on the work that matters most to the business. It is a plant-connected leadership role, not a traditional IT leadership position or a role requiring the deepest technical expertise. The leader will translate operational challenges and business priorities into a clear technology agenda and align a talented organization around it. The director leads approximately 40 employees, including four managers, and works closely with plant and operations leadership to establish priorities, evaluate opportunities and risks, drive accountability, and ensure technology contributes to measurable improvements in manufacturing performance. The role sets a prioritized portfolio and roadmap, establishes governance and operating rhythms, and leads the shift from reactive project-by-project execution to coordinated strategic deployment of manufacturing technology. It also develops managers and employees, builds credibility with plant and frontline leaders, and balances run-state reliability with future capabilities and investments. Success means having a strategy and portfolio tied to Charter Steel business priorities; an organization operating with shared priorities, measures, governance and accountability; intentional management of run-state needs and project investments; and a capable leadership team able to sustain change and deliver manufacturing performance and growth.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial, Operations, Technology or a related field.
At least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations, manufacturing engineering, automation, controls, operations technology, operational excellence or a closely related plant-technology function.
Technical credibility and judgment to lead Automation, Controls and Operations Technology experts and assess opportunities and risks.
Demonstrated success leading leaders in a complex manufacturing environment.
Proven ability to translate business strategy into operating priorities, resource allocation, execution plans and measurable results.
Experience establishing or improving governance, KPIs, performance management, accountability and operating rhythms.
Demonstrated experience leading transformation, organizational change, continuous improvement or significant operating-model change.
Strong understanding of plant operations and interdependencies among production, maintenance, quality, supply chain, engineering and other manufacturing functions.
Strong analytical and business judgment, including the ability to evaluate tradeoffs among growth, operating risk, technical risk, cost and business value.
Experience with budgeting, planning, resource allocation and reporting.
Commitment to a culture of safety, accident prevention and continuous improvement.
Strong people leadership skills, including the ability to lead experienced managers and technical experts with confidence and humility.
Business-savvy, strategic, collaborative and influential, with comfort challenging leaders at all levels.

Nice To Haves

15 or more years of related leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
Multi-site leadership experience.
Experience leading a multi-site operations, engineering, automation or operations technology organization.
Experience with strategy deployment, enterprise continuous improvement or similar performance systems.
Experience building or improving a functional operating model and portfolio prioritization process.
Experience balancing legacy or technical debt with operational reliability, growth and long-term investment priorities.

Responsibilities

Translate manufacturing strategy into a clear, prioritized Operations Technology, Automation and Controls roadmap across seven facilities.
Connect plant operational challenges with technical capabilities, ensuring teams understand business problems and expected outcomes before selecting solutions.
Establish portfolio priorities and decide which work advances growth, reduces risk, improves reliability or strengthens the operating model.
Establish governance, decision rights, performance measures, communication rhythms and accountability for consistent execution.
Lead the transition from reactive, project-by-project work to coordinated, strategic deployment of manufacturing technology.
Build credibility with plant and frontline leaders, understand shop-floor realities, and incorporate operational knowledge into technology and investment decisions.
Develop four managers and approximately 40 employees while strengthening leadership capability, succession, collaboration and accountability.
Balance reliability of current operations with capabilities, roadmap and investments needed for future manufacturing performance and growth.
Translate business strategy into operating priorities, resource allocation, execution plans and measurable results.
Establish or improve governance, KPIs, performance management, accountability and operating rhythms.
Manage budgeting, planning, resource allocation and reporting.
Support a culture of safety, accident prevention and continuous improvement.