OT Services & Strategy Manager - Shared

LGI Homes • Ankeny, IA

85d

About The Position

The OT Services & Strategy Manager leads Operational Technology (OT) vendor management, partner selection strategy, and site coordination across LGI’s US-based manufacturing footprint. This position is responsible for aligning OT infrastructure initiatives with organizational goals, ensuring consistent vendor performance, and supporting the long-term scalability and security of our OT systems. As a central liaison between IT, Operations, Engineering, and external OT partners, this role will not only oversee day-to-day execution but also shape the strategic roadmap for vendor engagement, lifecycle management, and service delivery across our manufacturing sites.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, information systems, or a related field, or significantly relevant work experience is required.
• 7+ years of experience in OT, industrial automation, or IT/OT convergence roles.
• Proven experience leading vendor relationships, contract negotiations, and multi-site technology strategies.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations and plant-level technology requirements.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree is preferred.
• Project management or vendor governance certifications (PMP, ITIL, etc.) are preferred.
• Experience in a manufacturing environment with OT/IT network segmentation.
• Working knowledge of cybersecurity practices in ICS/SCADA environments.
• Familiarity with FactoryTalk, Allen-Bradley PLCs, and Inductive Automation Ignition.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the overarching OT vendor and support strategy in collaboration with IT, Operations, and Engineering leadership teams.
• Identify opportunities for operational efficiencies, standardization, and modernization across multiple site-level OT systems.
• Provide thought leadership around OT lifecycle management, future capabilities, and industry trends (e.g., Industry 4.0, cybersecurity, system integration).
• Directly manage all relationships with external OT vendors, solution providers, and service contractors.
• Negotiate and manage contracts, SLAs, applicable licenses and renewals to ensure optimal performance and cost-effectiveness.
• Develop and track KPIs for vendor performance, compliance, and service delivery across all sites.
• Act as a senior liaison between Operations, Engineering, and IT to align OT priorities, schedules, and outcomes.
• Facilitate periodic strategic planning sessions, quarterly reviews, and incident retrospectives involving OT vendors and internal stakeholders.
• Partner with internal teams on OT/IT convergence strategies, particularly around network segmentation, cybersecurity, and data integration.
• Ensure vendor activities align with corporate IT/OT governance, including safety, compliance, and cybersecurity standards.
• Oversee documentation and reporting related to vendor scope, maintenance activities, site engagements, and lifecycle planning.
• Champion best practices in vendor access controls, change management, and service documentation across sites.
• Lead the coordination and execution of bi-annual maintenance and system upgrades with partners across 10 manufacturing sites.
• Develop playbooks, templates, and repeatable processes to streamline vendor-led work across locations.
• Drive consistent standards for systems such as FactoryTalk, Ignition (Inductive Automation), and Allen-Bradley PLC platforms.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees