Sr. Manager of Manufacturing Digital Continuous Improvement

Schwan's Company • Kansas City, MO

11h • Onsite

About The Position

At CJ Schwan’s, we help create moments that matter through our food brands like Red Baron®, bibigo®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Freschetta®, Pagoda®, Edwards® and Mrs. Smith’s®. Our products are enjoyed in homes, schools, restaurants, and everywhere people shop and eat, reflecting a commitment to quality, innovation, and the power of food to bring people together. As a Sr. Manager of Manufacturing-based Digital Continuous Improvement, you will lead the integration and adoption of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and support continuous improvement efforts across a regional plant network. This role is the execution engine for Industry 4.0 across our manufacturing network, reporting to the Director of Continuous Improvement. You will own end-to-end MES deployment, from OT infrastructure readiness through go-live commissioning, and lead the integration of IIoT, edge computing, and automation systems connecting the shop floor to enterprise data. This is a deeply technical, site-facing role that requires up to 50% domestic travel.

Requirements

• 8+ years in manufacturing operations, controls engineering, or OT/MES roles, with at least 3 years directly leading MES or automation integration deployments across multiple plant sites.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Electrical/Controls Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or a related technical field.
• Hands-on PLC/SCADA and MES deployment experience required.
• Proven ability to manage systems integrators, OEM vendors, and cross-functional engineering teams through complex, multi-site deployment programs.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%, primarily deployment-based travel to support go-lives, commissioning, and production ramp-up activities.

Nice To Haves

• advanced degree preferred.
• familiarity with OPC-UA, MQTT, edge computing hardware, and industrial networking strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end MES deployment across any of our 16 regional plant sites, from pre-implementation readiness through commissioning, line validation, and production ramp-up.
• Conduct manufacturing line readiness assessments covering equipment connectivity, PLC/SCADA integration, edge node architecture, and OT network infrastructure ahead of each deployment.
• Define phased rollout roadmaps with clear stage-gate criteria, risk mitigation plans, and deployment-based milestones; serve as primary on-site technical lead during go-live and stabilization.
• Partner with IT/OT and Automation Engineering teams to validate and execute integration requirements between MES, ERP, SCADA, historian, and quality systems.
• Ensure all MES and digital system configurations comply with system validation (CSV), data integrity (21 CFR Part 11 where applicable), cybersecurity, and OT security requirements Architect and implement IIoT connectivity solutions linking shop-floor equipment, edge devices, and plant historians to MES and operational data layers.
• Define standards for edge computing deployments, including hardware selection, data pre-processing logic, and latency requirements; to support real-time production visibility and closed-loop control.
• Collaborate with Controls and Automation Engineering to integrate PLC/SCADA programs with MES workflows, ensuring accurate electronic work instruction execution, genealogy capture, and quality event triggering.

Benefits

• The base salary range for this position is $120,000 to $200,000 annually with eligibility for a 20% annual incentive bonus that is based on organizational performance.
• A competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well-being.
• A strong foundation of health benefits.
• Retirement and financial wellbeing.
• Time off programs.
• Wellbeing support programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees