Digital Manufacturing Director RPSI

About the role:
To lead and drive the digital manufacturing elements of the advanced manufacturing (“AM”) strategy and implementation for RPSI plants, working in partnership with the Automation Director and other key stakeholders to define standards, partnerships, and roles. This role ensures alignment with the company’s overall AM vision and is accountable for plant digital infrastructure, data systems, and IT/OT integration that enable Industry 4.0 transformation.
This role will report to the Global Advanced Manufacturing Leader RPSI and will be responsible for high-level oversight of projects and collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions that improve safety, productivity, and quality.

Key Job Accountabilities:

Strategic Leadership
•    Collaborate with key stakeholders to build and refine the AM structure and processes related to digital manufacturing, aligning them with the company's overall productivity and advanced manufacturing goals.
•    Identify, prioritise, and govern digital manufacturing opportunities to drive continuous improvement.
•    Partner with plants to scope and define AM projects involving plant systems, data platforms, analytics, and IT/OT integration, utilising subject matter experts internally and externally (SMEs) as needed.
•    Collaborate with key stakeholders to refine plant roadmaps and ensure alignment between digital platforms and physical automation initiatives.

Project Delivery
•    Implement robust project management methodologies, including risk management and change management practices.
•    Provide oversight of the full lifecycle of a portfolio of digital manufacturing projects, from initiation to completion. Plants will usually take the lead in executing each individual project.
•    Work closely with plant contacts, digital specialists, IT teams, and external partners to monitor project progress and proactively address issues or risks.
•    Monitor and review project cadence, reporting, and escalation of issues as necessary.
•    Coordinate pilot projects for new digital manufacturing technologies and platforms.

Technology Stewardship
•    Collaborate with key stakeholders to identify preferred vendors and categories for digital manufacturing technologies.
•    Act as the primary technology steward for plant-level digital systems, including MES, WMS, CMMS, historians, data visualisation platforms, and integration frameworks.
•    Identify use cases for emerging digital technologies (e.g. AI, machine learning, advanced analytics) and collaborate with physical automation counterparts to enable closed-loop and data-driven solutions.

Coaching and Development
•    Coach plant leaders and engineers on digital manufacturing topics, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
•    Develop and support local digital and data specialists to build their technical and delivery capabilities.
•    Provide specialist subject matter support to plants on digital manufacturing systems, data architecture, and integration methodologies.

Representation and Advocacy
•    Represent the needs of plants and countries related to digital manufacturing with the central team and other functions.
•    Collaborate with key stakeholders to identify and coordinate specialist vendors and partners delivering digital platforms and services.
•    Act as a key interface between plants and the wider organisation (IT, Physical Automation AM, Central RPSI, Corporate functions) on digital manufacturing and data requirements.

Digital Asset & Platform Management
•    Build and maintain processes to monitor performance, resilience, and cybersecurity of plant digital systems.
•    Manage processes for standardisation, scalability, and lifecycle management of digital manufacturing platforms across plants.

Qualifications / Requirements:
•    10-15+ years of experience in manufacturing, digital manufacturing, or Industry 4.0 transformation roles.
•    Strong leadership experience, including plant, digital, or cross-functional team management.
•    Proven track record of creating and leading successful digital manufacturing or systems integration projects.
•    Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; fluent in English. Additional languages are beneficial.
•    In-depth understanding of plant systems, data architectures, and IT/OT convergence.
•    Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
•    Proficiency in project management methodologies.
•    Clear enthusiasm and passion for driving innovation and continuous improvement.
•    Flexible and adaptable approach, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and change proactively.
•    Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.
•    Experience in implementing change management initiatives.

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