Associate Director, IT/OT Projects Lead

Job Description

Did you always want to work in a company where your work can have a real impact? Do you enjoy leading complex digital and automation projects that directly support world‑class biotechnology manufacturing?

We have an exciting opportunity at the Boxmeer facility for an Associate Director, IT/OT Projects Lead.

Welcome in our team

The Boxmeer site is a strategic manufacturing location within our global network, delivering high‑quality biological products in a highly regulated GMP environment. Digital, Automation, and OT technologies play a critical role in enabling safe, reliable, and efficient operations.

As part of the Site Digital Manufacturing Office (DMO), the IT/OT Projects team delivers large‑scale digital and automation programs across manufacturing and facilities, including greenfield projects, expansions, upgrades, and lifecycle initiatives. We work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, IT, and Global teams to design and implement robust, compliant, and future‑proof solutions.

Purpose of the role

The Associate Director, IT/OT Projects Lead has overall accountability for a complex portfolio of manufacturing and facilities digital technology initiatives at the Boxmeer site. You provide end‑to‑end technical, financial, and people leadership across all project phases—from concept and design through delivery, commissioning, validation, and operational handover—while maintaining a strong focus on quality, compliance, and business value.

This role requires strategic and structured thinking combined with a strong execution mindset. You will translate business strategy and manufacturing objectives into clear, robust IT/OT and automation project outcomes, ensuring solutions are scalable, compliant, and aligned with corporate standards.

You will lead and manage a portfolio of multiple concurrent initiatives, applying excellent problem‑solving and critical‑thinking skills to anticipate, assess, and resolve complex technical, schedule, financial, and stakeholder challenges. A high degree of ownership and accountability is expected, with full responsibility for outcomes, risks, and delivery performance.

In this role, you will integrate facility, engineering, IT, laboratory, and corporate architecture requirements into project‑specific IT/OT and automation architectures, ensuring adherence to cybersecurity requirements and enterprise blueprints. You will balance strategic intent with pragmatic, executable project plans.

As a senior client interface and escalation point, you will demonstrate strong stakeholder, supplier, and sponsor management capabilities, building trust and alignment across local and global teams. Success in this position depends on the ability to clearly communicate complex technical topics, manage diverse interests, and drive decisions that enable successful project delivery in a regulated manufacturing environment.

Key responsibilities

• Own and lead a portfolio of digital, IT/OT, automation, and facilities projects supporting manufacturing operations.
• Provide end‑to‑end technical, financial, and delivery leadership for greenfield, expansion, upgrade, and lifecycle projects.
• Integrate facilities, engineering, automation, IT/OT, lab systems, and corporate standard architectures into compliant project solutions, including cybersecurity by design.
• Ensure successful delivery of automation, MES, BAS, historian, infrastructure, and laboratory systems within approved budgets, schedules, and staffing plans.
• Act as primary client interface and escalation point, guiding projects from concept through commissioning, validation, and acceptance.
• Lead detailed project planning, supplier and contractor management, system integrators and OEM oversight throughout execution.
• Monitor schedules, risks, and performance; anticipate and resolve complex, concurrent project issues using sound technical and business judgment.
• Prepare and present monthly portfolio progress, risk, and financial reports to Steering Committees and executive sponsors.
• Translate strategic opportunities and emerging technologies into pragmatic, executable project plans aligned with corporate standards and blueprints.
• Ensure full compliance with GAMP lifecycle expectations, ANSI/ISA‑S88 and S95 standards, cybersecurity requirements, and GMP regulations.

Your profile

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Automation Engineering, Industrial Information Systems, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience delivering automation, process control, and information systems projects in biotechnology or pharmaceutical manufacturing environments.
• Proven project and portfolio management experience in cross‑functional Engineering and IT/OT environments within GMP‑regulated settings.
• Strong knowledge of automation systems architecture, networking, and major vendor platforms (e.g. Siemens, Rockwell).
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience with DCS, SCADA, PLC, MES, BAS, and Plant Information Systems.
• Formal project management certification (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2) or equivalent practical experience.
• Strong planning, organizational, and execution skills with a consistent focus on quality, compliance, and delivery.
• Demonstrated people leadership and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to influence and lead matrix teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive‑level reporting and presentations.
• Autonomous, adaptable professional able to quickly integrate knowledge across multiple technical disciplines in complex project environments.

What we offer

We offer a truly global, dynamic, and challenging environment where digital excellence directly supports patient and animal health. You can expect strong opportunities for professional growth and a competitive total rewards package, including:

• A competitive salary, depending on your knowledge and experience.
• A 3% year‑end allowance and an annual bonus based on individual and company performance.
• A minimum of 35.5 days of paid leave.
• Travel expense reimbursement and a solid pension plan.
• A high‑quality company restaurant offering fresh and healthy options daily.
• Excellent accessibility: the train station is located directly at the main entrance, and ample parking is available.
• A beautiful private park on site, ideal for walking, taking a break, or relaxing.
• Mental wellbeing support via Lyra Health for you and your family members.
• Access to a dedicated prayer/meditation room.
• Extensive career development opportunities thanks to the size of the site and the presence of many disciplines and global departments represented in Boxmeer.
• A workplace within an organization that continues to grow and evolve.

Animal Health Division

Our Animal Health division is a trusted global leader in veterinary medicine, dedicated to the health and well-being of animals. We are a global team of professionals working together to make a positive difference in animal care and the world’s food supply and have a deep sense of responsibility towards our customers, consumers, animals, society and our planet.

Required Skills:

Audience View, Automation Engineering, Building Automation Systems, Critical Thinking, Facility Management, GMP Compliance, Management Process, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), Measurement Analysis, Multi-Management, Portfolio, Programme, and Project Support, Process Control, Program Management, Project Management, Project Management Training, Project Portfolio Management (PPM), Risk Management, SAP MES, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Team Management, Waterfall Model