Manufacturing AI Transformation Leader

David Aplin Recruiting; Canada; On-site; CAD 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

David Aplin Recruiting is seeking an AI & Workforce Transformation Lead for a manufacturing-focused client. You will design and drive the AI and automation roadmap, partner with executive leadership, and deliver measurable improvements across scrap, downtime, quality, and changeovers.

You will also lead the people side of transformation, including workforce impact, job redesign, reskilling, and change management, while partnering with IT, HR, and Operations to ensure practical solutions are

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience applying AI, analytics, or automation within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Hands-on experience delivering technology or automation initiatives with measurable business results.
• Experience working with plant-floor data, including PLC/SCADA, historians, MES/MOM, OEE, quality, and downtime data.
• Understanding of IT/OT architecture and industrial cybersecurity.
• Experience leading the people side of technology transformation, including training, job redesign, communication, and frontline adoption.
• Experience managing external vendors, integrators, and technology partners.
• Strong ability to translate technical capabilities into practical business outcomes.
• Comfortable working directly with both executive leadership and frontline manufacturing employees.
• Strong analytical, communication, and change-management skills.
• Genuine comfort spending significant time on the manufacturing floor.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the organization’s AI and automation roadmap.
• Identify, prioritize, and deliver AI and automation initiatives based on measurable business value.
• Build business cases, establish success metrics, and track operational and financial results.
• Identify opportunities across manufacturing, quality, planning, back-office, and people operations.
• Lead the data foundation required for AI, including machine connectivity, MES/ERP integration, data quality, and data labelling.
• Partner with IT and Engineering on plant-floor data, IT/OT architecture, and infrastructure requirements.
• Manage external vendors, integrators, and technology partners against defined outcomes.
• Work closely with Production, Quality, and Maintenance to ensure solutions are practical and adopted.
• Establish AI governance covering acceptable use, data handling, confidentiality, vendor risk, and procurement.
• Assess workforce impacts, including changing roles, automated tasks, required skills, and job quality.
• Partner with HR and Learning & Development on reskilling, upskilling, training, and change management.
• Build trust and adoption among frontline employees and communicate technology changes clearly.
• Provide guidance to executive leadership on AI opportunities, limitations, risks, and investments.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Change management

Job description

David Aplin Recruiting is seeking an AI & Workforce Transformation Lead for a manufacturing-focused client. You will design and drive the AI and automation roadmap, partner with executive leadership, and deliver measurable improvements across scrap, downtime, quality, and changeovers.

You will also lead the people side of transformation, including workforce impact, job redesign, reskilling, and change management, while partnering with IT, HR, and Operations to ensure practical solutions are