Operational IT Manager

EM Microelectronic; Marin-Epagnier; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

EM Microelectronic is seeking a senior IT Operations leader to drive operational excellence in a high-tech manufacturing environment. You will oversee MES and integration systems, lead a skilled team, and partner with engineering, quality, and manufacturing to optimize day-to-day operations.

The role requires 15+ years in IT, a strong background in production-critical systems, and formal PMI/Agile training. French fluency is expected, with German an advantage.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or Masters in Computer Science or a closely related technical field.
• PMI and Agile certifications demonstrate formal project management and delivery capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and mentor the IT Operations team to deliver value and stability.
• Define and enforce IT Operations governance: incidents, problems, changes.
• Ensure stable, secure MES and equipment integration systems in a production-critical setting.
• Coordinate multiple IT projects (MES, RMS, CMMS, APS) with PMI/Agile methods.
• Collaborate with the IT Architect on technical choices and architectural reviews.
• Oversee external partners and system integrators; ensure SLA compliance and cost control.
• Identify risks and drive continuous improvement to reduce incidents and downtime.

Skills

IT Operations

Project management

Agile delivery

Team leadership

Cloud architectures

Software development

Systems integration

Education

Engineering degree or Masters in Computer Science or related field

Job description

Job description

In this management position, you are responsible for the operational excellence, reliability, security, and delivery of Industrial IT systems and projects supporting a high-tech manufacturing environment. Reporting to the IT Manager, you manage Industrial IT by planning, coordinating, and delivering multiple parallel initiatives, while ensuring stable day-to-day operations and the controlled evolution of systems in alignment with business and manufacturing priorities.

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Lead, support, and develop the IT Operations team through acting as a facilitator to enable highly skilled professionals to perform effectively and sustainably over time
• Create the conditions for durable performance through clear objectives, trust, prioritization, and sound workload management
• Ensure stable, secure, and reliable operations of Manufacturing Execution Systems (ISA-95 Level 3) and equipment integration systems (Level 2) in a production-critical environment
• Define, implement, and enforce IT Operations governance, including incident, problem, and change management
• Guarantee clear responsibilities and interfaces between ISA-95 layers, between MES (L3), automation systems (L2), and business systems (L4)
• Act as the Operational IT counterpart for Manufacturing, Engineering, and Quality on all topics related to MES, shopfloor IT, and equipment integration
• Manage multiple concurrent operational IT projects impacting manufacturing systems (e.g. MES, RMS, CMMS, APS), ensuring prioritization, capacity management, risk control, and on-time delivery, using PMI and Agile best practices
• Review and challenge technical and architectural choices related to software solutions, interfaces, and infrastructures, in close collaboration with the IT Architect
• Centralize and structure operational communication and change requests
• Manage and monitor external partners and system integrators involved in MES and equipment integration, ensuring SLA compliance, service quality, and cost control
• Identify operational and delivery risks impacting manufacturing systems and drive continuous improvement to reduce incidents, downtime, and technical debt

Profile

• Engineering degree or Master's degree in Computer Science or a closely related technical field (mandatory)
• Formal training in project management and Agile delivery, demonstrated by PMI and Agile certifications

Professional Requirements

• Minimum 15 years of professional experience in IT, including substantial exposure to industrial and manufacturing environments
• Strong track record in IT Operations for production-critical systems, covering operational IT
• Clear, practical understanding of ISA-95 responsibilities and interfaces across manufacturing systems (L3), automation (L2), and equipment (L1)
• Solid technical background in software development, system integration, and cloud / hybrid architectures
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple concurrent operational IT projects, balancing delivery, stability, and capacity constraints
• Proven ability to lead and develop highly skilled technical teams and to operate effectively in high-pressure, production-critical environments

Languages

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Professional fluency in French and French is required, German an advantage