Controls & Automation Lead

Chivas Brothers; Dumbarton; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Life Assurance

Annual leave

Job summary

Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard, is seeking a Controls & Automation Lead for site-wide leadership of controls, automation, OT and digital manufacturing across a complex bottling operation in Kilmalid, Dumbarton. You will lead a technical team to ensure safe, reliable operation and governance of manufacturing systems.

Delivery of governance, lifecycle management, vendor partnerships, and capability development with emphasis on OT cybersecurity and CAPEX delivery will be key.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical, Electronic, Automation, Control Systems, Software Engineering or equivalent.
• Experience in manufacturing/complex operations (FMCG/beverage/pharma).
• Proven leadership of controls, automation, software or OT teams.
• Strong PLC/SCADA/HMI experience across industrial networks.

Responsibilities

• Lead Controls & Automation team and site-wide governance.
• Ensure change control and lifecycle management of control systems.
• Define manufacturing software and systems strategy.
• Enhance OT cybersecurity and resilience across sites.
• Support capital projects and vendor/contractor management.
• Collaborate with vendors and system integrators for improvements.

Skills

Automation leadership

PLC/SCADA/HMI

OT governance

Team leadership

Capital projects

Stakeholder management

Education

Electrical/Automation degree

Tools

SCADA software

HMI software

Industrial networks

Databases

Dashboards

Job description

Location: Kilmalid, Dumbarton - this role will be mostly site based with some flexibility for remote working around business needs

Contract Type: Permanent

Pernod Ricard is a worldwide leader in the spirits and champagne industry, blending traditional craftsmanship, state-of-the-art brand development, and global distribution technologies. Our prestigious portfolio of premium to luxury brands includes Absolut vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, and Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes. Our mission is to ensure the long-term growth of our brands with full respect for people and the environment, while empowering our employees around the world to be ambassadors of our purposeful, inclusive, and responsible culture of authentic conviviality

Chivas Brothers is the Pernod Ricard business dedicated entirely to Scotch whisky. Our award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered single malt and blended Scotch whisky brands, including Chivas, Ballantine’s, Royal Salute, The Glenlivet and Aberlour, which are exported from Scotland to over 100 countries worldwide. As the world’s No.2 Scotch whisky producer with a 1,600-strong team across 26 sites, we are committed to upholding the heritage and pursuing the progress of Scotch and ensuring its sustainable future, as well as opening it up to new audiences across the globe.

About the role

We are currently hiring a Controls & Automation Lead to be responsible for site-wide leadership for controls, automation, software systems and Operational Technology (OT) across a complex multi-factory bottling operation.

The role is responsible for the support and development of a technical team, ensuring the safe, reliable and compliant operation of manufacturing control systems, OT infrastructure, software platforms and digital manufacturing solutions and play a key role in technical governance, resource planning, execution of automation standards, system lifecycle management and capability development, the role acts as the technical lead for controls and automation.

What you will do

• Leadership of the Controls & Automation team.
• Site-wide automation and OT technical governance.
• Site control system standards, compliance, change control and lifecycle management.
• Manufacturing software and systems strategy.
• OT cybersecurity and resilience.
• Local capital project technical support and guidance.
• Automation and systems support to operational performance.
• Building effective partnerships with vendors, contractors and system integrators.
• Supporting capability development across automation, software, systems and digital manufacturing.

Your skills and background

• Degree in Electrical, Electronic, Automation, Control Systems, Software Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent technical discipline.
• Relevant experience in a manufacturing, FMCG, beverage, food, pharmaceutical or similarly complex operational environment.
• Proven experience leading controls, automation, software or OT technical teams.
• Strong experience with PLC, SCADA, HMI and industrial control systems.
• Understanding of manufacturing software platforms, databases, dashboards, servers, data communications and industrial networks.
• Experience delivering CAPEX and continuous improvement projects from concept through commissioning and handover.
• Experience managing contractors, OEMs, system integrators and software vendors.
• Strong understanding of OT cybersecurity, system lifecycle management and change control.
• Ability to prioritise technical resources across operational support and strategic projects.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and problem-solving capability.

Collective Spirit

You will be part of a connected, international community shaped by iconic brands, a performance mindset, and a proud legacy, where collaboration, fun and ambition coexist.

Craft your path

We empower you to own your career, innovate boldly and grow alongside our business, surrounded by leaders who value curiosity, energy, and impact.

Cultivate the future

You’ll help shape a business with a soul — one that cherishes the land, respects communities, and brings good times from a good place, responsibly and sustainably.

People are at the heart of everything we do at Pernod Ricard and are the foundation of our collective spirit as ‘Créateurs de Convivialité’.We promote inclusion throughout our business and supply chain. In our teams, we proactively foster a diverse work force and an inclusive culture, an environment where we can truly be ourselves.

We will assess your application for this role based on your skills, experiences, and achievements, not your gender, age, ethnic or educational background or any other such factors. Our recruiting team are more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process, in order for you to participate fully in our recruitment experience.

Our mix of benefits

• Competitive salary, along with performance related bonus
• Defined Contribution Pension
• Private medical insurance, including income protection.
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous annual holiday entitlement (increasing with length of service) plus public holidays.
• Pernod Ricard share incentive plan and share ownership plan.
• Life Assurance
• An allowance each year to spend on our brands.
• Employee discounts from a range of high street retailers
• Regular events in our very own office bar

Learn more about working with Pernod Ricard https://www.pernod-ricard.com/en

Learn more about Chivas Brothers https://www.chivasbrothers.com/