Manufacturing Execution Systems Lead

Vantive; Castlebar; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Company pension scheme

Annual bonus scheme

Collaborative work environment

Access to state-of-the-art equipment

Job summary

Vantive seeks a Manager, IT – MES EMEA Leader to oversee MES across the EMEA region, ensuring reliable, compliant, scalable MES solutions aligned with manufacturing priorities. You will lead a geographically dispersed team and own the regional MES roadmap.

The role requires strong leadership and experience delivering medium-to-large MES projects in regulated manufacturing environments, with a collaboration-focused, vendor-management mindset. A permanent contract is offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, Engineering, Computer Science, Automation or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years' IT experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading and developing teams, ideally across multiple locations.
• Experience delivering medium-to-large manufacturing IT projects or programmes.
• Strong knowledge of MES, manufacturing processes, system integrations and application lifecycle management.
• Experience with Electronic Batch Record and/or MES solutions; Siemens Opcenter, Siemens eBR or equivalent platforms would be an advantage.
• Strong project management, stakeholder management and vendor-management skills.
• Excellent communication, influencing, decision-making and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience within pharmaceutical, medical device, biotechnology or another regulated manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Experience with validated/GxP environments, Computer System Validation and data integrity requirements would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop the EMEA MES team, building capability, accountability and a high-performing culture.
• Lead delivery of the EMEA MES roadmap, aligned with global IT and manufacturing strategies.
• Ensure MES solutions across EMEA manufacturing sites are stable, reliable, compliant and sustainable.
• Oversee MES implementations, upgrades, enhancements and lifecycle activities.
• Lead technical projects and programmes, managing scope, resources, milestones, risks and delivery.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Automation, Site Leadership and IT to translate business needs into technology solutions.
• Manage relationships with technology vendors, system integrators and service providers.
• Drive standardisation, continuous improvement and effective transition of new solutions into operational support.
• Ensure adherence to relevant IT, cybersecurity, validation, data integrity, quality and governance requirements.

Skills

Team leadership

Project management

Vendor management

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Regulatory understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT, Engineering, Computer Science, Automation or a related discipline

Tools

Siemens Opcenter

Siemens eBR

Electronic Batch Record

Job description

The Manager, IT – MES EMEA Leader leads Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) across EMEA, ensuring reliable, compliant and scalable solutions that support manufacturing priorities.

Leading a geographically dispersed team, this role is responsible for the regional MES roadmap, operational performance and delivery of key technology initiatives.

Working closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Automation and IT, the successful candidate will combine strong people leadership with MES and technical delivery expertise.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Lead, coach and develop the EMEA MES team, building capability, accountability and a high-performing culture.
• Lead delivery of the EMEA MES roadmap, aligned with global IT and manufacturing strategies.
• Ensure MES solutions across EMEA manufacturing sites are stable, reliable, compliant and sustainable.
• Oversee MES implementations, upgrades, enhancements and lifecycle activities.
• Lead technical projects and programmes, managing scope, resources, milestones, risks and delivery.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Automation, Site Leadership and IT to translate business needs into technology solutions.
• Manage relationships with technology vendors, system integrators and service providers.
• Drive standardisation, continuous improvement and effective transition of new solutions into operational support.
• Ensure adherence to relevant IT, cybersecurity, validation, data integrity, quality and governance requirements.

Education and experience required:

• Bachelor's degree in IT, Engineering, Computer Science, Automation or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years' IT experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience leading and developing teams, ideally across multiple locations.
• Experience delivering medium-to-large manufacturing IT projects or programmes.
• Strong knowledge of MES, manufacturing processes, system integrations and application lifecycle management.
• Experience with Electronic Batch Record and/or MES solutions; Siemens Opcenter, Siemens eBR or equivalent platforms would be an advantage.
• Strong project management, stakeholder management and vendor-management skills.
• Excellent communication, influencing, decision-making and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience within pharmaceutical, medical device, biotechnology or another regulated manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Experience with validated/GxP environments, Computer System Validation and data integrity requirements would be advantageous.

What Vantive can offer to you:

• A permanent contract with a stable and secure work environment.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance, company pension scheme, and annual bonus scheme.
• A collaborative and dynamic work environment.
• Access to state-of-the‑art equipment and technology.
• Recognition and reward for outstanding performance.