Senior Automation Projects Manager

Simotechnology; Cork; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Autonomy

Skills development

Large corporate clients

Job summary

SimoTech is seeking a Senior Automation Projects Manager to lead automation initiatives for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. You will oversee planning, execution and validation from conception to delivery, reporting to Engineering Services leadership.

The ideal candidate has deep process automation knowledge (PLC/SCADA/DCS) and OT, with strong project management and client-facing skills, and a background in regulated environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience managing automation or controls projects in life sciences or regulated industries.
• PM certification (PMP) is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of GxP, GMP, and FDA requirements.
• Familiarity with Rockwell, Siemens, DeltaV, SCADA and OT infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams from conception through commissioning and validation.
• Act as primary client contact for scope, deliverables, timelines and budget.
• Manage project budgets, forecasts, cost control and change management.
• Develop proposals, project plans, resource allocations, schedules and risk strategies.
• Provide governance, status reporting and escalation for stakeholders.
• Support business development through client engagement and new opportunities.
• Coordinate with internal teams and vendors to ensure seamless execution.

Skills

Project management

Client-facing

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or related field

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

Job description

Whatis it like to work at SimoTech? With a strong collaborative teamworkculture based on respect, trust, and excellence, we play a criticalpartnering role to our clients’ life-changing supply of products topatients. In return, there is excellent salary, benefits, careerprogression, educational support andmuch more.

Senior Automation Projects Manager

SimoTech is seeking an experienced Senior Automation Projects Manager to join ourEngineering Services team to lead and oversee the delivery of automation projects within thelife sciences sector. Reporting to the Engineering Services Director and working with theEngineering Services Manager, this role will be responsible for the planning, execution andcontrol of automation initiatives for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. The idealcandidate will have a good technical knowledge of process automation (PLC/SCADA/DCS) andOperational Technologies (OT), excellent project management skills, and a client-first mindset.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams in the execution of automation projects from conceptionthrough commissioning and validation
• Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, ensuring alignment on scope,deliverables, timelines, and budget
• Manage project budgets, forecasts, cost control and change management to ensurestrong commercial performance
• Develop commercial proposals, project plans, resource allocations, schedules, and riskmanagement strategies.
• Track progress and ensure timely delivery
• Provide project governance, status reporting and escalation management for internaland client stakeholders.
• Support business development activities through client engagement, identification ofnew opportunities, and input to new business proposals
• Collaborate with automation SME’s and solution architects to ensure technical feasibilityand compliance with regulatory standards
• Coordinate with internal teams, client stakeholders, and third-party vendors to ensureseamless execution
• Ensure all documentation meets quality and regulatory requirements, includingvalidation protocols and project lifecycle deliverables
• Identify opportunities to improve project execution methodologies, and client deliveryprocesses
• Lead a team of Project Engineers and Project Managers, providing guidance, ensuringadherence to Project Management Standards and reviewing performance
  

Requirements

Qualifications &Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field.
  
• 10+ years of experience managing automation or controls projects, in the life sciencesor regulated industries
• Formal projectmanagement certification or PMP certification is an advantage
• Strong understanding of GxP, GMP, and FDA requirements
• Familiarity with automation platforms such as Rockwell, Siemens, DeltaV, SCADAapplications and OT Infrastructure is required
• Proven project management and team leadership capabilities.
• Excellent communication, client-facing, and negotiation skills.
• Strong attention to detail Proven client relationship and business development skills
• Excellent commercial and an analytical mindset. Strong stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work autonomously, with minimal oversight, to tight timelines.
• Proficiency in project management tools (MS Project, Smartsheet, etc.).
• Ability to travel as required to client sites
  

What SimoTech CanOffer

• Role provides ahigh degree of autonomy to allow the successfulcandidate to reach their fullpotential.
  
• Develop newskills and enhance technical ability by working withinnovative technologies in a multi- disciplinedenvironment.
  
• Opportunity towork with large corporate clients