Head of Maintenance and Automation.

Abbott Laboratories; Weesp; On-site; EUR 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Abbott Laboratories is seeking a Head of Maintenance & Automation to lead maintenance, reliability, and manufacturing automation across Weesp and Olst sites in the Netherlands. You will drive asset reliability, uptime, and lifecycle strategies while shaping the OT & cybersecurity framework within a highly regulated environment.

As a senior leader, you will manage cross-functional teams, influence site strategy, and partner with engineering on capital projects to ensure safe, compliant operations

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering, Technology, Operations Management, or related field.
• 10+ years of leadership experience in Maintenance, Reliability, Manufacturing Automation, or Technical Operations.
• Experience in GMP-regulated manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the maintenance, reliability, and automation strategy across multiple manufacturing sites.
• Lead the Maintenance and Manufacturing Automation organizations, building a high-performing workforce.
• Drive preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance to improve uptime and asset reliability.
• Define and govern automation standards, cybersecurity strategies, and OT frameworks.
• Partner with Engineering on capital projects and asset lifecycle management.

Skills

Leadership

Maintenance management

Manufacturing automation

Reliability engineering

OT/ICS

GMP experience

Education

Master's degree in Engineering

Tools

Manufacturing automation systems

Operational Technology (OT)

Cybersecurity for OT

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION: Are you an experienced technical leader with a passion for maintenance excellence, automation, and operational performance? We are looking for a Head of Maintenance & Automation (Weesp & Olst) to lead and shape the maintenance, reliability, and manufacturing automation strategy across two key manufacturing sites in the Netherlands. In this strategic leadership role, you will be responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and compliant operation of manufacturing assets and automation systems within a highly regulated and complex production environment. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and drive initiatives that enhance asset reliability, maximize operational efficiency, and safeguard business continuity. As a key member of the Site Leadership Team, you will play an active role in shaping the broader site strategy and contributing to overall business performance. This position offers significant visibility and exposure to senior leadership, along with strong career development opportunities towards site leadership, senior operations management, and divisional technical leadership roles, based on business needs and individual performance.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the maintenance, reliability, and automation strategy across multiple manufacturing sites. Lead the Maintenance and Manufacturing Automation organizations, building a high-performing and future-ready workforce. Drive preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance excellence to improve equipment uptime and asset reliability. Own the manufacturing asset lifecycle strategy, including asset renewal plans and long-term investment roadmaps. Lead Manufacturing Automation and Operational Technology (OT) initiatives, ensuring systems remain reliable, compliant, secure, and aligned with business needs. Define and govern automation standards, cybersecurity strategies, and automation architecture frameworks. Partner with Engineering and Operations on capital projects, ensuring maintenance, reliability, and automation requirements are embedded from design through commissioning. Establish KPI frameworks and leverage data-driven insights to continuously improve performance, reliability, and cost efficiency. Foster a culture of safety, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Qualifications

Master's degree in Engineering, Technology, Operations Management, or a related discipline. Minimum 10 years of leadership experience within Maintenance, Reliability, Manufacturing Automation, or Technical Operations. Proven success leading large technical organizations across multiple manufacturing sites. Strong expertise in reliability engineering and preventive and predictive maintenance methodologies. Experience working within a regulated manufacturing environment, preferably GMP regulated. Strong understanding of manufacturing automation systems, Operational Technology (OT), and computerized systems. Demonstrated success in improving equipment reliability, uptime, and operational performance. Experience supporting capital projects, asset lifecycle management, and operational readiness initiatives.

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to lead a critical function within a highly automated manufacturing environment. You'll have the chance to influence long-term site strategy, drive digital transformation, strengthen manufacturing reliability, and develop talented technical teams while making a direct impact on operational excellence and business performance. If you're ready to lead the future of maintenance and automation through innovation, reliability, and people development, we'd love to hear from you.

The base pay for this position is N/A In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.

JOB FAMILY: Engineering DIVISION: EPD Established Pharma LOCATION: Netherlands > Weesp : WHS 02 ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS: Netherlands > Olst : OAD WORK SHIFT: Standard TRAVEL: Yes, 20 % of the Time MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE: Not Applicable SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES: Keyboard use (greater or equal to 50% of the workday)

Abbott is about the power of health. For more than 135 years, Abbott has been helping people reach their potential — because better health allows people and communities to achieve more. With a diverse, global network serving customers in more than 160 countries, we create new solutions — across the spectrum of health, around the world, for all stages of life. Whether it’s next-generation diagnostics, life-changing devices, science-based nutrition, or novel reformulations, we are advancing some of the most innovative and revolutionary technologies in healthcare, helping people live their best lives through better health. The people of Abbott come to work each day with relentless energy, enthusiasm and a promise to enhance the health and well-being of millions of people. They push the boundaries to help manage and treat some of life’s greatest health challenges.

We invite you to explore opportunities at Abbott, to see if your talents and career aspirations may fit with our openings.

An equal opportunity employer, Abbott welcomes and encourages diversity in our workforce.

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