Associate Director, Site Automation & Controls

Civica

Petersburg (VA)

On-site

USD 140,000 - 190,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Civica Petersburg seeks an Associate Director of Automation to develop and drive the site automation strategy and to lead a cross-functional team responsible for designing, implementing, and operating compliant automation systems across clinical and commercial operations.

The role partners with IT/OT, QA, Validation, and Manufacturing to deliver scalable, validated automation solutions, ensuring cybersecurity, data integrity, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or similar technical degree required.
10+ years of progressive automation or related pharmaceutical industry experience.
5+ years of automation execution subject matter expertise.
Experience developing test plans, user requirements, and system design documents.
Strong programming and troubleshooting knowledge for Rockwell or Siemens PLCs and HMI platforms, including FTView, GE iFix, and/or Wonderware System Platform.
Strong knowledge of computerized systems, compliance regulations, and standards, including Computerized Systems Validation (CSV).
Support the full engineering project lifecycle for sterile injectable automation and instrumentation, from design through commissioning, qualification, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the site automation strategy.
Lead Automation Engineering support for mission-critical manufacturing systems, including data historians, central monitoring systems, process automation, building management, SCADA, and PLC systems.
Ensure plant execution and operations systems support commissioning, validation, safety, compliance, and quality manufacturing across clinical and commercial production.
Manage automation engineers and represent Automation Engineering while partnering with IT, Quality, Validation, Manufacturing, Engineering, Technical Services, vendors, and other teams to deliver automation priorities.
Provide strategic direction and hands-on support for Manufacturing and Operations, including troubleshooting and issue resolution for business-critical needs.
Set priorities for the site systems technology landscape, including new facilities, system changes, validation lifecycle strategy, and S95/S88 standards, libraries, and systems.
Build and develop a high-performing team while fostering innovation, quality, compliance, accountability, engagement, collaboration, diversity, and inclusion.
Maintain inspection and audit readiness for automation systems, including cybersecurity requirements, data integrity, and alarm management.
Mentor, coach, train, and evaluate automation engineers.
Implement automation policies, procedures, SOP authorship and oversight, and system support aligned with regulations and industry standards.
Analyze process issues and recommend corrective and preventive actions.
Support sitewide cybersecurity alignment and direction.
Lead continuous improvement efforts, promote best practices, and ensure safety is integral to all activities.
Serve as an automation SME during regulatory inspections, including FDA and DEA inspections.
Demonstrate strong leadership, communication, team-building, coaching, budgeting, and resource-management skills.