Automation Strategy Lead – Multi-site Manufacturing

John Deere; Iowa (LA); On-site; USD 124,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Highly competitive base pay

Savings & Retirement benefits (401K)

Healthcare benefits with a generous HS

Adoption assistance

Employee Assistance Programs

Tuition assistance

Fitness subsidies and on-site gyms

Charitable contribution match

Employee Purchase Plan & discounts

Vacation and Holiday Pay

Job summary

John Deere is seeking a Construction & Forestry Automation Strategy & Execution Lead to drive the divisional automation roadmap across the manufacturing network, aligning priorities with business transformation and future factory capabilities.

This onsite role requires leading multi-site automation programs, coordinating with factory leadership, suppliers, and technology partners to deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and cost.

Qualifications

• Experience leading automation strategy, roadmap development, or transformation initiatives in a manufacturing or production environment.
• Translate business priorities into automation initiatives with clear scope, value drivers, execution plans and measurable outcomes.
• Strong understanding of industrial automation technologies, robotics, machine connectivity, controls, data integration and smart manufacturing.
• Experience developing standards, solution architectures, deployment playbooks, or repeatable methods for scalable automation.
• Proven ability to build organizational capability through coaching, competency development and communities of practice.
• Monitor industry trends and evaluate emerging technologies to inform future automation strategy and partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead the C&F divisional automation strategy and multi-year roadmap across the manufacturing network.
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize high-value automation opportunities based on business value and alignment.
• Maintain and govern a divisional backlog of automation use cases with stakeholder engagement.
• Establish governance for automation portfolio management including risk, funding, and accountability.
• Partner with factory leadership to define future-state capabilities and align investments to priorities.
• Demonstrate technical understanding of automation technologies, OT/IT architecture, and smart manufacturing.
• Develop and maintain scalable automation standards, architectures, and deployment playbooks.
• Engage suppliers and partners to evaluate solutions and support deployment at scale.
• Collaborate with the China Technical Automation Lead to accelerate priority projects and outcomes.
• Build organizational automation capability through coaching, communities of practice, and knowledge sharing.
• Track and communicate outcomes to ensure measurable value in safety, quality, productivity, and cost.

Skills

Automation strategy

Roadmap development

Industrial automation

Multi-site programs

Coaching capability

Industry 4.0

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

John Deere is seeking a Construction & Forestry Automation Strategy & Execution Lead to drive the divisional automation roadmap across the manufacturing network, aligning priorities with business transformation and future factory capabilities.

This onsite role requires leading multi-site automation programs, coordinating with factory leadership, suppliers, and technology partners to deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, and cost.