Automation Supervisor

Valley Queen; Milbank (SD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Valley Queen seeks a skilled Controls Supervisor to lead the plant controls and maintenance team, ensuring reliable operation of production controls and instrumentation. The role focuses on PLC/SCADA development, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement.

You will read drawings and P&IDs, drive root-cause analysis, and coordinate with technicians on planned and preventive maintenance. This position requires leadership, safety discipline, and ability to work in a fast-paced food manufacturing

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Associate degree in a related technical field or equivalent controls experience.
• Proficiency with basic computer skills.
• Prefer 3-5 years supervisory experience in a food manufacturing facility; ammonia refrigeration knowledge is a plus.
• English/Spanish bilingual ability is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead controls/maintenance staff to complete projects on time and with quality.
• Develop PLC code and SCADA control system architecture.
• Read electrical drawings, P&IDs and work orders for tasks.
• Identify root causes and implement corrective programs.
• Oversee technicians in planned, unplanned, and preventive maintenance.
• Maintain accurate Emaint records and department resources.
• Ensure compliance with GMP and HACCP policies.

Skills

Technical Capacity

Problem Solving/Analysis

Time Management/Initiative

Bilingual English/Spanish

Education

High school diploma/GED

Associate degree in related technical field

3-5 years supervisory experience in food manufacturing

Knowledge of ammonia refrigeration

Job description

Position Summary

This position is responsible for all controls activities for the entire plant in a manner that supports Valley Queen’s vision, mission and values.This is a highly technical, fast-paced position which requires a high level of prioritization, planning and decision-making abilities. Provides leadership to all department employees and serves as a back up to the Maintenance Manager.

Essential Functions

• Coach, train and lead controls/maintenance staff to ensure assigned work and projects are completed in an acceptable time frame while meeting the quality requirements of the department. Utilize available work force to its full potential.
• Perform highly diversified duties to install, calibrate and maintain food processing, production controls and instrumentation equipment.
• Develop PLC code and SCADA control system architecture.
• Read and interpret equipment manuals, electrical drawings, P&IDs and work orders to perform required tasks.
• Identify root cause of plant and production equipment issues and put new programs and procedures in place to permanently address issues.
• Provide oversight to technicians doing planned, unplanned and preventive repairs of all plant equipment in a premier manner that achieves work order goals.
• Maintain equipment manuals, Emaint data and work orders so that the department has current and correct resources.
• Maintain 100 percent accuracy on all Emaint transactions.
• Ensure all controls calls are responded to in an appropriate timeframe.
• Maintain the corrective action database (CAD) to be current within 30 days.
• Maintain plant utility systems in a manner that does not cause any production downtime.
• Ensure technicians safely and properly operate plant utility systems (steam, air handling, ammonia, compressed air, electrical, water and sewer).
• Actively participate in and adhere to all PSM requirements.
• Actively participate as a member of the emergency response team.
• Comply with all company safety rules to achieve no injuries and no lost time accidents.
• Maintain standard records pertaining to daily work requirements in a manner that makes them a reliable data source for safety, quality and regulatory requirements and audits.
• Understand and adhere to all GMPs and HACCP policies and procedures and perform all work in a manner that ensures the highest standard of food safety and quality.
• Use tools, spare parts and supplies in a responsible manner yielding maximum profitability for VQC while maintaining equipment and facility to the highest possible standard.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Understand and contribute to the success of the department’s level 2 scorecard.
• Technical Capacity
• Problem Solving/Analysis
• Time Management/Initiative

Supervisory Responsibility

This position hires, provide guidance and directionand is responsible for the performance management of the controls team.

Work Environment

This job operates in an office, shop and plant environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, moving mechanical parts and vibration. Exposed to extreme temperature variations. The noise level in the work environment and job sites can be loud.

Physical Demands

Please refer to the separate functional job description for this position.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. This position works a 9.5-hour shift following a Monday through Friday schedule which includes some weekends and holidays. This position is part of an on-call rotation.

Travel

Less than five percent travel is expected for this position.

Required Education, Experience & Certifications

High school diploma/GED. Associate degree in related technical field or equivalent number of years of controls experience. Proficiency in basic computer skills.

Preferred Education, Experience & Certifications

Prefer three to five years of supervisory experience in a food manufacturing facility. Knowledge of ammonia refrigeration. Bilingual in English/Spanish.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Minimum age requirement is 18.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of responsibilities, duties or tasks that are required of the employee for this job. Responsibilities, duties and tasks may change at any time with or without notice.