Construction & Forestry Automation Strategy & Execution Lead

John Deere; Davenport (IA); On-site; USD 124,000 - 186,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Highly competitive base pay

401K and Defined Contribution

Healthcare benefits with generous HSA

Adoption assistance

Employee Assistance Programs

Tuition assistance

Fitness subsidies and on-site gyms

Charitable contribution match

Employee Purchase Plan

Vacation and Holiday Pay

Job summary

John Deere seeks a Construction & Forestry Automation Strategy & Execution Lead to shape divisional automation strategy and a multi-year roadmap across a manufacturing network. You will drive prioritization, governance, and supplier engagement to scale automation across Davenport, IA and nearby sites.

The role requires strong industrial automation expertise, leadership, and the ability to translate business needs into scalable automation programs with measurable outcomes.

Qualifications

• Lead automation strategy and multi-year roadmaps across the manufacturing network.
• Prioritize high-value opportunities based on business value and risk.
• Govern a backlog of automation use cases with structured intake and prioritization.
• Establish governance for portfolio management, funding, and outcomes.
• Collaborate with plant leadership to align investments with priorities.
• Demonstrate broad automation tech knowledge including OT/IT.

Responsibilities

• Lead the C&F divisional automation strategy and roadmap across the network.
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize automation opportunities by value and readiness.
• Maintain a divisional backlog of use cases through governance processes.
• Govern portfolio management including funding discipline and risk management.
• Partner with factory leadership to align automation investments with priorities.
• Engage suppliers and technology partners to scale solutions.

Skills

Automation strategy

Roadmap development

Industrial automation

Robotics

Data integration

OT/IT architecture

Smart manufacturing

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

There are over 7 billion people on this planet. And by 2050, there will be 2 billion more... many moving into urban centers at an unprecedented rate. Making sure there is enough food, fiber and infrastructure for our rapidly growing world is what we're all about at John Deere. And it's why we're investing in our people and our technology like never before! Here the world's brightest minds are tackling the world's biggest challenges. If you believe one person can make the world a better place, we'll put you to work. RIGHT NOW.

Primary Location: United States (US) - Iowa - Davenport

Function: Factory Engineering (CA)

Title: Construction & Forestry Automation Strategy & Execution Lead - 123784

Onsite/Remote: Onsite Position

Your Responsibilities

As a Construction & Forestry Automation Strategy & Execution Lead for John Deere Construction & Forestry located in Davenport, IA, Dubuque, IA, or Kernersvile, NC you will provide divisional leadership for automation strategy, execution governance, standards, capability development, and supplier engagement across the C&F manufacturing network.

Your Responsibilities Continued

• Lead the C&F divisional automation strategy and multi-year roadmap across the manufacturing network, aligning automation priorities to business transformation goals and future factory capability needs
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize high-value automation opportunities based on business value, scalability, readiness, risk, investment need, and strategic alignment
• Maintain and govern a divisional backlog of automation use cases through structured factory demand intake, stakeholder engagement, and prioritization processes
• Establish governance processes for automation portfolio management, including prioritization, risk management, funding discipline, transparency, execution accountability, and outcome tracking
• Partner with factory leadership and cross-functional teams to understand operational challenges, define future-state capabilities, and align automation investments to site and divisional priorities
• Demonstrate strong technical understanding of industrial automation, including robotics, controls, machine connectivity, data integration, OT/IT architecture, smart manufacturing, and emerging automation technologies
• Develop and maintain scalable automation standards, reference architectures, deployment playbooks, and reusable solution patterns to enable consistent execution across multiple factories
• Engage suppliers, integrators, and technology partners to evaluate solutions, define integration approaches, ensure technical alignment, and support deployment at scale
• Partner closely with the China Technical Automation Lead to accelerate execution of priority automation projects and deliver business transformation outcomes through aligned technical direction, supplier coordination, and external integrator engagement
• Build organizational automation capability through coaching, competency development, communities of practice, factory engagement, and knowledge sharing
• Track and communicate business outcomes to ensure automation investments deliver measurable value in safety, quality, productivity, cost, delivery, capacity, and operational performance

VISA Sponsorship is NOT available for this position

What Skills You Need

• Experience leading automation strategy, roadmap development, or transformation initiatives in a manufacturing or production environment
• Demonstrated ability to 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 emerging smart manufacturing capabilities
• Experience developing standards, solution architectures, deployment playbooks, or repeatable methods that support scalable automation implementation across multiple sites
• Proven ability to build organizational capability through coaching, competency development, communities of practice, and knowledge sharing with factory and technical teams
• Monitor industry trends, benchmark peer organizations, and evaluate emerging technologies to inform future automation strategy, supplier partnerships, and capability development

What Makes You Standout

• Experience leading multi-site automation programs or enterprise-level manufacturing transformation initiatives
• Proven ability to scout, evaluate, pilot, and scale new automation technologies across diverse applications such as material handling, assembly, welding, machining, dispensing, and inspection
• Experience building supplier ecosystems, preferred integrator models, technology partner relationships, or strategic sourcing approaches for automation delivery
• Experience developing competency frameworks, training plans, communities of practice, or technical governance structures for automation and smart manufacturing capabilities
• Knowledge of collaborative automation, autonomous mobile robots, machine vision, perception technologies, industrial connectivity, IoT, data platforms, and Industry 4.0 solution architectures
• Ability to connect automation strategy to business case development, capital planning, ROI, cost reduction, capacity improvement, and operational performance outcomes

Education

Ideally you will have a degree or equivalent related work experience in the following:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent experience in a related career field

What You'll Get

At John Deere, you are empowered to create a career that will take you to where you want to go while working in an inclusive team environment. Here, you'll enjoy the freedom to explore new projects, the support to think outside the box and the advanced tools and technology that foster innovation and achievement. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive reward package to help you get started on your new career path, including:

• Flexible work arrangements
• Highly competitive base pay
• Savings & Retirement benefits (401K and Defined Contribution)
• Healthcare benefits with a generous company contribution in the Health Savings Account
• Adoption assistance
• Employee Assistance Programs
• Tuition assistance
• Fitness subsidies and on-site gyms at specific Deere locations
• Charitable contribution match
• Employee Purchase Plan & numerous discount programs for personal use
• Vacation and Holiday Pay

$123,804.00 - $185,700.00 + Benefits

Must be 18 years of age or older to apply

The information contained herein is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of individuals performing the job. The qualifications detailed in this job description are not considered the minimum requirements necessary to perform the job, but rather as guidelines.

The terms of the applicable benefit plans, and all company actions administering or interpreting these plans, continue to control. Deere & Company reserves the right to suspend, amend, modify, or terminate the Plan(s) in any manner at any time, including the right to modify or eliminate any cost-sharing between the company and participants. Changes, which can be made at any time, are made by action of the company's board of directors, or to the extent authorized by resolution of its board of directors, or by the Deere & Company Compensation Committee. In the event of a conflict between the language of the official Plan Documents and this document, the language of the official Plan Documents will control.

ACA Section 1557 Nondiscrimination Notice

The John Deere Health Benefit Plans for Salaried Employees and The John Deere Benefit Plan for Wage Employees comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability.