Senior Director: Global Engineering- Decatur, IL

ADM; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 167,000 - 279,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Career development programs

Job summary

ADM is seeking a Senior Director, Global Engineering to design, build, and lead a centralized global engineering function enabling safe, reliable, and efficient capital project delivery across operations. You will set strategy, governance, and standards for the full lifecycle of projects, partnering with PM, Procurement, and Operations.

The role requires 15+ years in engineering with 5+ years in leadership, and experience across FEL/Stage-Gate, with proficiency in Autodesk tools and digital

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering required; advanced degree preferred.
• Licensed Professional Engineer and PMP preferred.
• 15+ years in engineering and capital projects in manufacturing/industrial sectors.
• 5+ years leading global or multi-site engineering organizations.
• Experience with FEL, Stage-Gate, and project governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead a centralized global engineering function for capital projects.
• Set engineering strategy, governance, and standards for delivery across lifecycle.
• Build integrated services with ADM Mechanical for processing equipment.
• Develop and mentor engineering teams across geographies.
• Ensure compliance, safety, and budget management for projects.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Global engineering

Cross-functional collaboration

Capital project optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

MS or MBA preferred

Tools

Autodesk

AutoCAD

Plant 3D

BIM

Job description

Senior Director: Global Engineering - Decatur, IL This is a full-time, exempt position.

Senior Director: Global Engineering - Decatur, IL This is a full-time, exempt position.

Position Summary We are seeking a Senior Director, Global Engineering to design, build, and lead a centralized, fit-for-purpose global engineering function that enables safe, reliable, and efficient capital project delivery across global operations. This role will serve as the enterprise engineering leader for capital projects, accountable for engineering strategy, technical governance, engineering standards, resource capability, and engineering deliverables across the project lifecycle. The role will partner closely with Project Management, Project Controls, Procurement, Operations, and Business Leadership to support capital project delivery through a clearly defined FEL stage-gate. Depending on project size, complexity, and risk profile, this leader will establish the appropriate engineering delivery model, including self-perform engineering, internal shared services, external engineering partners, offshore delivery centers, and global capability centers.

Scope And Accountability This role is accountable for the engineering function, engineering governance, technical standards, engineering resource strategy, and quality of engineering deliverables across the capital project portfolio. The role will provide engineering leadership across FEL, FEED, detailed design, procurement support, construction support, commissioning support, and technical handover. The role will work in close partnership with project management and project controls functions, which retain accountability for integrated project execution, schedule, cost control, and overall project delivery governance.

Setting Engineering Strategy: Develop and implement engineering strategies, standards, policies, and processes that align with business objectives and improve project execution.

Engineering Lifecycle Leadership: Provide engineering support and technical assurance across the full capital project lifecycle, including conceptual design, FEL, FEED, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and technical handover. Ensure deliverables are complete, risk-based, cost-effective, and aligned with project objectives.

Building Integrated Engineering Services: Create and optimize end-to-end engineering and mechanical services by leveraging synergies between Engineering and ADM Mechanical to design, fabricate, and install static processing equipment across the Decatur complex.

Managing and Developing Teams: Lead, mentor, and develop engineering personnel while fostering a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, continuous improvement, and succession planning.

Ensuring Compliance and Safety: Maintain adherence to technical standards, safety requirements, environmental regulations, and industry best practices throughout project execution.

Overseeing Resources and Budgets: Self perform engineering projects, manage engineering budgets, workforce planning, vendor relationships, procurement support, and technical resource allocation to ensure efficient project delivery.

Driving Stakeholder Alignment: Collaborate with operations, business leaders, clients, contractors, suppliers, and other stakeholders to align engineering initiatives with organizational goals.

Promoting Innovation and Engineering Excellence: Proactively identify and resolve engineering challenges, identify emerging technologies and industry trends, implement advanced engineering tools and methodologies, and drive improvements in efficiency, scalability, and project performance.

Qualification And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering required; advanced degree (MS, MBA, or equivalent) preferred.
• Licensed Professional Engineer, PMP preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive engineering, project execution, and capital project experience within manufacturing, industrial, energy, chemical, food processing, or related industries.
• Minimum 5+ years of leadership experience directing global or multi-site engineering organizations, including responsibility for strategy, talent development, and organizational performance.
• Demonstrated success building, leading, and developing high-performing, multidisciplinary engineering teams across multiple geographies.
• Proven track record of delivering complex capital projects and portfolio programs utilizing Front-End Loading (FEL), Stage-Gate, and project governance methodologies.
• Extensive experience managing engineering resources, budgets, CAPEX portfolios, and competing business priorities in a fast-paced global environment.
• Proficiency with engineering and design platforms, including Autodesk, AutoCAD, Plant 3D, BIM, and other digital engineering and design collaboration tools.
• Experience leveraging digital technologies, engineering data systems, and AI-enabled solutions to improve project execution, planning, forecasting, and operational performance.

Technical & Business Capabilities

• Deep understanding of engineering governance, project controls, asset lifecycle management, risk management, and capital efficiency.
• Experience implementing continuous improvement, value engineering, cost optimization, and productivity initiatives that drive measurable business results.
• Ability to evaluate project economics, develop investment justifications, and ensure alignment with business and operational objectives.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions in complex and ambiguous environments.

Additional Requirements

• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Demonstrated success working in diverse, matrixed, and project-oriented global organizations.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally as required.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours.

If hired, employees will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

The pay range for this position is expected to be between:

$167,400.00 - $279,100.00

Salaried Incentive Plan The total compensation package for this position will also include annual bonus and a long-term incentive plan

Benefits And Perks Enriching the quality of life for the world begins by taking care of our colleagues. In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including:

• Physical wellness – medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).
• Financial wellness – flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers’ compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.
• Mental and social wellness – Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).

Additional Benefits Include

• Paid time off including paid holidays.
• Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.
• Tuition assistance.
• Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.

*Benefits may vary for bargained locations, confirm benefit eligibility with your recruiter.

#IncludingYou

Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM’s efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments - environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.

We welcome everyone to apply. We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, language, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

About ADM At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.