Automation Manager - Food & Beverage

This isn’t a role for someone who wants to sit on the sidelines reviewing status reports. We need a hands-on leader who understands the realities of Food & Beverage manufacturing, can guide complex automation projects from concept through startup, and knows how to build a high-performing team that consistently delivers exceptional results. You’ll lead talented engineers and automation professionals while helping some of the nation’s leading Food & Beverage manufacturers improve efficiency, quality, safety, and production performance. If you’re equally comfortable discussing ISA-88 batch strategies, coaching team members, reviewing project financials, and solving customer challenges, you may have found your next opportunity. Who We Are At Vertech, not only do we develop world class industrial automation solutions for some of the top US companies, we also strive to be the team of choice for the best and brightest talent. I mean, we call ourselves control freaks for a reason. The passion (and intelligence) our employees have is truly mind-blowing. In turn, we work hard to take care of our own with excellent benefits and pay, personal development, and transparent communication. We also know that you can be great at what you do and still have fun. If that sounds like a good fit, help us bring the next generation of automation solutions to industries including food and beverage, renewable energy, manufacturing, water and wastewater, data centers, and more. Top Reasons to Work with Us Flexible work schedule with work from home options for numerous roles Weekly communication from management in our internally famous Friday morning meeting Competitive Compensation including a bonus plan and benefits A manager that is cool…most of the time, because no one is perfect A path for growth, a great culture, PTO, AND MORE! What You Will Be Doing Build , lead, and develop a brand new world class automation team capable of supporting Vertech’s continued growth Coach, mentor, and support team members through career development, technical growth, and consistent feedback Ensure the team is staffed with the right skills and expertise to support current and future project demands Own team performance, profitability, utilization, quality, and operational effectiveness Drive continuous improvement through standardization, process refinement, automation, and reuse Oversee key Food & Beverage automation projects from design through commissioning, startup, validation, and production support Review technical solutions to ensure quality, consistency, reliability, and customer satisfaction Collaborate with leadership on strategic planning, resource allocation, and operational improvements Work closely with HR and leadership on hiring, onboarding, team development, and succession planning Participate in customer-facing discussions and serve as a trusted advisor on automation strategy and execution Ensure projects and teams operate in alignment with Vertech’s culture, values, and performance expectations What You Need for This Position Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field (or equivalent industry experience) 15+ years of technical experience 7+ years of industrial automation experience 3+ years of leadership experience with accountability for team performance and success Proven experience delivering automation solutions within Food & Beverage manufacturing environments Strong understanding of batch process automation and ISA-88 methodologies Experience with CIP (Clean-In-Place) systems, liquid processing systems, filtration systems, and sanitary process design Familiarity with FDA, USDA, GMP, and GAMP regulated manufacturing environments Strong understanding of industrial control systems including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, instrumentation, and process control Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and business management skills Why This Role Matters The Food & Beverage industry is evolving faster than ever. Manufacturers are under constant pressure to improve throughput, quality, traceability, compliance, and operational efficiency—all while dealing with labor shortages and increasing production demands. The Automation Manager plays a critical role in helping our customers navigate these challenges while building the team that makes it possible. Your leadership will directly impact customer success, employee growth, project profitability, and Vertech’s reputation as a world class automation partner. No pressure. But if you’ve ever wanted to lead a team that helps feed millions of people through better automation, this is your opportunity.