Senior Engineering Manager Automation

Rich's, also known as Rich Products Corporation, is a family-owned food company dedicated to inspiring possibilities. From cakes and icings to pizza, appetizers and specialty toppings, our products are used in homes, restaurants and bakeries around the world. Beyond great food, our customers also gain insights to help them stay competitive, no matter their size. Our portfolio includes creative solutions geared at helping food industry professionals compete in foodservice, retail, in-store bakery, deli, and prepared foods, among others. With more than 13,500 associates working globally in 100 countries and annual sales of $5.9 billion, Rich's is a global leader with a focus on everything that family makes possible. Rich's-Infinite Possibilities. One Family.## Purpose StatementThe Senior Engineering Manager - Automation is responsible for defining and justifying long-term process, packing technology, and packaging material strategies; co-developing innovative equipment solutions with OEMs and suppliers; and leading long-term enterprise productivity transformation initiatives.This individual will lead the development and delivery of breakthrough technology-based operational solutions, including the ideation, design, validation, and implementation of manufacturing technologies that positively transform daily operations by improving productivity and performance while ensuring operator safety and maintaining or enhancing product safety and quality.The Senior Engineering Manager - Automation will also partner with R&D to develop new packaging materials and lead the strategy and implementation of effective packing equipment solutions. This includes driving material and equipment interaction efficiencies, developing standardized designs, and delivering cost-saving initiatives.Key responsibilities include envisioning future possibilities, developing strategic roadmaps, and leading the research, analysis, simulation, design, programming, piloting, troubleshooting, implementation, and management of advanced packaging and packing automation solutions. These solutions include robotics, in-line quality control systems, machine vision technologies, and advanced control systems.The ideal candidate will champion innovation across the enterprise and drive the implementation of disciplined design and technical readiness processes aligned with Reliability Engineering principles and Technology Validation protocols. This individual will also provide packaging material design feedback to improve processability, reliability, quality, and cost optimization, while identifying and implementing material cost savings through simplification and packaging/packing equipment standardization.In addition, the Senior Engineering Manager - Automation will proactively develop enterprise-wide business cases for automation and savings initiatives and manage capital and material optimization projects from concept through vertical start-up. Responsibilities include defining engineering scope, developing technical solutions and justifications, leading project execution, managing vendors, overseeing on-site start-up activities, validating equipment and material performance, and ensuring successful achievement of all project objectives.This role can be based at any of our manufacturing plants in the USA, with up to 50% travel.## Key Accountabilities and OutcomesThe key responsibilities and expected outcomes of this position include:* Develop innovation plans and lead the identification of breakthrough, cross-category manufacturing opportunities that can be solved through packaging design, packing and process technology, controls, automation solutions, and AI. Develop sound technical and business proposals to secure leadership support for evaluation and execution.* Lead the development of diverse, multi-category platform solutions that support material and technology requirements, business economics, and technical recommendations. Collaborate with m