{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"JobPosting","title":"Director of Controls","description":"Our client is one of America’s premier agribusiness and dairy food companies and is a member-owned cooperative with industry-leading operations that span the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. With annual sales of over $19B, they are one of the nation’s largest cooperatives, ranking 232 on the Fortune 500. Building on a legacy of more than 100 years of operation, they today operate some of the most respected brands in agribusiness and food production including Dairy Foods, Animal Nutrition, and others.
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\nTo support multi-site automation strategies and modernizations across an already state-of-the-art agribusiness manufacturing network, they are looking for a Director of Controls Engineering to join their team. This position plays a critical role in establishing and leading enterprise controls, industrial automation, and operational technology strategy across their manufacturing network. The role is responsible for establishing secure, scalable PLC, HMI, SCADA, and MES architectures, defining enterprise coding and lifecycle standards, mitigating technology obsolescence, and building a high-performing controls engineering Community of Practice to ensure capital investments and plant operations align with long-term business and reliability goals.
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\nWhat You Get to Do\n

Establish and lead the enterprise controls and automation strategy across a large, multi-site agribusiness manufacturing network.
Drive accountability for secure, scalable, and maintainable PLC, HMI, SCADA, MES, and industrial controls architectures, enterprise standards, lifecycle roadmaps, and technical governance.
Oversee the development of internal controls engineering talent and build an active controls architecture Community of Practice.
Lead controls and automation strategy, standards, talent capability, and lifecycle governance across all manufacturing locations.
Directly influence capital investments, operational continuity, product quality, cybersecurity, manufacturing data, and long-term technology risk.
Own enterprise scope where specific budget, site count, and direct-report structure will be finalized through organizational design.

\nWhat You NEED to SUCCEED in This Challenging Role\n\n

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline (advanced degree preferred).
12+ years of progressive industrial controls, automation, or manufacturing systems experience, including significant multi-site leadership.
Demonstrated expertise in PLC, HMI, SCADA, and MES architecture, industrial networking, controls system design, system integration, and software/hardware lifecycle management.
Proven track record of developing and deploying enterprise standards, reusable code, governance processes, technology roadmaps, and controls modernization programs.
Working knowledge of OT cybersecurity, network segmentation, secure remote access, patch governance, backup/recovery, and change management.
Demonstrated capability to develop engineers, define technical career paths, build communities of practice, and influence cross-functional leaders without relying solely on direct authority.
Strong executive communication, strategic planning, vendor/integrator management, capital project execution, and organizational change leadership skills.
Preferred experience in food, dairy, agriculture, ingredients, or other highly regulated continuous/batch manufacturing environments.

\nWhat Is in It for YOU at This \"Best Places to Work\" Company? \n\n

Excellent benefits plan includes competitive salary and annual bonus
Comprehensive benefits plan starting on day one.
Opportunities for career growth and advancement within the organization.
Financial well-being through retirement plans, income protection, HSA, and more.
Focus on health and wellness with a comprehensive benefits package and counseling programs.

","datePosted":"2026-10-04","hiringOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"recruitAbility"},"validThrough":"2026-11-03","jobLocation":{"@type":"Place","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","addressLocality":"Arden Hills","streetAddress":"Arden Hills, Arden Hills, MN, United States, 55126","addressRegion":"MN","postalCode":"55126","addressCountry":"United States"}},"employmentType":"FULL_TIME","identifier":{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"recruitAbility","value":"17894145918230127561SNj"},"directApply":true}