Automation Project Lead

As Automation Project Lead, you lead and structure individual automation projects, from concept to solution design. The role combines process understanding, technical solution design, cross-functional coordination and project leadership to deliver high-quality, scalable automation solutions aligned with the program strategy.
You own the front-end of each initiative: you learn the process, gather needs with stakeholders (IT, EHS, safety, production,..), write the technical specification, select a solution (internal resources or external suppliers), build the business case, and hand the project over to the engineering team for implementation.

• Process and conceptual design:
  o Understand the end-to-end process to be automated, on the shop floor and with operators
  o Challenge existing ways of working and apply lean principles, together with the OE team
  o Identify cross-functional dependencies (safety, IT, maintenance, operations,…)
  o Evaluate feasibility considering operational and environmental constraints
• Technical and solution design:
  o Capture and structure functional and technical requirements
  o Write the first technical specifications and concept descriptions
  o Design and evaluate automation solutions and architectures
  o Scout for solutions, using internal resources or external suppliers
  o Supervise and validate solution design choices
  o Assess technical feasibility, including integration requirements across IT, LIMS, MES, networking and safety systems
• Business and stakeholder alignment:
  o Build business case proposals for automation initiatives
  o Facilitate alignment across operations, maintenance, engineering, IT, EHS and safety
• Project leadership and front-end definition:
  o Lead assigned automation projects during the concept and design phases
  o Plan and manage scope, timeline, resources, risks and dependencies
  o Prioritise across several initiatives running in parallel
  o Track progress and report status to the program level
  o Coordinate cross-functional inputs to ensure a complete and consistent definition
  o Ensure the project is well defined, validated and ready for execution, and hand it over to the engineering team for implementation

• Master’s degree in Engineering (Automation, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial or similar), or equivalent experience
• 6+ years of experience in industrial or production environments, open for strong medior profiles
• Background in manufacturing, such as pharma, automotive, food and beverage or chemical; a pure IT background is not a fit
• Proven experience delivering automation or engineering projects, ideally from concept through to handover
• Strong knowledge and experience with industrial automation systems, process improvement or lean initiatives, and multidisciplinary project environments
• Ability to translate operational needs into functional and technical requirements and specifications
• Experience building business cases for technical investments
• Understanding of how automation integrates with IT and OT layers (LIMS, MES, networking, safety systems)

• Creative and analytical thinker with solid process understanding
• Strong stakeholder management and communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Builds relationships, manages change and addresses resistance
• Strong priority management; able to analyse and consolidate input from many sources into one clear definition
• Structured, methodical and solution-oriented
• Strong coordination and teamwork capabilities
• Keeps a clear head under pressure
• Language proficiencies:Fluent in English /Dutch is an advantage, not a blocking requirement