Manufacturing Automation Senior Director

Work Schedule

Environmental Conditions

Job Description

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing efficiency in their laboratories, we are here to support them.

Seeking an experienced leader to drive innovation and efficiency in our manufacturing automation program.

This position demands extensive technical knowledge, effective operational management, and a demonstrated track record of successfully implementing large-scale projects in intricate manufacturing settings. We are seeking a catalyst for change who can work with various teams, sway senior collaborators, and motivate technical teams to attain groundbreaking results.

• Program Leadership: Develop and implement the enterprise-wide strategy for manufacturing automation, aligning with long-term business goals and operational excellence targets.

• Innovation & Technology Enablement: Assess, choose, and deploy automation technologies (robotics, IoT, AI/ML, digital twins, MES, etc.) to enhance efficiency, quality, safety, and agility.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, IT, Digital Operations, Quality, and Site Leaders to ensure automation initiatives are coordinated and scalable across global sites and across divisions.

• Change Management: Drive adoption of automation throughout all levels of the organization through effective collaboration, training, and communication.

• Budget & Resource Management: Build and manage multi-year budgets, project timelines, and a cross-functional team of engineers, program managers, and solution architects.

• Performance Metrics & Governance: Establish benchmarks, dashboards, and governance mechanisms to track progress, return on investment, and program impact. Ensure alignment with overall business performance metrics.

How will you get here?

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related technical field required; Master’s degree or MBA or equivalent experience preferred.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, or industrial operations.

• 5+ years in leadership roles with responsibility for large-scale automation or digital transformation initiatives.

• Consistent track record of implementing advanced automation technologies in regulated or high-complexity environments (e.g., life sciences, electronics, automotive, etc.).

• Deep knowledge of manufacturing systems, automation platforms, robotics, and Industry 4.0 principles.

• Solid critical thinking and program management skills.

• Outstanding communication, leadership, and collaborator influencing abilities.

• Experience working in matrixed, global organizations.

• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent process improvement credentials.

• Experience in regulated industries (Life Sciences, Pharma, Medical Device, etc.).