Ot Manager

Description:

We are looking for an experienced OT Manager – Manufacturing IT & Digital Operations to own the technology landscape supporting a large-scale furniture manufacturing operation.

This is a senior technology leadership role sitting at the intersection of IT, manufacturing, automation and digital operations, with responsibility for ERP, MES, CAD/CAM, machine connectivity, integrations, shopfloor infrastructure, cybersecurity and production analytics.

🔹 Key Responsibilities

• Define and own the OT strategy, target architecture and technology roadmap aligned with production growth, automation and factory expansion.
• Lead technology across Microsoft Dynamics 365 F&O, MES, CAD/CAM, advanced warehouse management, machine connectivity and analytics.
• Lead OT projects end-to-end, including scope, design, budget, resources, testing, training, cutover, Go-Live and Hypercare.
• Own machine connectivity and shopfloor data acquisition across multiple machine types and vendors.
• Govern production orders, manufacturing processes, WIP, warehouse execution, outbound and dispatch.
• Drive smart-factory initiatives including paperless shopfloor, real-time visibility, predictive maintenance and production analytics.
• Own integrations across ERP, MES, CAD/CAM, nesting, machine layer, warehouse systems, maintenance platforms, transport/3PL and Power BI.
• Establish and monitor production KPIs including OEE, downtime, throughput, yield, scrap, WIP, inventory accuracy and OTIF.
• Own OT availability, incident/problem management, business continuity and disaster recovery.
• Lead OT cybersecurity, asset management, network segmentation, secure vendor access and risk management.
• Manage machine OEMs, technology vendors and system integrators, including RFPs, technical evaluations, SLAs and acceptance criteria.
• Own OT OPEX/CAPEX budgets, forecasting, cost control and benefit realisation.
• Build, lead and develop the OT team while ensuring knowledge transfer and eliminating single points of dependency.

🔹 Mandatory Requirements

✅ Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, IT, Industrial Engineering or Automation Engineering

✅ 10+ years' experience in Manufacturing IT, OT or Digital Manufacturing

✅ Minimum 3 years' experience leading teams and owning production-critical systems

✅ Proven end-to-end ownership of at least one MES or shopfloor digitalisation implementation, from design through Go-Live and steady state

✅ Strong understanding of production order processes, manufacturing, WIP, advanced warehouse management, outbound and dispatch

✅ Experience with machine connectivity, industrial protocols and edge/gateway architectures

✅ Strong experience integrating ERP, MES, CAD/CAM and warehouse systems

✅ Practical knowledge of OT networks, cybersecurity, backup and disaster recovery

✅ Strong vendor management, budget ownership and senior stakeholder management experience

✅ Excellent English communication skills

🔹 Preferred Experience

Experience within furniture manufacturing, woodworking, panel processing or engineer-to-order interiors would be highly advantageous.

Exposure to HOMAG, Biesse, SCM, IMA, CAD+T or imos would be a strong advantage.

Experience with greenfield factories, major factory expansions, PLM, APS, CMMS/EAM, Azure integration and Power BI would also be beneficial.

Relevant certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, ITIL, Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, IEC 62443, GICSP, Lean Six Sigma or TOGAF would be advantageous.