Job Title:Director of Automation Delivery Location: Cambridge, ON (In-Office) Position Type: Full-time Regular Vacancy Status: New Position AI Disclosure in Hiring: Artificial intelligence (AI) may be used to assist with certain aspects of the recruitment process, including the initial review and screening of applications. Final hiring decisions are made by Human Resources and hiring managers.
Job Summary
Reporting to the EVP Global Strategy & Technical Operations, the Director of Automation Delivery is a newly created role established to accelerate the implementation of practical, scalable automation solutions across Bimeda’s North American manufacturing network.
Based at the Cambridge Manufacturing site in Ontario, Canada, the role has been created to lead the rapid deployment of automation technologies that improve manufacturing efficiency, operational consistency, labour optimization, safety, and production reliability across Bimeda facilities in Canada and the United States.
This is a highly execution-focused position with direct accountability for automation implementation delivery. During the initial 24-month phase, the role will operate in a highly hands-on capacity, leading automation projects from concept through deployment, including factory engagement, technical requirement capture, vendor coordination, FAT/SAT execution, installation oversight, integration support, and post-go-live stabilization.
The successful candidate will be expected to work directly with manufacturing teams, engineering resources, and external automation integration partners to rapidly identify, prioritize, and implement automation opportunities capable of delivering measurable operational and financial benefits.
A key responsibility of the role will be establishing and managing relationships with both local automation integration companies and, through leveraging Bimeda’s long standing presence in mainland China, accessing Tier 1 Chinese automation integrators and equipment suppliers as viable comparative options to consider. Developing vendor-ready technical documentation and costing models, and ensuring successful delivery and integration of automation systems across multiple manufacturing sites.
The role is expected to evolve significantly as automation capability and project volume expand across the organization. Over time, the position has the potential to grow into a broader global automation leadership function with responsibility for building automation standards, implementation teams, vendor partnerships, and long-term automation roadmaps across Bimeda’s international manufacturing network.
This role requires a leader who combines strong technical and operational expertise with a practical, delivery-oriented mindset and a willingness to operate close to the factory floor to ensure successful implementation outcomes.
Role Evolution & Growth Opportunity
This is a newly established position created to build and scale Bimeda’s manufacturing automation implementation capability across North America.
The initial phase of the role will focus heavily on hands-on execution, rapid deployment, vendor management, and operational integration of automation solutions within manufacturing environments.
As automation programs mature and measurable operational benefits are realized, the role is expected to expand in scope, leadership responsibility, and geographic influence, with the potential to establish broader global automation standards, implementation teams, and strategic vendor partnerships across the Bimeda manufacturing network.
Role Specific Requirements
Automation Strategy & Standardization
- Capture, assess, and standardize automation requirements across Bimeda’s North American manufacturing facilities.
- Develop scalable automation standards, templates, and implementation frameworks to support long-term operational efficiency.
- Partner with manufacturing, engineering, quality, maintenance, and operations teams to identify high-value automation opportunities.
- Support global manufacturing sites with guidance, best practices, and technical leadership on automation initiatives.
Project Leadership & Execution
- Lead end-to-end automation implementation projects including concept development, budgeting, design review, procurement, installation, commissioning, FAT, SAT, and operational handover.
- Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and aligned with operational and regulatory requirements.
- Provide hands-on support during equipment installation, startup, integration, and hypercare phases.
- Establish clear project governance, reporting structures, and milestone tracking systems.
Vendor Management & Global Sourcing
- Source, evaluate, qualify, and manage local automation integrators and Tier 1 Chinese automation integrators and equipment manufacturers.
- Develop vendor-ready technical documentation, URS packages, scope documents, and costing models.
- Lead commercial and technical discussions with automation vendors and system integrators.
- Build and maintain long-term vendor partnerships and escalation support structures.
Technical & Operational Leadership
- Provide technical oversight for automation system architecture, controls integration, robotics, packaging automation, material handling systems, and digital manufacturing technologies.
- Collaborate with IT, Engineering, Validation, and Quality teams to ensure successful integration with existing manufacturing systems and infrastructure.
- Support development of standardized controls philosophies and data integration strategies across facilities.
- Drive continuous improvement through automation optimization, performance monitoring, and lessons learned.
Compliance, Safety & Quality
- Ensure all automation systems and implementations comply with applicable GMP, FDA, Health Canada, safety, and environmental requirements.
- Support commissioning, qualification, validation, and documentation activities associated with automation deployments.
- Promote a culture of safety, quality, compliance, and operational excellence across all project activities
Competencies required for the role
RESULTS ORIENTED The ability to focus on the desired result of one’s own department’s work, setting challenging goals, focusing on the goals, and meeting or exceeding them.
ANALYTICAL THINKING / PROBLEM SOLVING The ability to identify the information needed to clarify a situation, seek that information from various sources and then tackle a problem by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach. Ability to identify and separate the key components of problems and situations. Ability to interpret information from a range of sources to spot patterns and trends in information and to deduce cause and effect.
PROCESS IMPROVEMENT Involves the business practice of identifying, analysing, and improving existing processes to optimize performance.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION The ability to convey information effectively and efficiently, to listen, and facilitate sharing of information between people. Ability to express oneself clearly in conversations and business writing while demonstrating respect and professionalism.
FOSTERING COLLABORATION / TEAMWORK The ability to work jointly with others toward shared goals, building partnerships and fostering cooperation across global and cross-functional teams.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum 10+ years of experience leading industrial automation, manufacturing engineering, or capital project implementations within pharmaceutical, biologics, food, or highly regulated manufacturing industries.
- Demonstrated success implementing automation solutions across multiple manufacturing sites.
- Strong understanding of robotics, PLCs, SCADA systems, vision systems, automated packaging, and material handling technologies.
- Strong commercial acumen with experience developing project cost models, ROI analyses, and vendor negotiations.
- Experience managing FAT, SAT, commissioning, qualification, and post-implementation support activities.
- Ability to travel throughout North America and internationally as required.
- Strong understanding of GMP, FDA, Health Canada, and industrial safety standards.
- Proven leadership capability in fast-paced, cross-functional manufacturing environments.
- Conforms to all principles of cGMP and all relevant departmental and company standard operating procedures.
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive salary.
- 13 paid holidays.
- Competitive vacation policy effective upon hire.
- 5 paid personal care days.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Expected Salary Range: $130,000 - $160,000 per year.
About Bimeda
Bimeda is a leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of veterinary pharmaceuticals and animal health products and has over half a century’s experience in providing science-driven solutions to optimize the health, wellbeing and productivity of the world’s animals.
Bimeda’s global innovation program sees eight state-of-the art R&D centers across four continents collaborate on an enviable product development pipeline which anticipates the ever-evolving needs of the animal health industry.
Bimeda’s nine manufacturing facilities across seven countries allow the company to manufacture a broad range of preventative, curative and nutritional products including sterile injectables, vaccinations, nutritional boluses, feed additives, tablets, water-soluble powders, pastes and non-sterile liquids.
Globally, the company focuses on the development, manufacture and commercialization of quality Bimeda-branded products while also being the partner of choice for contract manufacturing and R&D services for prominent companies within the animal health industry.
More info at www.bimedacareers.com
Equal Opportunity & Accessibility
At Bimeda we are committed to fostering an inclusive, barrier-free and accessible environment. Part of this commitment includes arranging accommodations to ensure an equitable opportunity to participate in the recruitment and selection process. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs. We are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We are an equal-opportunity employer and assess candidates based on skills and experience. Recruitment records are retained in accordance with Ontario law.
