Area Automation Manager - Pacific Northwest

Equal Employment Opportunity

For United States: WM is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

For Canada: WM is committed to the principle of equal employment for all applicants and employees, without discrimination on the basis of all grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please notify us if you require accommodation.

This is a remote position but will require 40% travel in an assigned area.

Candidate must live near a major airport in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho.

Area Automation Manager plays a critical role in overseeing and managing the automation systems and technologies within the Pacific Northwest. This role typically involves a combination of technical expertise, management skills, and strategic planning to ensure the effective operation and optimization of automated processes. The individual will be the local liaison between the Automation Group and site contacts, being the first point of contact for any automation issues that may arise, and will help lead automation activities for all lines of businesses within the company ensuring that automation/controls engineering activities meet the company's objectives.

Responsibilities include managing automation systems, assisting with control system troubleshooting, process modifications, system designs, specifications, and commissioning, and maintaining industrial control wiring, industrial equipment, PLC/HMI programming, and process design knowledge.

• Provide subject‑matter expert support day‑to‑day for all automated and electro‑mechanical process control systems used in landfills, wastewater, bio‑gas extraction, renewable energy, recycling technology, collections, fleet, telematics, and organics processing.
• Provide process optimization expertise and implement corporate site automation standard procedures at the area level.
• Lead and coordinate efforts to secure all automation technologies used in waste processing and logistics by overseeing policy compliance, ensuring secure integration of new systems, managing incident responses, and promoting cybersecurity awareness.
• Oversee lifecycle management of all operational technology assets (SCADA and automation equipment), ensuring accurate inventory, maintenance planning, system reliability, and alignment with cybersecurity and compliance standards across all facilities in the area.
• Implement a roadmap for OT maturity, including technology assessments, gap analysis, and improvement plans.
• Drive the adoption of emerging OT technologies to enhance operational efficiency and reliability.
• Collaborate with IT and OT teams to ensure alignment and effective integration of systems.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive automation strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Support highly complex automated systems and equipment in new and existing facilities.
• Provide automation site support interface with operations personnel, compliance, information systems, engineering, and maintenance, and ensure thorough documentation of all data collected and stored.
• Exhibit strong customer communication skills and technical knowledge of automated and electromechanical process control systems and equipment.
• Train local operators and managers on proper operation of equipment and SCADA systems.
• Oversee selection, onboarding, and management of external contractors supporting automation initiatives, ensuring they align with project goals, deliver quality work, and adhere to company standards.
• Monitor contractor performance, provide feedback, and address performance issues.
• Collaborate closely with operations teams to identify automation opportunities, assess feasibility, prioritize projects, and ensure seamless integration into existing workflows.
• Provide…