Senior Process Improvement Engineering Project Manager

Senior Process Improvement Engineering Project Manager

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Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special - a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section.

• Lead Operations Technology and digital manufacturing initiatives, including OEE platforms, machine connectivity, data historians, MES/MOM systems, and equipment-level data integration.
• Own end-to-end project lifecycle management for Operations technology programs-from business case development and requirements definition through deployment, stabilization, and benefits realization.
• Serve as the primary business owner for OEE and production intelligence platforms, ensuring data accuracy, usability, and alignment to operational KPIs.
• Partner with Automation, Maintenance, Engineering, and IT/OT teams to define equipment data standards, connectivity requirements, and data governance models.

• Lead efforts to extract, contextualize, and standardize equipment-level data (PLC signals, downtime codes, production counts, quality data).
• Translate manufacturing requirements into functional and technical requirements for automation engineers, integrators, and platform vendors.
• Ensure manufacturing intelligence systems (OEE, dashboards, analytics) are driving actionable insights, not just reporting.

• Establish and manage multi-site Operations technology roadmaps, prioritizing initiatives based on value, readiness, and resource availability.
• Develop and maintain project charters, business cases, ROI models, and risk registers for technology-enabled CI initiatives.
• Lead cross-functional project teams and external vendors, ensuring alignment to scope, timelines, cybersecurity standards, and operational readiness.
• Drive change management, adoption, and sustainment plans for digital and automation-enabled solutions.

• Integrate Lean, M-IQ, and CI principles with digital and automation capabilities to accelerate waste elimination and performance improvement.
• Identify opportunities where automation, digitization, or advanced analytics can remove manual processes, improve reliability, or enhance decision-making.
• Ensure technology solutions support process repeatability, standard work, and operational discipline.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business or related field and 8+ years of manufacturing, maintenance, supply chain or engineering experience in a leadership role; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development or project leadership.
• Five plus years of experience leading continuous improvement projects in manufacturing, maintenance, supply chain, distribution or engineering leadership role, preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies, including 5S, value stream mapping, and A3 problem solving.
• Proven ability to lead and coach cross-functional teams, fostering high performance among both hourly and salaried personnel.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in data-driven decision-making, root cause analysis, and statistical evaluation.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel; experience with SAP and aptitude for learning and training on new technologies.
• Effective communicator with the ability to present technical…