Automation Manager Jobs in Ames, IA (NOW HIRING)

Job Description: PURPOSE The Automation Manufacturing Manager is responsible for the administration, planning, oversight, scheduling, process ownership, and continuous improvement of Automation manufacturing operations, including panel shop operations, offsite manufacturing, and other assigned manufacturing activities. This role leads manufacturing process standardization, production readiness, quality improvement, team performance, cost control, KPI management, and operational administration to deliver safe, efficient, repeatable, and predictable manufacturing execution. Working closely with the QA/QC Manager, Automation Manufacturing Support QA/QC Team Lead, Engineering, Purchasing, Warehouse, Project Managers, Electrical Foremen, Team Members, and Operations leadership, the Automation Manufacturing Manager uses quality findings, inspection results, defect trends, schedule performance, capacity planning, and cost data to drive corrective actions, improve manufacturing processes, reduce rework and noncompliance, strengthen operational performance, and enhance long-term manufacturing capability. This role owns the administration, standardization, correction, and improvement of manufacturing processes within these areas while shop-floor execution and direct supervision of union craft labor remain with the Electrical Foreman or other designated field/shop supervision. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES The following duties are typical for this job. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned. Lead, manage, coach, and develop assigned Team Members responsible for Automation manufacturing administration, planning, support coordination, process compliance, KPI tracking, and operational improvement. Coordinate closely with Electrical Foremen and other designated field/shop supervision responsible for shop-floor execution and direct supervision of union craft labor. Own the daily administration, planning, coordination, and operational oversight of assigned Automation manufacturing areas, including panel shop operations, offsite manufacturing, manufactured support items, production flow, work planning, labor planning visibility, schedule alignment, resource coordination, and timely completion of work. Coordinate production schedules, manufacturing priorities, staffing needs, engineering readiness, material readiness, inspection readiness, and production support requirements with Operations leadership, Project Managers, Engineering, Purchasing, Warehouse, QA/QC, Electrical Foremen, and other internal stakeholders to ensure manufacturing readiness and predictable execution. Develop, implement, administer, and continuously improve standardized manufacturing processes, workflows, standard work, documentation, process controls, and operating procedures that promote repeatability, efficiency, quality, safety, and process compliance. Provide leadership for the continuous improvement and future state of Automation manufacturing by identifying, evaluating, and implementing opportunities to improve workflow, reduce waste, increase repeatability, improve quality, reduce cost, improve schedule reliability, and enhance manufacturing capabilities through technology, automation, prefabrication, digital workflows, equipment, and process improvements. Develop business cases, ROI analyses, implementation plans, and performance expectations for manufacturing improvements, technology investments, equipment purchases, software tools, and automation initiatives, and lead implementation of approved improvements. Partner with the QA/QC Manager and Automation Manufacturing Support QA/QC Team Lead to review inspection findings, quality trends, noncompliance items, defect data, rework issues, and documentation gaps; translate findings into corrective actions, process improvements, training initiatives, ownership assignments, and measurable performance improvements. Lead operational and process corrective actions when manufacturing process failures, schedule delays, recurring quality concerns, cost issues, safety concerns, or production constraints are identified while recognizing that direct craft supervision, rework direction, and shop-floor execution remain the responsibility of the appropriate Electrical Foreman or designated field/shop supervision. Develop, administer, monitor, and utilize manufacturing KPIs related to quality, cost, productivity, schedule performance, labor efficiency, rework, throughput, readiness, technology adoption, and overall manufacturing performance to identify trends, improve planning accuracy, forecast constraints, and drive measurable operational improvement. Ensure approved drawings, bills of material, work instructions, inspection requirements, documentation requirements, quality expectations, safety requirements, and project-specific requirements are incorporated into manufacturing processes and effectively coordinated through the appropriate field/shop supervision. Work collaboratively with Engineering to resolve design issues, constructability concerns, revisions, and production constraints. Collaborate with Purchasing and Warehouse teams to improve material readiness, inventory coordination, shortage visibility, staging accuracy, kit readiness, material flow, and material cost control in support of manufacturing operations. Communicate production status, schedule risks, labor needs, resource constraints, cost impacts, quality concerns, KPI performance, and issue resolution plans with Project Managers, Operations leadership, internal customers, and other stakeholders while leading recurring production, readiness, quality, cost, and performance reviews. Maintain manufacturing work areas that are clean, organized, safe, and efficient while continuously improving shop layout, workflow, staging methods, material handling, equipment readiness, tool availability, and production support systems to improve productivity and throughput. Develop and maintain manufacturing standards, operating procedures, administrative processes, training expectations, work area standards, process ownership, KPI reporting practices, and performance review routines that support consistent execution and manufacturing discipline. Provide clear expectations, coaching, accountability, performance feedback, and employee development for assigned Team Members while strengthening technical capability, leadership, quality ownership, process discipline, cost awareness, and continuous improvement throughout the manufacturing organization. Evaluate staffing requirements, workload forecasts, skill gaps, resource constraints, manufacturing capacity, technology needs, and future operational requirements in collaboration with Operations leadership to support current and future manufacturing demands. Foster effective communication and collaboration among Team Members, Electrical Foremen, QA/QC, Engineering, Purchasing, Warehouse, Project Managers, Operations leadership, and internal customers regarding priorities, risks, production status, quality performance, manufacturing constraints, and continuous improvement opportunities. Ensure manufacturing operations consistently support company expectations for safety, quality, schedule reliability, cost control, customer service, documentation, process compliance, operational excellence, and long-term manufacturing capability. MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business Management, Automation, or a related field required. Equivalent manufacturing or operations leadership experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. Minimum of five (5) years of experience in manufacturing, production management, prefabrication, offsite manufacturing, automation manufacturing, or a related production environment, including production planning, scheduling, resource coordination, material and engineering readiness, process compliance, and operational execution. Minimum of two (2) years of experience leading, coordinating, supervising, or managing manufacturing, production, operations, process improvement, or manufacturing support teams, with demonstrated success collaborating across Engineering, Purchasing, Warehouse, QA/QC, Project Management, and Operations. Demonstrated ability to read and interpret production documentation, bills of material, fabrication documents, panel layouts, electrical drawings, schematics, quality documentation, and project specifications. Experience with manufacturing process improvement, standard work, KPI development and tracking, cost control, quality systems, corrective actions, technology implementation, ROI evaluation, and operational performance improvement preferred. MENTAL AND PHYSICAL COMPETENCIES REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTAL FUNCTIONS Proven leadership ability with the capacity to lead teams, establish expectations, coach performance, develop Team Members, and maintain accountability. Strong understanding of manufacturing execution, production planning, process ownership, workflow improvement, labor coordination, material readiness, operational administration, and control panel manufacturing, including electrical drawings, schematics, panel layouts, bills of material, quality documentation, and inspection requirements. Demonstrated ability to analyze QA/QC findings, inspection results, defect trends, KPI data, and operational performance metrics to identify root causes, implement corrective actions, improve manufacturing processes, and enhance quality, cost, productivity, and schedule performance. Strong planning, organizational, and prioritization skills with the ability to coordinate multiple manufacturing priorities, manage workflows, documentation, schedules, action items, corrective actions, and improvement initiatives while anticipating production constraints, material shortages, engineering issues, labor needs, quality concerns, and schedule risks. Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with Team Members, Electrical Foremen, QA/QC, Engineering, Purchasing, Warehouse, Project Managers, Operations leadership, and internal customers. Ability to maintain clear responsibility boundaries between manufacturing process ownership, shop-floor execution, QA/QC inspection activities, ISO administration, and overall quality system ownership. Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to evaluate existing processes, reduce waste, improve quality, increase repeatability, control costs, and strengthen manufacturing performance through process and technology improvements. Strong attention to detail with the ability to verify manufacturing processes, documentation, quality requirements, KPI reporting, cost information, and operational expectations align with project and company standards. Sound judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving skills with the ability to balance operational priorities while supporting safe, predictable, and efficient manufacturing operations. PERFORMANCE MEASURES Manufacturing work is completed safely, accurately, efficiently, and in alignment with production schedules, resulting in organized, predictable, and reliable panel shop operations, offsite manufacturing, manufactured support items, and other assigned Automation manufacturing activities. Production readiness is consistently achieved through effective planning, coordination of labor, materials, engineering, inspections, and manufacturing support resources. Quality findings, inspection results, defect trends, and noncompliance items are effectively analyzed, translated into corrective actions and process improvements, and verified through successful implementation and closure. Manufacturing KPIs related to quality, cost, productivity, schedule performance, labor efficiency, rework, readiness, and throughput are effectively monitored and used to improve operational performance, planning accuracy, and cost predictability. Rework, defects, material shortages, documentation gaps, schedule delays, labor inefficiencies, cost variation, and recurring process failures are reduced through continuous improvement and standardized manufacturing processes. Manufacturing teams consistently follow approved processes, standard work, safety requirements, quality standards, documentation requirements, and work area organization expectations. Internal customers receive timely, accurate, organized, and predictable manufacturing support that meets project requirements and operational expectations. Assigned Team Members demonstrate strong performance in planning, communication, process compliance, KPI management, quality support, cost awareness, and continuous improvement while effectively coordinating with Electrical Foremen to support safe and efficient shop-floor execution. ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTABILITY Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk working on a computer. Prolonged periods of standing and walking in a panel shop, warehouse, fabrication, offsite manufacturing, or manufacturing support environment. Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds. Regular interaction with panel builders, electricians, Team Members, shop leadership, engineering, purchasing, warehouse, QA/QC, Project Managers, internal customers, and operations personnel. Exposure to active shop conditions, noise, tools, equipment, materials, and changing temperatures. EQUIPMENT/TOOLS Laptop computer PPE (hard hat, gloves, safety glasses and boots) Basic hand tools Baker Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Baker Group will consider reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the Employer.