Role Summary

The Site Digital & Automation Lead (Director) is a full member of the Site Leadership Team and a key leader within the PGS Network & Automation organization. This role provides strategic direction and leadership for all digital and automation capabilities at site, serving as the primary advisor and partner to Site Leadership and above-site stakeholders. The role is accountable for shaping, owning, and executing the site’s integrated digital and automation portfolio, ensuring full alignment with site business priorities and network strategies.

This role drives long-term value creation, investment prioritization, and portfolio governance across capital and expense initiatives. The Site Digital & Automation Lead leads and develops the site digital and automation team, ensuring the design, deployment, and lifecycle management of critical digital, automation, and infrastructure systems. This includes driving operational efficiency, ensuring Quality/Safety compliance, cybersecurity, business continuity and reliable system support.

Role Description

Core Responsibilities

Leadership and Oversight

• Serve as a full member of the Site Leadership Team.

• Collaborate with the Site Leadership Team to ensure alignment of site and network strategies with digital and automation capabilities.

• Lead teams of colleagues and contract resources to deliver digital and automation capital projects and manage expense portfolios, ensuring customer needs are met; uphold standardized platforms and oversee strategic outsourcing to key integrators.

• Act as the primary contact for all digital and automation colleagues located at the site.

• Build and maintain relationships with PGS Enabling Teams and Digital Organizations.

• Lead and participate in network-wide digital and automation initiatives.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of digital & automation professionals

• Conduct performance reviews and provide growth opportunities

• Build a collaborative, innovative environment

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement (CI)

• Develop and own the site’s 3–5 year digital and automation strategy

• Provide strategic direction and establish business cases for large capital, or product focused programs and technology portfolio plans; continually evaluate and deploy emerging technologies to realize value.

• Implement IMEx elements, including Structured Gembas, Visual Management, and the CI Loop, to drive process improvements using digital tools.

• Support site continuous improvement initiatives and share best practices and drive business adoption

• Provide oversight of the site digital & automation portfolio, championing AI and innovation through integrated planning and reliable project execution.

• Maintain a strong awareness of automation and digitization developments in the external environment.

• Oversee contract and license management for digital and automation systems, ensuring compliance and effective administration.

• Ensure effective implementation and continuous oversight of lifecycle processes for all digital and automated systems and infrastructure.

Operational Services

• Deliver dependable digital & automation support services, responding quickly to real-time system issues while maintaining stable, high-performing digital and automation systems.

• Ensure Automation Engineering support, including hardware, instrumentation, and control systems ownership.

• Take responsibility for change management pertaining to digital and automation infrastructure on site, including managing outages and communicating with end users.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all digital and automation operations at the site, including escalating issues to the wider PGS Network and Automation organization.

• Collaborate with the PGS Network and Automation organization to maintain service levels for crisis response, digital incident management, and service request processes.

• Oversee the provision of technical support to Engineering and Operations partners for automated systems throughout the lifecycle of the equipment.

Cyber Security & Network

• Manage and coordinate cybersecurity activities and ensure compliance with digital and automation Infrastructure & Architecture Standards Execution

• Own change management for technology infrastructure, including outage management, end-user communications, maintenance and support

• Oversee software and hardware lifecycle management and PANS Support

Data Systems & Integration

• Manage the development of the Automated System Life Cycle documents.

• Ensure deployment of end-to-end data strategy for digital and automation systems.

• Leverage data standards to ensure consistency and compliance.

• Oversee core system integration to support seamless data flow and connectivity.

• Manage the development of local applications to meet site and business needs.

Computer System Assurance

• Proactively address business continuity risk for digital and automation assets

• Maintain Quality and Safety compliance and continuous audit-readiness

• Ensure adherence to system validation requirements and change control processes

• Maintain up to date GMP documentation for systems and assets within the remit of the team

Key Attributes, Skills & Competencies

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Clear communicator who can translate complex technical topics to non-technical stakeholders.

• Executive presence; capable of influencing across site and enterprise teams.

Visionary Thinking and Technology Strategy

• Strong ability to design and govern reliable OT automation and site digital ecosystems (end-to-end lifecycle ownership).

• Comfortable making risk-based decisions balancing production continuity, compliance, and security.

• Passionate about leveraging technology to enhance operations.

• Portfolio and program leadership; disciplined execution, stakeholder management, and vendor oversight.

• Anticipates future digital needs and acts proactively

Change and Problem Management  

• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills 

• Leader of technical and organisational change 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a dynamic environment

Technical Fluency

• Understanding of emerging technologies, AI

• Foundational digital and automation risk management

• Strong grasp of integration patterns between OT systems and data platforms.

• Demonstrates strong expertise in digital and automation solutions.

Preferred Qualifications, Experience & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, business, or related technical field (Controls, Electrical, Chemical, IT/CS)

• 10+ years’ experience in information technology systems/infrastructure or specialist knowledge of process automation/process control systems

• 3–5 years in a regulated manufacturing environment (pharma or similar preferred)

• Experience with Lean/Operational Excellence

• Project/program management (PMI, Agile, SDLC) and continuous improvement (e.g., Six Sigma)

• IT infrastructure management (e.g., ITIL) and GMP regulatory requirements experience preferred

Work Location Assignment: On Premise

Global pharmaceutical company developing vaccines, oncology, and immunology treatments. Headquartered in New York, NY.

pfizer.com