The Director, Automation is responsible for setting the direction and managing a central workstream in a $2 billion global project. This includes developing and executing plans to enhance operational efficiency, streamline processes, and leverage technology for improved performance. As the Director, this role bridges the gap between technical expertise and business objectives to drive innovation, efficiency, and execution. Additionally, this role ensures that the right people are assigned to the right tasks and projects providing challenge and enhancement to their skills.

FUJIFILM Biotechnologies is building the future of bioproduction in Holly Springs, North Carolina. By end of 2025, we’ll open North America’s largest end-to-end CDMO biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility, offering drug substance production, fill-finish, and packaging under one roof.

We’re looking for passionate, mission-driven people to help us realize this exciting vision and deliver the next vaccine, cure, or therapy. We offer a dynamic work environment and we’re proud to cultivate a culture that will fuel your purpose, energy, and drive—what we call Genki. Ready to shape the future of medicine? Let’s transform healthcare together!

Holly Springs, North Carolina, combines small-town warmth with proximity to Raleigh’s thriving tech scene, making it the perfect blend of community and opportunity.

Fujifilm is globally headquartered in Tokyo with over 70,000 employees across four key business segments of healthcare, electronics, business innovation, and imaging. We are guided and united by our Group Purpose of “giving our world more smiles.” Visit: https://www.fujifilm.com/us/en/about/region/careers

What You’ll Do

• Develops and executes automation strategies that align with site goals, including Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) phase support, automation hyper care during ramp-up to operations, production optimization, and streamlining processes
• Ensures that automation systems and processes comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) and other relevant regulations
• Oversees the selection, implementation, and management of automation technologies (e.g., Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Manufacturing Execution System (MES)) and leads initiatives where partners have been pre-selected
• Leads automation engineers and other team members by fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Encourages a culture of continuous learning and development, including real-time feedback and coaching to ensure the team is positioned for growth
• Partners closely with various departments (e.g., Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality Assurance, IT) to ensure successful integration and implementation of automation solutions
• Manages the planning, execution, and delivery of automation projects, including technology transfer within established timelines and budgets
• Drives continuous improvement initiatives to enhance process efficiency and production quality with a cost-conscious mindset
• Completes required administrative tasks (e.g., timecard approvals, time off approvals, expense reports etc.)
• Evaluates team performance and partners with HR to proactively address and resolve gaps, and implements measures to improve productivity and engagement to develop high-potential employees
• Participates in the recruitment process and partners with stakeholders to implement recruitment and retentions strategies to secure
• Performs other duties, as assigned

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to collaborate across the site and globally due to the significant interface within the organization
• Excellent communication, both written and oral
• Strong technical expertise in relevant automation platforms, specifically DeltaV
• Ability to lead and coach a 20+ personnel engineering team within a matrixed organization
• Demonstrated ability to hire and develop technical talent to lead a high performing team and projects
• Ability to drive core team culture priorities (e.g., safety, GEMBA, leadership principals, cost-consciousness) into the ways of working
• Ability to effectively present information to others
• Must be flexible to support 24/7 manufacturing facility

Basic Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related scientific field with 10+ years of related experience; or
• Master’s degree in engineering or related scientific field with 8+ years of related experience
• 6+ years’ experience managing, leading, and developing others
• 2+ years’ experience leading and developing other leaders
• Experience working in a changing, project driven organization
• Experience working in a CGMP facility and with FDA regulations

Preferred Requirements

• Master’s degree in engineering or related scientific field
• 6-10 years’ experience in a pharmaceutical / biological manufacturing operation
• Previous experience leading an automation team at a greenfield site

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Will work in environment which may necessitate respiratory protection X No Yes
May work in Mechanical/Production spaces that may require hearing protection and enrollment in a hearing conservation program. X No Yes
Will work in environment operating a motor vehicle or Powered Industrial Truck. X No Yes
Ability to discern audible cues. No X Yes
Ability to inspect or perform a task with 20/20 corrected vision, visual acuity, including distinguishing color. X No Yes

Ability to ascend or descend ladders, scaffolding, ramps, etc. X No Yes
Ability to stand for prolonged periods of time. No X Yes 30 minutes
Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time. No X Yes 240 minutes
Ability to conduct activities using repetitive motions that include writs, hands and/or fingers. No X Yes
Ability to operate machinery and/or power tools. X No Yes
Ability to conduct work that includes moving objects up to X pounds. No X Yes If yes, X 10 lbs. 33 lbs.
Ability to bend, push or pull, reach to retrieve materials from 18” to 60” in height, and use twisting motions. X No Yes

To all agencies: Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee of FUJIFILM about this requisition. All resumes submitted by search firms/employment agencies to any employee at FUJIFILM via-email, the internet or in any form and/or method will be deemed the sole property of FUJIFILM, unless such search firms/employment agencies were engaged by FUJIFILM for this requisition and a valid agreement with FUJIFILM is in place. In the event a candidate who was submitted outside of the FUJIFILM agency engagement process is hired, no fee or payment of any kind will be paid.

Fujifilm is committed to providing equal opportunities in hiring, promotion and advancement, compensation, benefits, and training regardless of nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, political creed, ideology, national, or social origin, disability, veteran status, etc.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to our HR Department (FDBN_PNC@fujifilm.com).