Operational Technology Manager (Hybrid- Salisbury, MD) (Direct Hire)
Optomi, in partnership with a leading agriculture and food processing organization, is seeking an experienced Operational Technology (OT) Leader to join their team! This is an exciting opportunity to build a brand-new OT function from the ground up. The selected candidate will kick off a major OT modernization initiative, starting with a key production facility. The role involves upgrading infrastructure, enhancing automation, and enabling data-driven operations. This position requires a strong technical leader who is confident working across operations, IT, and external vendors to drive transformation and long-term success.
What the right candidate will enjoy!
- Direct Hire Opportunity
- A ground-floor opportunity to shape and grow an entirely new OT team
- Leading impactful modernization projects with executive visibility
- Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams in a high-growth environment
- Career advancement opportunities as the team scales
- A dynamic and fast-paced setting with meaningful ownership from day one
Experience of the right candidate:
- 15+ years in IT/OT roles, with 10+ years specifically in operational technology
- Proven experience in manufacturing or process-driven environments
- Led OT modernization efforts from planning through execution
- Strong knowledge of SCADA systems (Rockwell FactoryTalk and/or Ignition preferred)
- Understanding of infrastructure and cybersecurity (e.g., network segmentation, firewalls, risk assessment)
- Experience leveraging Operations Data to increase automation
- Industry experience in agriculture or process manufacturing is helpful but not required
Responsibilities of the right candidate:
- Develop and execute strategies to integrate and optimize IT/OT systems
- Assess current infrastructure and lead end-to-end OT modernization projects
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external vendors to implement technical solutions
- Ensure system security, resilience, and alignment with business objectives
- Contribute to planning and execution for subsequent project phases
- Serve as the primary technical lead and advisor for all OT initiatives