IT Project Manager - MES / Digital Manufacturing

Position Overview

We are looking for a results-driven IT Project Manager with 15+ years of international experience in manufacturing, digital transformation, and industrial IT. The successful candidate will lead end-to-end MES/ECS initiatives across global manufacturing sites and ensure close alignment between shop-floor operations, business requirements, vendors, and IT teams.

The role requires strong manufacturing expertise and the ability to translate operational processes into scalable digital workflows-from requirements engineering and machine connectivity through integration, UAT, go-live, and hypercare.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end MES/ECS implementation and rollout projects across international manufacturing sites.
• Manage project scope, timelines, budgets, risks, dependencies, resources, and quality.
• Translate shop-floor processes and business needs into clear functional and technical requirements.
• Coordinate manufacturing, business, infrastructure, integration, cybersecurity, and vendor teams.
• Ensure integration readiness between MES/ECS, production equipment, IIoT solutions, and enterprise systems.
• Plan and manage testing activities, including UAT, defect resolution, and business acceptance.
• Develop cutover and go-live plans and coordinate post-launch hypercare.
• Establish effective project governance, reporting, escalation, and stakeholder communication.
• Drive process standardization, continuous improvement, and the adoption of digital manufacturing solutions.
• Identify delivery risks and operational gaps and implement appropriate mitigation measures.
• Support change management, user readiness, training, and sustainable solution adoption.

Requirements

Required Experience and Skills

• 15+ years of experience in IT project or program management within global manufacturing environments.
• Proven track record in end-to-end MES and/or ECS implementation.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production processes, and shop-floor requirements.
• Experience in digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0, machine connectivity, and IIoT.
• Strong project and program management capabilities, including governance, planning, risk management, and executive reporting.
• Solid experience in requirements engineering, business analysis, process mapping, and solution validation.
• Hands-on knowledge of integration readiness, UAT, cutover, go-live planning, and hypercare.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional factory, business, vendor, and infrastructure teams.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder-management, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Familiarity with relevant project-management, collaboration, requirements-management, and manufacturing IT tools.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in international, multicultural environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Information Technology, Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Project or program management certification such as PMP, PRINCE2, or an equivalent qualification.
• Experience delivering multi-site MES rollouts and global template deployments.
• Understanding of integrations involving ERP, automation, SCADA, PLC, data platforms, and industrial infrastructure.
• Familiarity with Agile, waterfall, and hybrid delivery models.