Job Location: Lancaster, PAAbout the Hershey Company and the Lancaster PlantThe Hershey Company's Lancaster Y&S plant is a non-union facility producing licorice products such as Twizzlers, Nibs, and Pull & Peel in a high-speed, complex manufacturing environment.
How You Will Fit in the Big Picture The Associate Manager, Controls provides technical leadership and advanced controls expertise to support the installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and optimization of plant electrical and control systems. The role applies advanced diagnostics to resolve complex, non-obvious issues, implements corrective actions, and helps ensure safe, reliable operation of processing and packaging systems, power distribution, motor control equipment, industrial networks, and related automation technologies.
Working across Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, vendors, and external technical resources, this position coordinates complex technical work and projects while promoting safety, quality, and technical standards. The role strengthens equipment performance, reduces recurring issues, and supports long-term operational reliability.
What You Will Do - Provide technical leadership and support to Operations and Maintenance teams in troubleshooting, root cause analysis, problem resolution, and optimization of electrical controls, instrumentation, networking, power systems, PLCs, HMIs, servo systems, controls networks, safety systems, industrial computers, motor controls, distributed control systems, and other automation technologies.
- Perform and guide complex installation, repair, maintenance, and calibration activities across manufacturing and utility systems, using specifications, technical drawings, data, and advanced diagnostic tools to ensure accurate and reliable work.
- Plan, organize, and coordinate technical activities involving multiple teams or functions, sequencing work to minimize production impact and support safe, effective execution.
- Define root causes, develop corrective action plans, and implement sustainable solutions that reduce recurring problems and improve equipment performance and operational reliability.
- Own technical processes and lead controls-related projects of defined scope, including planning, monitoring, contractor coordination, equipment checkout, startup support, engineering design, and implementation.
- Support plant Maintenance functions and lead or participate in continuous improvement efforts that improve safety, reliability, efficiency, and throughput.
- Ensure plant electrical drawings, controls documentation, and software are securely maintained and kept current.
- Provide technical analysis, including cost estimates, feasibility reviews, specifications, interpretation of requirements, alternatives, and recommendations for capital solutions.
- Coordinate with equipment vendors, engineering personnel, manufacturing supervision, production employees, supplier companies, and internal customers to design and implement technical solutions.
- Apply and promote safety, quality, and technical standards, identify risks, and drive corrective actions, including adherence to applicable electrical and food-industry practices, standards, and codes.
Minimum Education & Requirements- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Technology with an electrical or mechatronics focus, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
- 3 or more years of relevant experience in Operations, Engineering, controls, automation, maintenance, or a related field.
- Experience diagnosing and resolving complex equipment or system issues in a manufacturing environment.
- Breadth of experience with manufacturing equipment and related operations, including processing equipment, packaging systems, controls, and mechanical or electrical systems.
- Ability to coordinate cross-functional technical work, communicate problem resolutions and learning points, and provide technical support to internal and external partners.
- Ability to develop and implement creative technical solutions for existing manufacturing systems and newly installed equipment while meeting manufacturing requirements.
- Working knowledge of project management requirements such as purchase requisitioning, contractor time monitoring, internal orders, and project timelines.
- Willingness to occasionally work shifts other than the primary 2nd Shift assignment.
Benefits and PerksAt Hershey, we offer competitive pay and a comprehensive total rewards package designed to support your wellbeing, financial security, and life outside of work.
- Health & Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus wellness programs that support your physical and mental health.
- Financial Security: Competitive pay, annual incentive opportunities, and a 401(k) with company match.
- Time Off & Flexibility: Paid time off, company holidays, and flexible ways of working where applicable.
- Growth & Development: Career development programs, learning opportunities, and internal mobility.
Benefits may vary based on role, location, and eligibility.
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