Position Summary This role leads continuous improvement initiatives, new programs, and CAPEX projects within Walkerville Operations. It supports day-to-day operational decision-making across production departments and partners with Operations and Automation teams to resolve bottlenecks and deliver multidisciplinary projects. The role ensures automation systems remain reliable, supported, and up to date while staying current with emerging technologies and process improvements. It is accountable for maintaining high standards in Health & Safety, Quality, Environmental compliance, and operational productivity.
Major Responsibilities / Accountabilities- Ensure full compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA Sections 25-28) in accordance with Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd. policies, including management, supervisory, and worker safety responsibilities.
- Present, organize, delegate, and deliver training in support of implemented operational programs.
- Maintain and continuously improve Process Control Systems, including PLC programming and Operator Interface (HMI) enhancements.
- Provide hands-on support to daily production activities, assisting operations and maintenance teams while enabling supervisory effectiveness.
- Lead and support capital project execution, ensuring delivery on time and within budget.
- Ensure all new equipment and installations comply with applicable Canadian standards and regulations.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement by proactively identifying production issues and promoting accountability and problem resolution at all levels.
- Manage capital projects ranging from $10,000 to $3,000,000 CAD (Level B responsibility).
- Maintain regular internal collaboration with Operations, Maintenance/Trades, and IT/OT Engineering teams.
- Engage externally with vendors, contractors, and OEMs to support project and operational requirements.
- Ensure high availability and reliability of PLC systems supporting 24/7 operations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities - Strong project management capabilities.
- Experience with powerhouse systems (switchgear, boilers, turbine controls), batching systems (FactoryTalk Batch), and distillation/fermentation processes (Rockwell PlantPAx).
- Knowledge of hazardous location control system design (explosion-proof and intrinsically safe systems).
- Proficiency in AutoCAD Electrical for drawing updates and documentation control.
- Control systems engineering experience including PLCs, VFDs, instrumentation, PID control, P&ID interpretation, and control valves.
- Experience with industrial automation platforms (ABB, Rockwell).
- IT/OT infrastructure knowledge including Cisco networking, VMware, Microsoft Server environments, ThinManager, Active Directory, cybersecurity, and antivirus systems.
- Industrial data and information systems experience (SQL Server, Reporting Services, OSIsoft/AVEVA PI Historian, VantagePoint, Energy metering systems, Transaction Manager).
- Strong understanding of industrial instrumentation (Allen-Bradley, Endress+Hauser, ABB, Fisher, Rosemount).
- Solid understanding of Health & Safety regulations and Electrical Safety Code requirements.
- Strong strategic thinking ability with a focus on innovation, execution, and customer/service orientation.
- Proven troubleshooting skills for control systems and ability to lead root cause analysis (RCA) activities.
- Demonstrated leadership ability with experience building, mentoring, and developing teams.
- Experience managing contractors, developing scopes of work, preparing RFQs/RFPs, and ensuring cost effective execution.
- Ability to provide frontline operational support to resolve equipment and process issues efficiently.
- Commitment to staying current with industry trends and emerging technologies.
- Ability to collaborate with corporate IT to implement secure plant-floor connectivity solutions.
- Capability to develop reporting tools and dashboards to support compliance and management decision-making.
Education- College diploma in Process Automation Technology, or
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, Chemical, or Automation Engineering
Experience / Background - Minimum 10+ years of experience in an automated manufacturing or production environment, including responsibility for production systems, processes, and personnel.
- Strong experience working across multiple production departments with consistent stakeholder communication and coordination.
Financial Responsibility - Greatly influences goals but does not have final authority. Manages and deploys resources to meet the goals.
Job Posting End Date:Target Hire Date:2026-06-29
