Area Automation Manager - Pacific Northwest

Job Description

Description
Equal Employment Opportunity

For United States: WM is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

For Canada: WM is committed to the principle of equal employment for all applicants and employees, without discrimination on the basis of all grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please notify us if you require accommodation.

This is a remote position but will require 40% travel in an assigned area.

Candidate must live near a major airport in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho.

I. Job Summary
The Area Automation Manager plays a critical role in overseeing and managing the automation systems and technologies within the Pacific Northwest. This role typically involves a combination of technical expertise, management skills, and strategic planning to ensure the effective operation and optimization of automated processes. This role will work with WM's Automation Group to help lead automation activities for all lines of businesses within the company and ensure the automation/controls engineering activities meet the company's objectives. They will be responsible for managing automation systems and assist control system troubleshooting, process modifications, system designs, specifications, and commissioning. This person will be the local liaison between the Automation Group and site contacts, being the first point of contact for any automation issues that may arise. The role includes developing and improving new and existing equipment used in landfills, wastewater treatment plants, bio-gas extraction systems, renewable energy plants, recycling technology, telematics, fleet and organics processing. Individuals must be able to work in a fast past environment and resolve issues on their own. Industrial control wiring, industrial equipment, PLC/HMI programming, and process design knowledge is necessary.

II. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This position will be responsible to provide Subject Matter Expert (SME) level day-to-day support of all automated and electro-mechanical process control systems used in landfills, wastewater, bio-gas extraction, renewable energy, recycling technology, collections, fleet, telematics and organics processing.
The position will be integral in providing process optimization expertise and implementation of corporate site automation standard procedures at the Area level
Lead and coordinate efforts to secure all automation technologies used in waste processing and logistics by overseeing policy compliance, ensuring secure integration of new systems, managing incident responses, and promoting cybersecurity awareness and training among field personnel.
Oversee the lifecycle management of all operational technology (OT) assets, including SCADA and automation equipment, ensuring accurate inventory, maintenance planning, system reliability, and alignment with cybersecurity and compliance standards across all facilities in the area. Automation standard procedures at the Area level.
Implement a roadmap for OT maturity, including technology assessments, gap analysis, and improvement plans.
Drive the adoption of emerging OT technologies to enhance operational efficiency and reliability.
This position will be responsible to provide Subject Matter Expert (SME) level day-to-day support of all automated and electro-mechanical process control systems used in landfills, wastewater, bio-gas extraction, renewable energy, recycling technology, collections, fleet, telematics and organics processing.
Collaborate with IT and OT teams to ensure alignment and effective integration of systems.
Develop and execute a comprehensive automation strategy aligned with business objectives.
This position will support the highly complex automated systems and equipment installed in new and existing facilities.
Must provide automation site support interface with operations personnel, compliance, information systems, engineering, and maintenance. Key to this is the thorough documentation of all data collected and stored in shared work environments.
Must exhibit strong customer communication skills and have technical knowledge of automated and electromechanical process control systems and equipment.
Training of the local operators and managers on the proper operation of their respective equipment and SCADA system(s)
Oversee the selection, onboarding, and management of external contractors supporting automation initiatives.
Ensure contractors align with project goals, deliver quality work, and adhere to company standards and timelines.
Monitor contractor performance, provide feedback, and address any performance issues.
Collaborate closely with operations teams to identify automation opportunities, assess feasibility, and prioritize projects.
Ensure seamless integration of automation solutions into existing operational workflows.
Provide ongoing support and training to operations teams on automation tools and processes.
Conduct cost-benefit analysis and ROI assessments for automation projects.
Travel up to 40% is required.

A. Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED (accredited) and 4 years of relevant work experience with industrial electrical controls, automation, control systems, instrumentation, and process design required.
• 4 years relevant work experience with industrial electrical controls, automation, control systems, instrumentation, and process design in addition to education requirements. Required
• Must live and work in US.

B. Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree (accredited) in relevant discipline or in lieu of degree Preferred or
ISA Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST) Preferred or
Certified Automation Professional (CAP) Preferred
Candidate must live near a major airport in Oregon, Washington, or Idaho.


IV. Physical Requirements

Listed below are key points regarding physical demands, physical and occupational risks of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
Frequent sitting, talking, hearing, repetitive motions, and eye/hand/foot coordination.
Rarely involves standing, walking, lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling.

Pay: The expected salary range for this position is $118,000 - $148,000. The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate's relevant experience, education, training, certifications, qualifications, and work location.

Benefits
At Waste Management, each eligible employee receives a competitive total compensation package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and Short-Term Disability. As well as a Stock Purchase Plan, Company match on 401K, and more! Our employees also receive Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Personal Days. Please note that benefits may vary by site.

PLEASE SUBMIT A CURRENT RESUME TO RECIEVE FURTHER CONSIDERATION FOR THIS POSITION.
If this sounds like the opportunity that you have been looking for, please click "Apply."

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About Us

ABOUT WM

WM (WM.com) is North America's leading provider of comprehensive environmental solutions. Previously known as Waste Management and based in Houston, Texas, WM is driven by commitments to put people first and achieve success with integrity. The company, through its subsidiaries, provides collection, recycling and disposal services to millions of residential, commercial, industrial, medical and municipal customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. With innovative infrastructure and capabilities in recycling, organics and renewable energy, WM provides environmental solutions to and collaborates with its customers in helping them pursue their sustainability goals. WM has the largest disposal network and collection fleet in North America, is the largest recycler of post-consumer materials and is a leader in beneficial use of landfill gas, with a growing network of renewable natural gas plants and the most landfill gas-to-electricity plants in North America. WM's fleet includes more than 12,000 natural gas trucks - the largest heavy-duty natural gas truck fleet in the industry in North America. Healthcare Solutions provides collection and disposal services of regulated medical waste, as well as secure information destruction services, in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. To learn more about WM and the company's sustainability progress and solutions, visit Sustainability.WM.com.


If this position is to be performed in Los Angeles County, California, please read carefully the information contained here in LA County Addendum.


Equal Employment Opportunity


For United States: WM is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.


For Canada: WM is committed to the principle of equal employment for all applicants and employees, without discrimination on the basis of all grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please notify us if you require accommodation.


Real ID


In order to travel by air or access federal property, federal law requires individuals have a REAL ID or an acceptable alternative. This position may require the successful candidate to travel by air for business reasons, or service federal property. Accordingly, successful candidates must have, or be willing to obtain, a REAL ID, or TSA approved alternative.

About the Team

WM Leaders are a critical part of our People First culture. The proud, caring and resilient members of the WM family are the foundation for our success. We commit to taking care of each other, our customers, our communities and the environment. We are Leaders in Sustainability & Environmental Solutions.

WM is more than just managing waste. We're industry leaders helping people and organizations achieve their sustainability goals, and We Are Always Working for a Sustainable Tomorrow.