Director, Manufacturing Digital Modernization - Decatur, IL

Job Description

Director, Manufacturing Digital Modernization  - Decatur, IL

Position Summary
The Director, Manufacturing Digital Modernization (Program Aurora), leads the strategy, governance, and execution of ADM’s global process controls modernization program.  This role provides enterprise-level leadership to align cross-regional teams, resources, and priorities with business objectives, ensuring disciplined execution, strong governance, and measurable value realization.
As a senior leader within ADM Operations, the Director advances modernization to reduce platform obsolescence, enhance safety and reliability, and standardize process control systems. The role partners closely with Operations, Functional Technology Centers, and executive leadership to ensure modernization initiatives are fully aligned with business and digital transformation outcomes.

Role Scope & Leadership

• Own the global modernization program, including strategy, roadmap, execution model, and value realization, while defining and leading the enterprise narrative for digital modernization across ADM
• Provide direct leadership for North American execution and matrix leadership across international regions, ensuring consistent alignment with global program objectives, governance frameworks, and process controls and automation standards
• Drive enterprise-wide standardization, ensuring alignment with ADM engineering, digital, and EHS frameworks to enable consistent, scalable execution
• Serve as the primary interface to senior and executive leadership, clearly communicating program performance, risks, and value delivery

• Define and execute the multi-year modernization strategy aligned with ADM Operations and Digital Transformation objectives
• Establish and lead program governance frameworks, including initiative intake, prioritization, stage gates, risk management, and benefits tracking
• Drive standardization of automation platforms, system architecture, design practices, and implementation methodologies across sites
• Strengthen ADM’s modernization capability through repeatable delivery models, best practices, and knowledge transfer to operations, ensuring seamless transition of assets into sustainable results management

• Accountable for the planning, prioritization, and delivery of modernization CAPEX across the global portfolio
• Own program performance and ensure delivery of targeted outcomes across safety, reliability, ROI, and standardization, including schedule, cost, and benefits realization
• Serve as global governance authority and gate approver (FEL and Aurora), ensuring disciplined, consistent investment decisions aligned with enterprise criteria
• Drive cross-regional execution alignment through proactive risk management, issue resolution, and management of key interdependencies
• Provide strategic leadership in governance and project forums, removing barriers and guiding critical decisions
• Champion adoption, change management, and a high-performance culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement across global teams

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a high-performing global modernization organization, including North American execution teams, regional modernization leaders, and process controls and automation specialists
• Provide clear direction, priorities, and performance expectations, enabling teams to deliver against program objectives while maintaining alignment with global standards and governance frameworks
• Build organizational capability and depth, coaching and developing leaders and technical experts to strengthen ADM’s long-term modernization and automation capabilities
• Establish a scalable operating model, balancing centralized strategy and governance with empowered regional execution
• Drive strong cross-functional collaboration across Operations, Engineering, Digital, EHS, and Business Units to ensure integrated and effective delivery
• Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture grounded in accountability, transparency, continuous improvement, and safety

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline, Process Automation, or a related field; MBA preferred or equivalent industry experience.
• 7+ years of experience delivering large-scale engineering, automation, or operations transformation initiatives in industrial environments.
• 7+ years of experience leading cross-functional Operations teams.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale programs across multiple regions and business units.
• Demonstrated abilit