Control & Automation Lead

Controls & Automation Lead

​Your Manager: Engineering Manager

Team: Bottling Engineering

Location: Kilmalid, Dumbarton - this role will be mostly site based with some flexibility for remote working around business needs

Contract Type: Permanent

Pernod Ricard is a worldwide leader in the spirits and champagne industry, blending traditional craftsmanship, state-of-the-art brand development, and global distribution technologies. Our prestigious portfolio of premium to luxury brands includes Absolut vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, and Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes. Our mission is to ensure the long-term growth of our brands with full respect for people and the environment, while empowering our employees around the world to be ambassadors of our purposeful, inclusive, and responsible culture of authentic conviviality 

Chivas Brothers is the Pernod Ricard business dedicated entirely to Scotch whisky. Our award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered single malt and blended Scotch whisky brands, including Chivas, Ballantine’s, Royal Salute, The Glenlivet and Aberlour, which are exported from Scotland to over 100 countries worldwide. As the world’s No.2 Scotch whisky producer with a 1,600-strong team across 26 sites, we are committed to upholding the heritage and pursuing the progress of Scotch and ensuring its sustainable future, as well as opening it up to new audiences across the globe. 

About the role

We are currently hiring a Controls & Automation Lead to be responsible for site-wide leadership for controls, automation, software systems and Operational Technology (OT) across a complex multi-factory bottling operation.

The role is responsible for the support and development of a technical team, ensuring the safe, reliable and compliant operation of manufacturing control systems, OT infrastructure, software platforms and digital manufacturing solutions and play a key role in technical governance, resource planning, execution of automation standards, system lifecycle management and capability development, the role acts as the technical lead for controls and automation.

What you will do

• Leadership of the Controls & Automation team.
• Site-wide automation and OT technical governance.
• Site control system standards, compliance, change control and lifecycle management.
• Manufacturing software and systems strategy.
• OT cybersecurity and resilience.
• Local capital project technical support and guidance.
• Automation and systems support to operational performance.
• Building effective partnerships with vendors, contractors and system integrators.
• Supporting capability development across automation, software, systems and digital manufacturing.

Your skills and background

• Degree in Electrical, Electronic, Automation, Control Systems, Software Engineering, Computer Science or equivalent technical discipline.
• Relevant experience in a manufacturing, FMCG, beverage, food, pharmaceutical or similarly complex operational environment.
• Proven experience leading controls, automation, software or OT technical teams.
• Strong experience with PLC, SCADA, HMI and industrial control systems.
• Understanding of manufacturing software platforms, databases, dashboards, servers, data communications and industrial networks.
• Experience delivering CAPEX and continuous improvement projects from concept through commissioning and handover.
• Experience managing contractors, OEMs, system integrators and software vendors.
• Strong understanding of OT cybersecurity, system lifecycle management and change control.
• Ability to prioritise technical resources across operational support and strategic projects.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and problem-solving capability.

Why join us?

Collective Spirit 

You will be part of a connected, international community shaped by iconic brands, a performance mindset, and a proud legacy, where collaboration, fun and ambition coexist. 

Craft your path

We empower you to own your career, innovate boldly and grow alongside our busin