Director Manufacturing Digital Transformation - Decatur, IL

Archer Daniels Midland • Decatur, IL

1d

About The Position

Director Manufacturing Digital Transformation - Decatur, IL Position Summary ADM is seeking an innovative and strategic Director of Manufacturing Digital Transformation to lead the strategy, planning, and implementation of digital transformation across its global manufacturing footprint. Partnering with Global Operations functional leaders, the Director will develop and deliver a cohesive digital transformation roadmap aligned with ADM’s 3–5 year Global Operations objectives. This role also serves as the primary bridge to the ADM Enterprise digital roadmap, collaborating closely with GT/IT, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure alignment and advancement of digital priorities. Director will lead efforts to design, deploy, and scale digital capabilities that improve operational reliability, efficiency, visibility, and Frontline enablement. This includes driving foundational architecture, defining technology stacks, implementing the data backbone, and delivering ready-to-scale capabilities and solutions across ADM’s global manufacturing network. The role is also accountable for strong governance, change leadership, standardization, and digital adoption—ensuring long-term sustainment, measurable value, and frontline engagement. A key responsibility is communicating and marketing digital capabilities across ADM leadership to surface value opportunities, gain alignment, and spark cross-functional innovation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Automation, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing leadership, with 5+ years in digital transformation or Industry 4.0 leadership.
• Strong communication, influence, and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to articulate value, align leaders, and negotiate priorities across a global organization.
• Proven experience in multi-site adoption of Data, Analytics & Connected Worker technology.
• Strong understanding of OT/IT convergence, data architecture, industrial automation, and smart factory systems and hands-on experience with AI/ML, digital twins, or cloud/edge architectures.
• Strong skills and performance in building organizational structure and talent, driving execution ownership, executive presence, and stakeholder excellence.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred: Master’s degree in Business, Engineering, Data Science, or Technology.
• Preferred: food processing or chemical processing.
• Preferred Certifications: Lean Six Sigma, PMP, Prosci, Smart Manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Digital Strategy & Roadmap In collaboration with GT/IT and Global Operations Functional Leads, develop and own the digital transformation roadmap aligned with Global Operations’ 3–5 year objectives.
• Build a strategy and organization capable of delivering foundational and transformational initiatives, including evaluating build‑vs‑buy and internal‑vs‑contracted delivery models.
• Identify and prioritize high‑value digital use cases across enabling technologies such as AI, automation, IoT sensors, cloud computing, digital twins, predictive analytics, and machine vision.
• Benchmark emerging technologies and industry best practices.
• Process Governance & Standardization Define and maintain enterprise digital process standards, data models, workflows, and KPIs.
• Establish governance frameworks for technology adoption, pilot evaluation, scalability, and ownership (enterprise vs. site).
• Ensure harmonization and consistency across sites through audits, standards enforcement, and continuous improvement loops.
• Technology Stack, Data Backbone & Systems Integration Work with GT/IT and Functional Leads to define and deploy the technology stacks and data backbone required for secure, real-time operational visibility.
• Oversee integration of OT/IT systems in areas that may include: Safety, Environmental, Quality, Manufacturing, Asset Reliability, Engineering, Learning and Development, and Finance.
• Deploy enabling technologies such as automation, AI/ML, IoT sensors, cloud computing, digital twins, predictive analytics, and machine vision.
• Program Leadership & Execution Lead cross-functional teams to design, pilot, and deliver ready-to-scale digital capabilities across multiple manufacturing plants.
• Manage a portfolio of digital initiatives with clear scope, timelines, budgets, KPIs, and benefits realization.
• Drive network-wide standardization of architectures, tools, and workflows.
• Align ADM leaders and negotiate priorities by clearly communicating the digital vision and value opportunities to ensure digital investments are well understood, supported and deliver enterprise‑wide impact.
• Operational Performance & Analytics Use digital tools to enhance OEE, quality, yield, throughput, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and asset reliability.
• Strengthen predictive maintenance capabilities using sensor data, condition monitoring, and analytics.
• Digitize and modernize workflows, replacing manual and paper-based processes.
• Connected Worker Enablement Deploy and standardize Connected Worker platforms including digital SOPs, mobile/wearable devices, guided workflows, skills-based task management, LLMs, generative AI, and intelligent assistants.
• Partner with HR, Operations, and Learning teams to upskill the workforce and modernize digital training programs.
• Change Leadership, Culture & Frontline Engagement Lead change management strategies that drive adoption, sustainment, and frontline engagement.
• Build digital acumen across operations through communication, training, and capability-building programs.
• Engage frontline stakeholders early to ensure solutions are practical, user-centered, and operationally effective.
• Champion and market digital successes to amplify momentum, awareness, and innovation across ADM’s operations.

Benefits

• In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including:
• Physical wellness – medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).
• Financial wellness – flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers’ compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.
• Mental and social wellness – Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).
• Additional benefits include:
• Paid time off including paid holidays.
• Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.
• Tuition assistance.
• Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director