The Head of Controls & Automation is fully accountable for the leadership, governance, delivery performance, and continuous development of the Automation and Controls function.
This role owns the controls and automation strategy, ensuring solutions are technically robust, scalable, and compliant with Food & Pharma regulations, and delivered on time and on budget across all projects.
The role combines deep technical authority, people leadership, and operational delivery accountability, acting as the final escalation point for software, controls, robotics, and compliance.
This person must have strong internal and external communication skills and demonstrated evidence of internal and external stakeholder management.
Key Responsibilities Leadership, People & Capability Development Lead, mentor, and develop the Controls & Automation teams.
Build and manage a sustainable resourcing model (permanent staff and contractors).
Define competency frameworks, training plans, and career pathways for: Automation Engineers HMI / SCADA Developers Act as the technical authority and escalation point for complex automation challenges.
Drive a culture of engineering excellence, compliance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Strong and effective communication skills, can work with clients as single point of contact.
Strategy, Technology & Platform Direction Define and own the Controls & Automation Strategy aligned to company objectives and market needs.
Standardise platforms and approaches where appropriate (PLCs, robotics, motion, safety, vision).
Drive modularisation, reuse, and software productisation within a bespoke machinery environment.
Ensure solutions are: Scalable Maintainable Cybersecure Supportable over the equipment lifecycle Assess and approve new technologies, development tools, and automation platforms.
Engineering Governance, Standards & Architecture Establish and maintain engineering governance, standards, and best practices.
Own and govern Software Design Specification (SDS) and Hardware Design Specification (HDS) standards.
Define, own, and enforce the software architecture framework across all projects.
Ensure consistency in: PLC program structure Motion and robotics control HMI standards Interface definitions and data handling Drive modular, testable, and reusable software design.
Ensure robust version control, change management, and release processes.
Act as final authority on architectural decisions and deviations.
Compliance, Validation & Regulatory Readiness Own and govern 21 CFR Part 11 compliance for applicable automation systems.
Ensure software solutions support: Audit trails Electronic records and electronic signatures Role-based access control Data integrity in line with ALCOA+ principles Define compliant software architectures and development practices.
Ensure alignment with GAMP 5 and pharmaceutical validation methodologies.
Support customers during FAT, SAT, audits, and regulatory inspections.
Design Control, Documentation & Traceability Ensure all projects: Produce high-quality, auditable SDS/HDS documentation Maintain full traceability to URS, FS, and risk assessments Align with internal governance and customer expectations Review and approve SDS/HDS documents for architectural integrity, compliance, and completeness.
Ensure design intent is fully reflected in implementation and testing.
Planning, Resourcing & Delivery Management Own planning and scheduling for: Software development Controls integration Robotics and motion commissioning (off-site and on-site) Integrate internal teams and external contractors into a single delivery plan.
Ensure plans align with: Project milestones FAT / SAT commitments Customer delivery dates Proactively manage capacity, risks, and inter-project dependencies.
Financial Ownership & Commercial Control Full budget ownership for the Controls & Automation function.
Manage and control: Internal labour costs Contract engineering spend Software tools, licences, and infrastructure Travel and commissioning costs Track actual vs forecast performance and report variances.
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reuse, and margin.
Support bids and proposals with accurate estimates and delivery strategies.
Improve estimating accuracy through lessons learned and data capture.
Execution Control, Risk & Change Management Ensure software development and integration milestones are achieved as planned.
Implement strong progress tracking, testing, and pre-FAT readiness controls.
Proactively resolve technical and resourcing risks.
Control engineering hours and manage scope creep.
Ensure all changes are formally assessed, costed, and approved.
Maintain transparency on forecast vs actual effort.
Cross-Functional Integration & Commissioning Ensure controls, robotics, and software integration activities meet agreed schedules.
Coordinate closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Project Management, and Operations teams.
Support efficient FAT and SAT execution.
Control automation engineering effort and external spend.
Drive efficiency through standardisation and architectural discipline.
Essential Requirements Senior management experience in controls and automation for bespoke machinery Strong technical background in: PLCs, motion control, robotics, safety systems HMI / SCADA development Proven experience delivering projects in Food and/or Pharmaceutical environments Strong understanding of: 21 CFR Part 11 GAMP 5 Validation lifecycle Experience managing multi-site teams and external contractors Strong commercial and delivery focus Preferred Requirements Experience with high-speed packaging, cartoning, or robotic handling Exposure to vision systems, serialization, and data integration Chartered Engineer or equivalent professional recognition