About the role

Southco is looking for an Automation Project Leader to join our Operational Excellence team. Based in Concordville, PA or Honeoye Falls, NY, this role leads Southco's global portfolio of automation and manufacturing equipment projects, managing 3–5 capital equipment and automation initiatives simultaneously across our Americas and European regions. You'll own the full project lifecycle — from scoping and supplier sourcing through budget control, regulatory compliance, and installation/commissioning — for equipment sourced both internationally and domestically, with a strong emphasis on sourcing from China-based suppliers. This is an individual contributor role reporting to the Manager, Manufacturing Development, with approximately 20% international travel. 

What you will be doing

• Leading and managing 3–5 concurrent global automation and manufacturing equipment projects, from scope definition through installation and start-up, ensuring each meets technical, cost, and schedule requirements
• Developing and maintaining project scopes, budgets, and schedules, tracking performance against targets and reporting variances to plant and regional leadership
• Sourcing, evaluating, and managing automation equipment suppliers — including international suppliers based in China and other low-cost regions — negotiating scope, cost, and quality
• Ensuring automation and controls equipment meets applicable regional regulatory and safety standards (UL/NFPA 79, CE Machinery Directive, UKCA, NOM, NR-12/INMETRO) prior to shipment, installation, and start-up
• Coordinating cross-functionally with plant operations, engineering, and Regional Operations Directors across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific to align project priorities, resource needs, and installation readiness
• Communicating project status, risks, and roadmap through structured reporting, escalating issues and proposing mitigation plans as needed
• Traveling internationally (~20% of the time) to supplier facilities and manufacturing plants to lead factory acceptance testing, installation oversight, and equipment commissioning

How you will be making an impact

Your work will directly shape Southco's manufacturing footprint and global competitiveness. With an active capital project portfolio representing $500K–$3M in combined spend, you'll be entrusted with critical decisions that affect production capability, quality, and cost across our plants in the US, Mexico, Brazil, Poland, and the UK. By sourcing and qualifying the right suppliers — particularly across Asia — and ensuring every piece of equipment meets rigorous regional safety standards before it goes live, you'll help Southco modernize its manufacturing operations while protecting the people who work in our plants every day. Your ability to juggle multiple concurrent projects and keep cross-functional stakeholders aligned will be a driving force behind Southco's continued operational excellence.

About you

You're a hands-on project leader who thrives on complexity and doesn't need to be told twice. You bring:

• A bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and experience (required); PMP certification or equivalent formal project management training is a plus
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing/automation engineering, controls, or capital project management, with a demonstrated track record managing multiple concurrent capital equipment projects from concept through installation and start-up
• Experience sourcing, qualifying, and managing international equipment suppliers, particularly in Asia/China, is a strong plus
• Working knowledge of automation/machine safety compliance frameworks such as UL/NFPA 79, CE Machinery Directive, UKCA, NOM, and NR-12/INMETRO
• Proficiency with project management, ERP, and CAD/PLM tools (e.g., MS Project, SAP, NX, SolidWorks) is preferred, along with a strong working knowledge of PLCs, HMIs, and industrial controls
• Excellent cross-cultural communication skills and the ability to work effectively with global suppliers and regional plant teams across time zones
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally approximately 20% of the time, including to China and other supplier/plant locations

You set priorities instinctively, balancing several fast-moving projects at once, and you build strong working relationships across functions and geographies — even without formal authority over the teams you're coordinating.

How will we reward you

Southco offers a competitive compensation and benefits package along with the opportunity to make a visible, global impact on how we manufacture and equip our plants. As part of this role you can expect:

• Competitive base pay & commission
• Generous time off – starting at 3 weeks of annualized PTO (first year is prorated based on start date), 9 company holidays plus 2 floating holidays 
• 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan – Company makes automatic 2% contribution of eligible pay plus matching contributions of 50% up to the first 6% of eligible pay you contribute.  
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan valued at approximately 4-6% of eligible earnings which includes dividend payments after 3 year vesting period 
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) beginning first day of employment; company funds a portion of HSA for high deductible health plans 
• Company paid Life & Disability Insurance including: Short term, Long Term, and Life 
• Great Tuition Reimbursement program to support undergraduate or graduate programs available to all employees 
• Opportunities for professional development, including support for certifications like PMP
• Global exposure — the chance to work with international suppliers and cross-functional teams across the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific
• A collaborative, exempt-level role with real ownership over a multi-million-dollar project portfolio