Manufacturing Insights Expert

Position Title: Manufacturing Insights Expert
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Position Location: Oakbrook Terrace
Requisition ID: 35823
Overview:
McCain is undergoing a global transformation, leveraging advanced data analytics, AI, and digital tools to create a connected manufacturing ecosystem. This transformation aims to drive operational excellence across our 50+ global manufacturing sites, with a focus on energy reduction, asset reliability, and process improvements to support sustainable and efficient production.
This high-impact, high-visibility role requires expertise in analytics, industrial IoT, AI/ML, and automation/controls, with a focus on using data to drive decision-making and capital investments. The ideal candidate will act as a strategic thought leader and trusted advisor to senior leadership, shaping McCain's manufacturing strategy.
Role:
This role drives the strategy, design, and implementation of manufacturing analytics across McCain's global sites, leveraging data-driven insights to enhance energy efficiency, asset reliability, and optimizing core manufacturing processes. The candidate will be a technical expert in industrial systems (e.g., PI, MES, SCADA, PLCs, AI/ML, cloud platforms), applying scientific principles and analytical solutions to improve efficiency, innovate processes, and support sustainability goals. They will collaborate with cross-functional teams, senior leadership, and global plant operations, using strong communication and strategic influence to align efforts with operational and scientific objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership & Innovation:

• Develop and guide a global manufacturing roadmap that integrates scientific insights, predictive tools, and automation to achieve energy reduction, asset reliability, and process improvements.
• Serve as a technical expert in manufacturing intelligence, leading initiatives rooted in science and analytics to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and prioritize sustainability.
• Advocate for predictive analytics and real-time decision-making tools, particularly for energy-intensive processes, drawing on scientific methodologies.
• Communicate business cases and ROI to senior leaders for initiatives targeting energy savings, reliability, and process optimization, grounded in data and scientific analysis.

Technical Expertise & Execution:

• Design manufacturing intelligence platforms by integrating industrial systems (PI, MES, SCADA, PLCs) with analytical tools and cloud-based solutions to address energy reduction (e.g., optimizing freezers), asset reliability (e.g., predictive maintenance), and other process improvements.
• Develop scalable frameworks to analyze OEE, quality, energy usage, and manufacturing unit operations leveraging principles from chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
• Apply advanced modeling techniques, including AI/ML where appropriate, for predictive analysis, anomaly detection, and root cause analysis to solve energy inefficiencies, equipment issues, and other process challenges.
• Support global implementation efforts, ensuring solutions are practical and adopted effectively across teams.

Global Manufacturing Optimization & Value Creation:

• Use scientific and analytical approaches to optimize production efficiency, minimize downtime, improve quality, reduce energy use, and enhance manufacturing processes across global plants.
• Implement monitoring and analytics solutions to support decisions like optimizing energy in freezing systems, predicting equipment performance, and refining freezing cycle efficiency, rooted in scientific understanding.
• Partner with supply chain, manufacturing, and technical teams to align analytics with operational goals, emphasizing energy and reliability.
• Pursue continuous improvement through the application of advanced technologies and scientific principles to meet energy, reliability, and process objectives.

Capability Development & Change Leadership:

• Lead training initiatives to build analytical and scientific fluency among manufacturing teams, focusing on energy, reliability, and other process enhancements.
• Support adoption of analytical tools and processes through effective communication and change leadership.

Qualifications & Experience:
Required:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Data Science, Computer Science, AI/ML, or a related field.
• 15+ years of experience in manufacturing analytics, digital transformation, and industrial automation, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role.
• Expertise in manufacturing data platforms (OSIsoft PI, MES, SCADA, PLCs, IoT, cloud analytics, AI/ML).
• Expertise in applying scientific principles (chemistry, physics, math) and advanced analytics to solve manufacturing challenges, particularly in energy reduction and freezing systems.
• Experience leading global projects and collaborating across functions, with a focus on energy efficiency, reliability, and process optimization.
• Proficiency in analytical tools and programming (e.g., Python, SQL, R, Power BI, Tableau) and a strong grasp of enterprise data frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to quantify business value and develop ROI-driven strategies using scientific and analytical methods.
• Deep understanding of OEE, quality control, energy management, and asset reliability in a global manufacturing context.
• Strong skills in organizational change, team collaboration, and stakeholder engagement.

Preferred:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, or a related field
• Certified Energy Manager (CEM) certification.
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, PMP, or expertise in Continuous Improvement/Lean methodologies, with applications in energy and reliability.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and analytical frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch) as tools to support scientific analysis.
• Knowledge of supply chain dynamics and their connection to manufacturing, especially in energy and freezing process optimization.
• Background in food manufacturing or CPG, with hands-on expertise in industrial freezing systems (e.g., blast freezers, spiral freezers).
• Familiarity with energy management systems and reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) principles.

#LI-McCain2025
Compensation Package : $111,700.00 - $149,000.00 USD annually + bonus eligibility
The above reflects the target compensation range for the position at the time of posting. Hiring compensation will be determined based on experience, skill set, education/training, and other organizational needs.
Benefits : At McCain, we're on a mission to create a winning culture that puts employee safety and wellbeing at the heart of what we do, every day. We understand and appreciate that each person's needs are unique and ensure our benefits & wellbeing programs reflect that. Employees are eligible for the following benefits: health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription drug), retirement savings benefits, and leave support including medical, family and bereavement. Wellbeing programs include vacation and holidays, company-supported volunteering time, and mental health resources. Coverages are aligned to country, provincial and state governing plans and can vary by work level, location and nature of the role. Additional benefit details available during the application process.
Your well-being matters to us, and we're here to provide you with the necessary resources to support you in being your best self at work - and at home.
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace. As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with the Global Privacy Policy
Job Family: Information Technology
Division: Global Digital Technology
Department: Manufacturing Insights
Location(s): US - United States of America : Illinois : Chicago
Company: McCain Foods USA, Inc.