OT Manager (Operational Technology)

Job Title - OT Manager

Location - Houston, TX or Clarksville, TN or Millington, TN

POSITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Primary responsibility: serve as the manager responsible for operational technology (OT) at manufacturing plants, including plant-floor network infrastructure, industrial PCs, production system connectivity, and technology required to support safe and reliable manufacturing operations.
• Partner with plant management, engineering, maintenance, EHS, global IT, and vendors to support OT systems such as PLCs, HMIs, SCADA/DCS, historians, MES, barcode/labeling, and production reporting systems.
• Develop and maintain OT standards, policies, lifecycle roadmaps, and procedures for manufacturing sites aligned with Client IT architecture, cybersecurity requirements, change management, and operational uptime needs.
• Manage OT cybersecurity practices, including asset inventory, network segmentation, secure remote access, user and privileged access management, backup and recovery, vulnerability remediation, incident response coordination, and monitoring.
• Coordinate OT change management for production environments, including risk reviews, testing, maintenance windows, backup and rollback plans, documentation, and communication with plant stakeholders.
• Lead troubleshooting and escalation of production technology issues, working with internal teams, plant personnel, managed service providers, OEMs, and other vendors to restore service and reduce recurrence.
• Maintain documentation for OT assets, network diagrams, vendor contacts, licenses, spares, support procedures, disaster recovery, and lifecycle plans for plant technologies.
• Support manufacturing technology projects, integrations, commissioning, upgrades, and continuous improvement initiatives involving OT and IT systems.
• Contribute to the development of Client operational technology and information technology strategies and policies, with priority on manufacturing plant OT needs.
• Develop and apply efficient and cost-effective procedures for the operation and maintenance of OT systems, computer applications, and supporting IT infrastructure.
• Responsible for installing, configuring, and supporting local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), Internet systems, manufacturing plant networks, and components of network systems. Diagnose issues relating to software, hardware, OT systems, IT systems, and networks; troubleshoot and replace faulty components when needed.
• Maintain computer and plant networks, hardware, software, OT assets, and related configurations. Monitor the performance of networks and systems and align network use and access with business, plant, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Ensure an appropriate level of integration between OT systems, computer applications, desktop and server-based applications, and communications networks.
• Perform routine maintenance, upgrades, audits, backups, and controls to ensure OT and IT information reliability, integrity, security, and recoverability.
• Inspects computer equipment and prepare computer for new users including creating new MS account/email id, install applications in the machine etc. Perform the creation of network logins and the assignment of file and directory rights on an as needed basis.
• Responsible for devising, configuring, and testing hardware, operating system software, networking, and OT/IT connectivity.
• Configuring and deploying computer workstations, monitors, laptops, routers, access points, modems, printers, mobile devices etc. Resolving printer issues. Respond to user inquiries concerning systems operation and diagnoses system hardware, software, and operator problems.
• Configure, administer, and maintain antivirus software or email applications
• Maintain the integrity of corporate and manufacturing plant networks by installing, upgrading, and maintaining network routers, switches, wireless, VPN, firewalls, and other devices at current operating system levels as provided by the manufacturer; work with vendors to diagnose and resolve network problems; use protocol analyzers and network monitoring software to detect network conditions requiring corrective action or performance tuning.
• Load specified software packages such as operating systems, third party applications into computers, provide access to such applications. Installs and debugs new hardware or software upgrades. Instruct users in use of equipment, software, and manuals.
• Maintain Help Desk Application by creating & tracking help desk issues and requests, assuring accurate documentation of problem resolution & historical data. Enters commands and observes system functions to verify correct system operation.
• Maintain and manage IP addresses, DHCP servers, Domain Name Services (DNS), Radius, and other servers and software systems in both physical and hypervisor server environments, including plant network requirements.
• O365 management (MS Teams, SHP, Exchange, Etc.), Microsoft environment.
• Landline Phone System/Vendor mgmt. & Order required IT Materials. Works with Procurement Services to prepare and evaluate bid specifications for the purchase and maintenance of network hardware, software, and services.
• Recommend or perform minor remedial actions to correct problems, including disconnecting, moving, and reconnecting desktops, laptops, printers, network equipment, and related plant technology as needed.
• Coordinate activities with help desk, network services, or other information systems groups. Helps to ensure the availability of computer resources by assisting with disaster prevention and recovery efforts caused by events like power outages, hardware failures, etc.
• Assists with the integration, maintenance, and problem resolution of network services and wiring infrastructures by working with other networking and telecommunications staff, user support entities, vendors, and end-users.
• Provide updates, status, and completion information to managers and/or users, via voice mail, e-mail, or in-person communication.
• Ensures accurate records are kept of network components, maintenance activities, network connections, accounts, and inventory.
• Programs network applications as needed such as web, network monitoring, bandwidth utilization, general data collection, reporting, and automated response to abnormal or undesirable network conditions.
• Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
• Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses.
• Possess knowledge of IT and OT cybersecurity, threat detection, mitigation, prevention, secure remote access, and incident response coordination.
• Support all manufacturing plants for OT and IT needs and technical issues.
• Experience working and coordinating with vendors, managed services providers, OEMs, and plant automation/service partners.
• Contributes to the overall success of Information Services by performing all other essential duties as assigned by management.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in technical, business, engineering, automation, information technology, or operational technology discipline with min 7 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience supporting manufacturing plant OT environments, plant-floor networks, industrial systems, automation technology, or production technology support.
• Working knowledge of OT systems such as PLCs, HMIs, SCADA/DCS, historians, MES, industrial PCs, industrial Ethernet, segmentation, firewalls, secure remote access, and OT cybersecurity practices.
• Ability to coordinate OT work safely in manufacturing environments, including change control, maintenance windows, backup and rollback planning, vendor coordination, and communication with plant stakeholders.
• Ability to create a shared understanding of strategic direction and project scope, provide clear task assignments, feedback, development planning, and modeling desired behaviors to team members.
• Ability to analyze data, events, or activities that the system must address and the development of a system design, which can cope with patterns in those events or activities.
• Possess the knowledge, skills and experience for exercising judgment. Able to use theory and conceptual models to analyze events and to develop a framework for ordering the future flow of work.
• Ability to bring together the appropriate people and information to make timely, effective decisions. Ability to solve problems while exhibiting judgment and a realistic understanding of the issues involved.
• Ability to use a systematic approach in solving problems through analysis and evaluation of alternatives. Ability to use logic, math and other problem solving/data analysis tools to identify solutions.
• Ability to achieve results, manage multiple tasks and objectives in parallel, and manage the technical and social issues associated with change.
• Ability to shape the course of action through persuasion and negotiation. Able to present information clearly and persuasively. Willing to challenge current paradigms. Willing to provide constructive feedback to colleagues at all organizational levels.
• Willingness to travel.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Valid Driver License

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essentials functions of this job.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to heat.
• The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; and fumes and/or airborne particles.
• The noise level in the workplace is generally loud.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Travel to manufacturing plants is required about 25% of the time.