Perdue Foods has a goal of becoming the most trusted name in premium proteins by creating products for consumers and for retail and foodservice customers around the globe while changing the way animals are raised for food. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue.

Summary

As a Manufacturing IT Lead - BPR Digital Transformation, you will play a critical role in driving the technology solutions that power our manufacturing operations and support the future of smart manufacturing. In this strategic leadership position, you’ll partner across Operations, Operational Technology, and Enterprise IT to deliver reliable, secure, and scalable systems that enhance plant performance and support major business transformation initiatives. You’ll help drive standardization, system integration, and data driven decision making while leading efforts that improve efficiency, strengthen operational performance, and support long term business growth. This role offers the opportunity to influence enterprise-wide technology strategy, lead high impact initiatives, and make a lasting impact across our manufacturing network. This role is ideal for a forward-thinking technology leader who is passionate about modernizing manufacturing environments, driving innovation through technology, and collaborating across teams to deliver meaningful business results.

This position is located onsite at our corporate office in Salisbury, MD. Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates to support a smooth and successful transition. 

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a long‑term manufacturing IT strategy aligned with enterprise digital priorities.
• Lead cross‑functional alignment between plant operations, engineering, supply chain, and IT.
• Drive standardization of systems and processes across manufacturing sites.
• Establish governance for manufacturing technologies to ensure scalability and consistency.
• Support manufacturing workstreams within the Business Process Reengineering (BPR) program.
• Ensure alignment of plant systems with SAP S/4HANA and enterprise process models.
• Participate in defining future‑state manufacturing processes and capabilities.
• Balance enterprise standardization with site‑specific operational requirements.
• Lead the design, deployment, and support of manufacturing systems and automation solutions.
• Enable integration across SAP S/4HANA, MES, plant systems, and data platforms.
• Design scalable solutions that support multi‑site deployment.
• Ensure reliability, resiliency, and performance of plant IT systems.
• Ensure seamless integration between plant‑floor systems and enterprise platforms.
• Support modern integration approaches including APIs and middleware.
• Drive master data governance and data quality within manufacturing domains.
• Enable real‑time data flow to support operational decision‑making.
• Define and enable manufacturing data and analytics capabilities.
• Support delivery of operational metrics such as OEE, throughput, and quality.
• Partner with analytics teams to drive data‑driven insights and continuous improvement.
• Enable advanced capabilities such as predictive maintenance and performance optimization.
• Lead manufacturing IT readiness for system deployments and upgrades.
• Support cutover planning, execution, and post‑go‑live stabilization.
• Minimize disruption to plant operations during system changes.
• Ensure ongoing system maintenance, support, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with cybersecurity, regulatory, and safety requirements.
• Identify and mitigate risks associated with manufacturing systems and transformations.
• Participate in enterprise governance and architecture review processes.
• Drive adoption of new systems and processes across manufacturing locations.
• Partner with stakeholders to ensure business readiness and alignment.
• Support communication and training initiatives for plant personnel.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.
• 12+ years in manufacturing or operational technology environments, including experience with large‑scale transformation initiatives.
• Experience with SAP S/4HANA manufacturing modules (PP, QM, IM).
• Knowledge of MES and plant automation systems.
• Understanding of integration technologies (APIs, middleware).
• Familiarity with Industry 4.0 concepts and digital manufacturing technologies.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree in Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• Ability to work at a desk for long periods of time in an office environment.
• Position is primarily sedentary but may require occasional moving to other offices or buildings.
• May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another.
• May need to access files, supplies, and equipment outside of the immediate work area.
• Primary work environment is an office setting with open‑partitioned, cubicle environment.
• Frequent use of a computer workstation.
• Some lifting up to 50 pounds (moving equipment as needed).
• Some minor travel for trade shows and conferences.
• Some minor exposure to workshop conditions at ambient temperatures and weather.
• Some travel to manufacturing plant sites to support strategic projects.
• Exposure to wet and moist floors including metal and plastic grating surfaces.
• Exposure to temperatures ranging from 28 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with ambient and 100% humidity.
• Handling of products from 25 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Exposure to noise ranges from 50 db to 110 db.
• Exposure to chemicals found in poultry, food, and processing plants.
• Must wear and use protective and safety equipment as directed by the Company.

Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.