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MES Solutions Manager

United States

fairlife, LLC is a Chicago-based nutrition company that creates great-tasting, nutrition-rich and dairy products to nourish consumers.

With nearly $3B in annual retail sales, fairlife’s portfolio of delicious, lactose-free, real dairy products includes: fairlife® ultra-filtered milk; Core Power® High Protein Shakes, a sports nutrition drink to support post-workout recovery; fairlife® nutrition plan™, a nutrition shake to support the journey to better health.

A wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola company, fairlife, LLC has been recognized by both Fast Company and Nielsen for its industry leading innovation.

To learn more about fairlife and its complete line of products, please visit fairlife.com.

job purpose:

The fairlife team is looking for an MES Solutions Manager with extensive background in designing, executing, and maintaining plant and manufacturing execution platforms and processes.  This critical role will help to drive and evolve our digital manufacturing capabilities and roadmap and act as the bridge between automation/engineering, plant operations, and technology teams.  Success will depend on MES technical skills and experience, the ability to analyze and understand important dairy filtration and bottling processes, building relationships with key stakeholders, and working with internal and external subject matter experts to deliver best in class MES solutions.  This position will report directly to the VP of IT.

responsibilities:

  • Lead the architecture, design, and solution development of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) tailored to a high-volume, automated dairy processing, bottling, and warehouse environment.
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive manufacturing systems (IT/OT) strategic roadmap aligned with business goals and key KPI’s, ensuring scalability, reliability, quality, and security.
  • Design, select, and implement MES solutions that integrate with existing systems, including ERP, Data & Analytics platforms, SCADA, HMI, and other automation systems across multiple plants with a drive towards operational excellence & standardization.
  • Assess, evaluate, and document complex technical requirements defining optimal architectural, application, and integration solutions.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Plant leadership, OT, IT, and others as required) and ensure the MES system supports manufacturing needs, real-time data collection, and advanced analytics to drive operational improvements.
  • Develop and deploy MES capabilities, including but not limited to:
    • Manufacturing Yield and Loss Tracking: Monitoring efficiency and minimizing production waste.
    • Product Genealogy and Lot Tracking: Ensuring traceability of raw materials, intermediary components, and finished goods throughout the production life cycle.
    • First Fault Determination: Implementing fault detection and real-time problem-solving mechanisms.
    • Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) Metrics: Tracking equipment performance, availability, quality, and output.
    • Finite Scheduling: Optimizing production scheduling to meet demand forecasts and operational capacity.
  • Manage MES integrators, solution providers, and external consultants, including defining requirements, creating SOW’s, overseeing deployments, ensuring service levels, driving stakeholder engagement, and validating outcomes and deliverables
  • Define, develop, and manage necessary internal talent and resources needed to successfully drive execution and support of the MES roadmap
  • Lead and oversee IT/OT MES projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and meet expected operational outcomes.
  • Identify and support change management requirements including testing, training development, and deployment plans
  • Provide technical leadership in troubleshooting MES, SCADA, and connected industrial automation systems, ensuring rapid issue resolution and minimal downtime.

skills/qualifications required:

  • 8-10 years working with and implementing industry leading MES platforms with increasing levels of responsibility in an OT/IT career path
  • Experience solutioning, planning, and executing large, multi-plant MES deployments with both internal and external resources including platform providers, integrators, and consultants.
  • Experience in the development, deployment, integration, and operations of IT, OT, MES, SCADA and IoT / Industry 4.0 systems, applications, and technologies in a batch/process manufacturing environment.
  • Demonstrated experience with advanced automation technologies and smart manufacturing solutions such as Tetra TPM, Ignition, Krones, LineView, Kepware, etc.
  • Technically knowledgeable with MES to OT interfaces (e.g. DeltaV, Siemens PCS7, Siemens SIMATIC Batch, Rockwell PLCs/SCADA)
  • Ability to contextualize complex data flows and models to support digital manufacturing processes, analytics, and advanced Industry 4.0 use cases.
  • Solid understanding of technology implementation and deployment methodologies (software life cycle management) and demonstrated project management skills
  • Previous programming experience (C#, C++, python, VBA/VBScript, etc) in an industrial controls environment preferred
  • CPG manufacturing (bottling) strongly desired with dairy processing experience a plus
  • BS in Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent

position location: This position will be required to reside in a fairlife location. Our first preference is at our Coopersville, MI plant, followed by our other 2 plants in Goodyear, AZ and Webster, NY; Our Chicago, IL Headquarters is an option as well. If you are not in any of these locations and are interested in this position, relocation is required.

reports to: Brian Lawton

travel requirements:  20%

exempt/nonexempt: exempt

fairlife, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. All qualified applicants and employees will be given equal opportunity. Selection decisions are based on job-related factors.

In addition to its nondiscrimination commitment, the Company will also provide reasonable accommodation of qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the Company. If you have a disability and would like to request accommodation in order to apply for a position with us, please email careers@fairlife.com.

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