Operational Technology Manager

Operational Technology Manager (Hybrid- Salisbury, MD) (Direct Hire)

Optomi, in partnership with a leading agriculture and food processing organization, is seeking an experienced Operational Technology (OT) Leader to join their team! This is an exciting opportunity to build a brand-new OT function from the ground up. The selected candidate will kick off a major OT modernization initiative, starting with a key production facility. The role involves upgrading infrastructure, enhancing automation, and enabling data-driven operations. This position requires a strong technical leader who is confident working across operations, IT, and external vendors to drive transformation and long-term success.

What the right candidate will enjoy!

Direct Hire Opportunity

A ground-floor opportunity to shape and grow an entirely new OT team

Leading impactful modernization projects with executive visibility

Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams in a high-growth environment

Career advancement opportunities as the team scales

A dynamic and fast-paced setting with meaningful ownership from day one

Experience of the right candidate:

15+ years in IT/OT roles, with 10+ years specifically in operational technology

Proven experience in manufacturing or process-driven environments

Led OT modernization efforts from planning through execution

Strong knowledge of SCADA systems (Rockwell FactoryTalk and/or Ignition preferred)

Understanding of infrastructure and cybersecurity (e.g., network segmentation, firewalls, risk assessment)

Experience leveraging Operations Data to increase automation

Industry experience in agriculture or process manufacturing is helpful but not required

Responsibilities of the right candidate:

Develop and execute strategies to integrate and optimize IT/OT systems

Assess current infrastructure and lead end-to-end OT modernization projects

Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external vendors to implement technical solutions

Ensure system security, resilience, and alignment with business objectives

Contribute to planning and execution for subsequent project phases

Serve as the primary technical lead and advisor for all OT initiatives