Electrical & Automation Manager

From tree to table, POM Wonderful delivers a whole lot of healthy. Known for our iconic double-bubble bottle, we grow, harvest, package, and market fresh pomegranates, pomegranate arils, and a selection of delicious pomegranate-blended juices and teas. With over 9,000 acres in California’s Central Valley, POM Wonderful is committed to unleashing the antioxidant power of our handpicked pomegranates.  JOB SUMMARY: The Electrical & Controls Manager is responsible for leading plant electrical, controls, automation, and OT support activities to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient manufacturing operations. This role combines people leadership, hands-on troubleshooting, automation strategy, capital project execution, and continuous improvement ownership across processing, packaging, utilities, and facility support systems.  The manager leads a technical team while partnering closely with operations, maintenance, quality, IT/OT, engineering, and external integrators to improve equipment reliability, modernize legacy control systems, and deliver measurable gains in safety, quality, throughput, and OEE. Compensation - $110,000.00 - $140,000.00 . Final compensation will be dependent upon skills & experience. Lead, coach, develop, and manage the electrical and controls team through clear expectations, scheduling, training, performance management, and accountability for execution.   Own plant support for PLC, HMI, VFD, instrumentation, power distribution, safety circuits, and supervisory systems across Fresh, Arils & Beverage processes. Occasional regional travel as needed to support other facilities. Provide direct technical leadership for advanced troubleshooting of electrical, automation, networking, and controls-related failures using schematics, software tools, and field diagnostics.  Drive control system lifecycle management, including migration plans for obsolete PLC, HMI, network, and drive platforms.  Lead integration and startup of new equipment, as well as controls upgrades for existing lines, utility systems, and facility infrastructure.  Support plant electrical infrastructure and low-voltage control systems, including troubleshooting, design review, documentation updates, and expansion planning.  Support plant data and digital initiatives through historians, MES, SQL-connected systems, reporting tools, and machine-level integration projects.  Use CMMS data, downtime trends, and failure history to prioritize reliability actions and capital improvements. Provide on-call or escalated support for critical production issues, shutdowns, startups, and major project activities as required.  Ensure compliance with electrical safety requirements, arc flash expectations, LOTO practices, and machine safety standards; escalate material risks to plant leadership. Manage approved controls contractors, system integrators, and vendors to ensure work is executed safely, on schedule, within budget, and to plant standards.  PLC & Control Systems Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, CompactLogix, MicroLogix, and legacy SLC5 systems Siemens S7/TIA Portal platforms Exposure to B&R automation systems preferred Ability to troubleshoot, modify, and support PLC logic, I/O architecture, and integrated machine controls Industrial Networks & Communications Ethernet/IP Profinet DeviceNet ControlNet Remote I/O systems OPC communications preferred Understanding of managed industrial switches, routers, wireless infrastructure, and plant network architecture HMI / SCADA Systems Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus / FactoryTalk View ME & SE Siemens HMI platforms Wonderware / AVEVA platforms SCADA, Historian, MES, and data collection systems Knowledge of visualization, alarming, trending, and operational reporting systems Drives & Motion Control Allen-Bradley PowerFlex series drives SEW Eurodrive systems B&R motion and drive platforms Emerson and Yaskawa drives VFDs Servo systems Motion control applications Motor control centers (MCCs) Soft starters and motor protection systems Electrical & Instrumentation Electrical control panels Relay logic Safety circuits Instrumentation systems 24VAC / 24VDC / 4–20mA control systems Level Pressure Flow Temperature Position and distance measurement devices Software & Digital Systems SQL databases Historian systems MES platforms Data integration systems Exposure to: JSON APIs Web services Industrial data platforms Industry 4.0 technologies preferred Engineering & Design Tools Electrical schematics Panel layouts P&IDs Mechanical drawings AutoCAD AutoCAD Electrical Visio Electrical design documentation QUALIFICATIONS: Demonstrated leadership experience managing electrical, automation, controls, or reliability teams within a manufacturing environment. Strong ability to lead cross-functional initiatives involving Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, Safety, and external vendors or contractors. Proven experience managing multiple priorities including production support, capital projects, continuous improvement initiatives, and emergency plant support. Experience supporting high-speed manufacturing, packaging, or processing operations within food, beverage, CPG, or related industrial environments preferred. Strong understanding of reliability methodologies, root cause analysis, preventive maintenance, and continuous improvement principles. Working knowledge of electrical safety standards and safe work practices including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO), Arc Flash, and machine safety systems. Support capital planning, budgeting, and project justification activities related to controls, electrical infrastructure, reliability improvements, and automation modernization initiatives. Prior experience leading capital projects, equipment upgrades, or plant modernization initiatives preferred. Ability to foster a collaborative team environment built on communication, accountability, engagement, and mutual respect. Str