At Air Products, our purpose is to bring people together to reimagine what's possible, collaborate and innovate solutions to the world's most significant energy and environmental sustainability challenges. Grow with us as we embark on building tomorrow together by being the safest, most diverse and most profitable industrial gas company in the world.

Reimagine What's Possible

The Operations Excellence Control Platform Manager is responsible for developing and supporting strategic requirements for automation platforms to support Air Products global fleet of industrial gases facilities. This position is located at our Corporate Headquarters in Allentown, PA or office in Hersham, UK and will report into the Operational Excellence team and will provide needed support for both Air Products fully Owned and Operated plants as well as consultancy to Joint Venture operating plants.

As a member of the Operational Excellence HQ team, the Control Platform Manager will be responsible for providing strategic process automation support and vendor governance for the Air Products operating fleet. The goal is to improve safety, security, reliability, and optimized life cycle cost of ownership for the global operating fleet. The facilities range across multiple technologies such as Air Separation (ASU), traditional and low carbon intensity Hydrogen and CO production (Grey, Blue and Green HYCO), Gasification, Syngas Purification and Helium. The scope includes both traditional industrial gases merchant business automation such as trailer loading and supply chain interfaces, and pipeline product supply. The scope extends to innovative business solutions for Operating and Customer Service Centers infrastructure and low carbon hydrogen infrastructure such as ship loading and CO2 sequestration.

The position emphasizes teamwork, communications, change management and technical skills with a customer service focus.

Safety:

• Maintain a safe work environment and proper documentation required for safety related activities.

• Be a champion of Air Products safety culture.

Technical and Operations:

• Primary liaison from Air Products operations for strategic discussions with major automation suppliers and representing Operations on formal vendor Alliance teams. Consolidate and represent the regional operations teams' input and requirements in prioritizing vendor feedback, and Alliance funding and business support activities.

• Identify critical software version, hardware release and obsolescence, and PC/Server compatibility checkpoints from automation vendor roadmaps. Highlight business critical roadmap results (e.g. end of sale checkpoints, version compatibility requirements, new component release dates) to regional operations teams so transition plans are synced with the key vendor dates. Track progress amongst the regional operations controls teams in meeting these dates and be a liaison on technical challenges.

• In conjunction with Digital Technology and Operations cyber security teams develop obsolescence replacement criteria for automation platforms. Socialize the replacement criteria with operations controls teams, senior operations, and business management. Understand and help resolve constraints to meet the obsolescence criteria.

• Work with regional operations automation teams to develop vendor initiated and cybersecurity required obsolescence replacement plans. Support regional team deployment through vendor liaison, best practice sharing between regional teams. Provide governance on project progress and report on residual risk reduction status to senior operations leadership.

• Work with OpEx functional subject matter experts to enable alignment of automation strategies to electrical, machinery and other packaged equipment supply. Collaborate closely with OpEx Advanced Controls and Data management Leads to ensure consistent strategies on advanced control and optimization, process data management infrastructure and business application implementation.

• Develop operations requirements for new engineering business development and projects to enable vendor support for all components of the selected automation platforms until the first major plant turnarounds.

• Develop fleet reliability performance measurement plans for both individual component reliability and overall system availability. Utilize Air Products incident reporting and external equipment failure databases along with supplier technical support databases to develop appropriate metrics/performance criteria. Provide vendor specific reliability feedback to Engineering, Technology and Procurement functions to ensure informed decision making..

• Provide operations automation feedback on "as-built" DCS architectures into RAM calculations for new plants.

• Manage feedback on the "cost of ownership" to include direct support contract costs and lifecycle upgrade costs. Provide input to Procurement teams on operations support contracts and feedback on support requirements.

• As third level support after plant and regional operations teams, manage business critical vendor escalation processes e.g. DCS induced product supply interruptions and mitigation plans. Manage business impacts from repeat component failure and recommend improvement plans for regional operations teams. Socialize vendor failure or notifications. Act as the communication liaison to business and operations leadership.

• Represent Operations requirements and feedback into both vendor and internal Innovation work processes. Consolidate and represent the regional operations teams' perspectives and requirements in prioritizing development activities. Support socialization of innovation activities into regional teams and consolidate recommendations on prototype or initial deployment sites.

• B.S. in Chemical, Mechanical, Controls or Industrial Engineering

• 5-15 years of implementing and managing automation systems in an engineering or operations environment.

• In depth technical knowledge of at least one major automation platform including hardware, software and logic configuration, safety system and safety instrumented function design and implementation, HMI networks and OT network integration.

• Preferred vendors are Siemens, ABB or Honeywell.

• Fundamental understanding of Operational Technology networks, including modern cyber security requirements, tools and work processes.

• Candidates should possess demonstrated troubleshooting and critical thinking skills, an ability to think logically and systematically.

• Ability to work collaboratively with Digital Technology support engineers and analysts, process control engineers, production engineers, plant process engineers and plant management with a customer service focus.

• M.S. with specialization in chemical engineering, control engineering or equivalent discipline

• Understanding of hydrogen or syngas production and purification, or Air Separation Unit plant design and operation.

• Understanding of implementing automation strategies for low carbon intensity hydrogen process technologies such as electrolysis, CO2 sequestration and interfaces to renewable power electrical grids.

• Understanding of Digital Technology network and server virtualization best practices, along with an understanding or both cloud and on-prem deployment

• Ability to simplify detailed or complex automation system technology issues for business and senior leadership discussions.

Air Products proudly values the skills, dedication, and leadership that veterans bring to the table. As a veteran-friendly organization, we actively encourage and welcome veterans to apply for various roles within our company. We recognize the unique strengths and experiences that veterans contribute, and we foster a workplace that honors your service while providing a platform for professional growth.

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We are the world's largest hydrogen producer with over 80 years of industrial gas experience. We are hydrogen and industrial gas experts delivering safe, end-to-end solutions, investing in real, clean energy projects at scale, and driving the industry forward to generate a cleaner future.

At Air Products, we work in an environment where we put safety first, diversity is essential, inclusion is our culture, and each person knows they belong and matter. To learn more, visitAbout Air Products.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including paid holidays and vacation, affordable medical, dental, life insurance and retirement plans. You will be eligible for benefits and also be 100% vested in your retirement benefits on your first day of employment.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (U.S.).You will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, citizenship, gender, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or veteran status.

Air Products is committed to working with and providing a reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please e-mail us at talent@airproducts.com. General application status inquiries are not answered by this mailbox rather you'll receive an e-mail directly from our Career Center and/or the Talent Acquisition Specialist.