Automation Engineering Manager
Scotts Miracle-Gro
- Location
- Ohio - Field
- Work model
- On-Site
- Level
- Mid
- Posted
- Sep 18, 2026
Skills
About this role
Here at ScottsMiracle-Gro there is no such thing as a typical day. Our culture is constantly energized by new and exciting growth opportunities and at a rapid pace. Below are details on an open job. If the role interests you and you would like to be considered we encourage you to apply! We are looking for an Automation Engineering Manager who will join our Supply Chain Engineering team remotely. This position can be based remotely anywhere in North America. This is a corporate-level, high visibility engineering role responsible for identifying, evaluating and executing automation/controls projects. We are looking for someone with a strong automation/controls engineering background who wants to lead others by establishing standards and ensuring they are followed. This role will not have the time to write code. This role may have up to 50% travel required during peak times and should average 35%. The incumbent will perform a combination of Work from Home and travel to Scotts Miracle-Gro manufacturing sites. There are approximately 50 sites across the US and Canada. The Automation Engineering Manager is responsible for building the strategy, identifying opportunities to improve production/quality/safety, communicating the vision and leading the implementation of advanced automation within Scotts. They will be the subject matter expert for automation and work with stakeholders across the organization to understand the needs of initiatives that involve automation and align to an optimal solution based on time to implement, fit, and cost. This role will be an integral, high visibility position within the Global Supply Chain function helping to propel Scotts Miracle-Gro into the future. The role currently has one direct report, the corporate operational technology manager. Being successful in this role requires experience and understanding of operational technology within the disciplines of cybersecurity, integration of IT and OT, and operational technology as it relates to controls systems and advanced automation. The candidate will also need the ability to develop external resources, such as contractors and machine OEMs, to become part of their team. Having established contacts that can be utilized in this area will greatly aid in achieving success in this role. In this role you will: -The most important qualification for this role is the skill to walk the floor at Scotts’ manufacturing sites, observe the work, talk to operators, supervisors and operations leaders and arrive at opportunities for automating processes. Then collect data regarding production, demand, capacity, labor and other costs along with potential cost savings and cost to automate in order to build a business case to proceed. -Be responsible for building the strategy, identifying opportunity, communicating the vision and leading the implementation of automation within Scotts. -Lead multiple paths of automation: Planning, setting goals and executing for both individual projects and the wider strategy and roadmap for automation. -Communicate the vision of automation to internal and external stakeholders across all levels of the organization. Create and maintain an automation roadmap aligned with overall Automation and Supply Chain strategies. Report regularly on current and planned project statuses to key stakeholders and senior leadership. -Identify, lead, and advocate for automation opportunities. This involves identifying needs, scoping projects, building business cases and leading projects to completion to deliver solutions. -Manage multiple simultaneous projects from business case development through successful startup by developing contractors, vendors, and internal resources. Partner with stakeholders to define requirements, establish parameters, and ensure high-quality delivery. Collaborate across cross-functional teams to drive project success. -Develop standards for automation to aid in all aspects of automation. -Collaborate with other parts of the