IT Project Manager - MES / Digital Manufacturing

Avacone is a service provider delivering specialized services across the IT domain, with a strong focus on the pharmaceutical, financial, medical, and public sectors, as well as advanced laboratory environments. We operate in both regulated and non regulated environments, ensuring compliance, reliability, and operational excellence. Our headquarters are located in Switzerland, with an international presence through offices in Spain, Germany, Austria, Romania, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. Our expansion continues with operations currently underway in India, as well as established activities in the United States and Canada. Our success is driven by the combination of deep business expertise and a clear understanding of how technology shapes industries and business models. We work as a true partner to our customers, actively contributing to their vision and strategy and supporting sustainable, long term success.

• 15+ years of experience in IT project or program management within global manufacturing environments.
• Proven track record in end-to-end MES and/or ECS implementation.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production processes, and shop-floor requirements.
• Experience in digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0, machine connectivity, and IIoT.
• Strong project and program management capabilities, including governance, planning, risk management, and executive reporting.
• Solid experience in requirements engineering, business analysis, process mapping, and solution validation.
• Hands-on knowledge of integration readiness, UAT, cutover, go-live planning, and hypercare.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional factory, business, vendor, and infrastructure teams.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder-management, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Familiarity with relevant project-management, collaboration, requirements-management, and manufacturing IT tools.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in international, multicultural environments.

Nice to have:

• Degree in Information Technology, Engineering, Manufacturing, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Project or program management certification such as PMP, PRINCE2, or an equivalent qualification.
• Experience delivering multi-site MES rollouts and global template deployments.
• Understanding of integrations involving ERP, automation, SCADA, PLC, data platforms, and industrial infrastructure.
• Familiarity with Agile, waterfall, and hybrid delivery models.

• Lead end-to-end MES/ECS implementation and rollout projects across international manufacturing sites.
• Manage project scope, timelines, budgets, risks, dependencies, resources, and quality.
• Translate shop-floor processes and business needs into clear functional and technical requirements.
• Coordinate manufacturing, business, infrastructure, integration, cybersecurity, and vendor teams.
• Ensure integration readiness between MES/ECS, production equipment, IIoT solutions, and enterprise systems.
• Plan and manage testing activities, including UAT, defect resolution, and business acceptance.
• Develop cutover and go-live plans and coordinate post-launch hypercare.
• Establish effective project governance, reporting, escalation, and stakeholder communication.
• Drive process standardization, continuous improvement, and the adoption of digital manufacturing solutions.
• Identify delivery risks and operational gaps and implement appropriate mitigation measures.
• Support change management, user readiness, training, and sustainable solution adoption.