Industrial Technology Manager

About DECCO Postharvest: 

DECCO, an ADVANTA company, is the global leader in providing postharvest solutions to reduce food waste and enhance the freshness of fresh fruits and vegetables all along the food supply chain.  DECCO delivers value every day to packers, shippers, supermarkets and consumers with customized coating, decay control, sanitization and disinfection products, application technology, on-site service and almost 90 years of postharvest expertise.  Our 200+ dedicated DECCO employees operate in over 40 countries. 

Our purpose is to enable more and better Fresh Food for the world. More. Beautiful. Fresh

Position Summary:

The Industrial Technology Manager is responsible for the daily activities and performance of the Industrial Technology team, ensuring the successful execution of industrial automation, controls, equipment installation, and technology projects. This hands-on leadership role provides technical guidance, coordinates resources, supports project execution, and works closely with customers, field personnel, and the Digital Solutions team to deliver safe, efficient, and innovative solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership

• Teach, coach, mentor, and lead technology team members, including employee development and performance management.
• Coordinate daily work assignments and priorities for Technology group.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts to meet company and customer expectations for high-performance equipment and digital solutions.
• Promote safety, quality, teamwork, and accountability.

Project Coordination & Execution

• Direct implementation of equipment, technology, and automation for projects, including scheduling, labor planning, material acquisition, and project execution.
• Coordinate with contractors, vendors, internal partners, and customers to ensure project success.
• Development and responsibility of budgets for projects.
• Drive project progress and communicate updates to stakeholders.

Equipment Installation & Controls Support

• Lead and participate in equipment installations, upgrades, startups, and commissioning activities.
• Support PLC, HMI, instrumentation, and control system implementation and troubleshooting.
• Verify installation quality and compliance with company standards.

Control Panel & Material Management

• Coordinate control panel fabrication, testing, and production schedules.
• Support procurement, inventory, and material readiness for projects.
• Work with suppliers to ensure timely availability of equipment and materials.

Digital Solutions & Customer Support

• Partner with the Digital Solutions team to deploy connected technologies and monitoring solutions.
• Provide technical support during customer engagements and project execution.
• Communicate technical recommendations, project status, and solutions to customers and leadership.
• Support continuous improvement of products, services, and operational processes.

Qualifications:

Required

• 5+ years of experience in industrial automation, controls, electromechanical systems, maintenance, or a related technical field.
• Experience leading projects, coordinating field activities, or supervising technical teams.
• Knowledge of industrial electrical, instrumentation, control, and automation systems.
• Ability to read electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical documentation.
• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel as required.

Preferred

• Experience with Allen-Bradley PLC and HMI platforms.
• Knowledge of industrial networking, sensors, VFDs, and process control systems.
• Familiarity with control panel fabrication and UL508A standards.
• Experience in agricultural, food processing, manufacturing, packaging, or industrial environments.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Automation, Mechatronics, Industrial Technology, or a related field and equivalent experience.

Direct Reports

• Electromechanical Technician
• Instrumentation & Controls Technician
• Industrial Service Technician

Travel:  Occasional travel to support customers in other regions and attend company meetings

Location:  Visalia, CA

KEY COMPETENCIES: 

STRATEGIC MINDSET - Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them to breakthrough strategy

CUSTOMER FOCUS – Ability to building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions

CULTIVATES INNOVATION - Thinks creatively and implements solutions for everyday problems; Strives to continually improve own processes and areas of business; Puts forward proposals and develops strategic implementation plans to introduce new and improved ways of operating.

RESOURCEFULNESS – Identifying, Securing & Deploying resources effectively & efficiently (People, funds, infrastructure) to accomplish business goals.