Rockwell Automation is a global technology leader focused on helping the world’s manufacturers be more productive, sustainable, and agile. With more than 28,000 employees who make the world better every day, we know we have something special. Behind our customers - amazing companies that help feed the world, provide life-saving medicine on a global scale, and focus on clean water and green mobility - our people are energized problem solvers that take pride in how the work we do changes the world for the better.
We welcome all makers, forward thinkers, and problem solvers who are looking for a place to do their best work. And if that’s you we would love to have you join us!
Job Description
Position Summary
The Senior Project Manager is responsible for the successful planning, execution, control, and closeout of large, complex automation and digital transformation projects across the Africa region. This role serves as the primary point of accountability for project delivery, ensuring customer satisfaction, financial performance, schedule adherence, and risk management throughout the project lifecycle.
The Senior Project Manager leads cross-functional teams, manages stakeholder relationships at all organizational levels, and ensures projects are delivered in accordance with Rockwell Automation's processes, quality standards, and strategic objectives.
About the Role
As part of the Africa Project Management organization, you will manage high-value, multidisciplinary projects involving control systems, industrial automation, digital transformation, and software solutions. You will work closely with customers, engineering teams, procurement, finance, sales, and third-party partners to deliver outstanding business outcomes.
This position requires strong leadership, business acumen, customer engagement skills, and the ability to navigate complex technical and commercial environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead multiple large-scale projects from order receipt through final customer acceptance.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, schedules, budgets, forecasts, and resource plans.
- Manage project financial performance, including revenue recognition, margin delivery, billing milestones, cash flow, and change management.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks while maintaining effective issue resolution processes.
- Build and maintain strong customer relationships, serving as the primary escalation point for project-related matters.
- Coordinate multidisciplinary project teams including engineering, procurement, subcontractors, and commissioning resources.
- Drive compliance with Rockwell Automation project management methodologies, governance requirements, and quality standards.
- Lead project reviews, status reporting, executive communications, and customer steering committee meetings.
- Manage contract execution and commercial obligations to ensure delivery within scope and budget.
- Mentor and guide junior project managers and project administrators while promoting best practices across the organization.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives and contribute to organizational project management maturity.
The Essentials – You Will Have
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Business, or related discipline.
- Minimum of 8-10 years of experience managing complex industrial automation, controls, or engineering projects.
- Demonstrated experience managing projects with significant commercial value and cross-functional teams.
- Strong understanding of project management methodologies, financial management, risk management, and contract administration.
- Experience working directly with customers and senior stakeholders.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.
- Legal authorization to work in the country of employment.
The Preferred – You Might Also Have
- PMP (Project Management Professional), PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification.
- Experience delivering PlantPAx, SCADA, MES, Information Solutions, or Digital Transformation projects.
- Experience managing EPC, mining, manufacturing, oil & gas, water, or process industry projects.
- Knowledge of Rockwell Automation products, systems, and project delivery processes.
- Experience leading geographically distributed and multicultural project teams.
- Strong commercial and contractual management experience.
- Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), or related discipline.
- Experience coaching and mentoring project management professionals.
Success Measures
- Consistent achievement of project margin, revenue, and cash flow objectives.
- On-time delivery of project milestones and customer commitments.
- High levels of customer satisfaction and successful project acceptance.
- Effective risk management and issue resolution.
- Positive contribution to team development and organizational capability growth.
What We Offer:
Our benefits package includes …
- Volunteer Paid Time off available after 6 months of employment for eligible employees
- Company volunteer and donation matching program – Your volunteer hours or personal cash donations to an eligible charity can be matched with a charitable donation.
- On-demand digital course library for professional development.
- Comprehensive mindfulness programs with a premium membership to Calm
- Employee Assistance Program
- Personalized wellbeing programs through our OnTrack program
... and other local benefits!
At Rockwell Automation we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this or other roles.
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Rockwell Automation’s hybrid policy aligns that employees are expected to work at a Rockwell location at least Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays unless they have a business obligation out of the office.
