Senior Director: Global Engineering- Decatur, IL

Job description

Senior Director

Global Engineering - Decatur, IL

This is a full-time, exempt position.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Senior Director, Global Engineering to design, build, and lead a centralized, fit-for-purpose global engineering function that enables safe, reliable, and efficient capital project delivery across global operations. This role will serve as the enterprise engineering leader for capital projects, accountable for engineering strategy, technical governance, engineering standards, resource capability, and engineering deliverables across the project lifecycle.

The role will partner closely with Project Management, Project Controls, Procurement, Operations, and Business Leadership to support capital project delivery through a clearly defined FEL stage-gate. Depending on project size, complexity, and risk profile, this leader will establish the appropriate engineering delivery model, including self-perform engineering, internal shared services, external engineering partners, offshore delivery centers, and global capability centers.

Scope and Accountability

This role is accountable for the engineering function, engineering governance, technical standards, engineering resource strategy, and quality of engineering deliverables across the capital project portfolio. The role will provide engineering leadership across FEL, FEED, detailed design, procurement support, construction support, commissioning support, and technical handover.

The role will work in close partnership with project management and project controls functions, which retain accountability for integrated project execution, schedule, cost control, and overall project delivery governance

Setting Engineering Strategy

Develop and implement engineering strategies, standards, policies, and processes that align with business objectives and improve project execution.

Engineering Lifecycle Leadership

Provide engineering support and technical assurance across the full capital project lifecycle, including conceptual design, FEL, FEED, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and technical handover. Ensure deliverables are complete, risk-based, cost-effective, and aligned with project objectives.

Building Integrated Engineering Services :Create and optimize end-to-end engineering and mechanical services by leveraging synergies between Engineering and ADM Mechanical to design, fabricate, and install static processing equipment across the Decatur complex.

Managing and Developing Teams

Lead, mentor, and develop engineering personnel while fostering a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, continuous improvement, and succession planning.

Ensuring Compliance and Safety

Maintain adherence to technical standards, safety requirements, environmental regulations, and industry best practices throughout project execution.

Overseeing Resources and Budgets

Self perform engineering projects, manage engineering budgets, workforce planning, vendor relationships, procurement support, and technical resource allocation to ensure efficient project delivery.

Driving Stakeholder Alignment

Collaborate with operations, business leaders, clients, contractors, suppliers, and other stakeholders to align engineering initiatives with organizational goals.

Promoting Innovation and Engineering Excellence

Proactively identify and resolve engineering challenges, identify emerging technologies and industry trends, implement advanced engineering tools and methodologies, and drive improvements in efficiency, scalability, and project performance.

Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering required; advanced degree (MS, MBA, or equivalent) preferred.
• Licensed Professional Engineer, PMP preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive engineering, project execution, and capital project experience within manufacturing, industrial, energy, chemical, food processing, or related industries.
• Minimum 5+ years of leadership experience directing global or multi-site engineering organizations, including responsibility for strategy, talent development, and organizational performance.
• Demonstrated success building, leading, and developing high-performing, multidisciplinary engineering teams across multiple geographies.
• Proven track record of delivering complex capital projects and portfolio programs utilizing Front-End Loading (FEL), Stage-Gate, and project governance methodologies.
• Extensive experience managing engineering resources, budgets, CAPEX portfolios, and competing business priorities in a fast-paced global environment.
• Proficiency with engineering and design platforms, including Autodesk, AutoCAD, Plant 3D, BIM, and other digital engineering and design collaboration tools.
• Experience leveraging digital technologies, engineering data systems, and AI-enabled solutions to improve project execution, planning, forecasting, and operational performance.

Technical & Business Capabilities

• Deep understanding of engineering governance, project controls, asset lifecycle management, risk management, and capital efficiency.
• Experience implementing continuous improvement, value engineering, cost optimization, and productivity initiatives that drive measurable business results.
• Ability to evaluate project economics, develop investment justifications, and ensure alignment with business and operational objectives.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to make data-driven decisions in complex and ambiguous environments.

Additional Requirements

• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Demonstrated success working in diverse, matrixed, and project-oriented global organizations.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally as required.

Excited about this role but don’t think you meet every requirement listed?

We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings.

Relocation benefits are available for this position.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

REF:112135BR