Director - Operational Technology / Industrial Systems

About This Role

The Director of IT (Operational Technology) will lead the transformation, governance, and standardisation of OT across a large, multi-site mining and processing organisation. The role will define and implement the OT strategy, enabling a transition towards an Industry 4.0 operating model driven by automation, data, and advanced control systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an OT strategy across multiple mining and processing operations
• Establish OT architecture, standards, and governance frameworks aligned to ISA-95 and Industry 4.0 principles
• Assess current OT maturity across business units and define roadmap to achieve target state maturity
• Lead integration of automation technologies including:

• Base control systems
• Advanced process control (MPC)
• AI-driven predictive control systems

• Define and implement enterprise-wide OT data architecture, including data governance, storage, and lifecycle management
• Drive standardisation of OT systems across decentralised plant environments
• Partner with plant managers and operational leaders to embed OT improvements at site level
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on process stabilisation and optimisation
• Build confidence and capability across OT teams and business units
• Oversee a multidisciplinary team of 20+ professionals across OT, data, innovation, and technology enablement
• Collaborate with VP-level stakeholders across IT, Data & AI, Innovation, and Technology Enablement

Key Interfaces

• Plant Managers across mining and processing sites
• Business Unit Leaders
• IT and Digital Leadership Team
• Data & AI and Innovation functions
• Operational Technology and Fleet Management teams

Candidate Requirements

• Extensive experience in mining, metals, or heavy industrial environments
• Strong background in Operational Technology (OT) and industrial automation
• Experience with ISA-95 frameworks and Industry 4.0 transformation
• Deep understanding of industrial control systems and predictive technologies
• Experience with mining fleet management systems and operational data environments
• Proven ability to lead large-scale OT transformation in decentralised organisations
• Strong leadership experience managing cross-functional technical teams
• Ability to engage and influence senior operational and technical stakeholders

Transformation Focus

This is a strategic leadership role driving a step-change in OT maturity (from ~2/5 to ~4.5/5), enabling:

• Increased automation and operational autonomy
• Data-driven decision-making across all operations
• Predictive and AI-enabled industrial control systems
• Standardised, scalable OT architecture across all sites