Associate Director, Manufacturing

Gotion

Manteno, Illinois

Full Time

Posted March 12, 2026

$165k - $200k

Energy Storage

~47 people viewed this recently

Apply Now

Application opens on company website

Job Description

This role involves overseeing the startup and ongoing operations of a battery cell manufacturing plant, leading a high-performing team, implementing operational improvements, managing budgets, and collaborating across departments to ensure safety, quality, efficiency, and cost reduction in the production of electric vehicle batteries.

Key Responsibilities

Oversee the ramp-up and ongoing operations of battery cell manufacturing, ensuring safety, quality, and efficiency.
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing manufacturing team.
Develop and implement manufacturing KPIs to monitor performance and progress toward strategic objectives.
Support deployment of operational management tools like SCADA for real-time control and quality assurance.
Establish review cadences and drive continuous improvement initiatives to achieve operational milestones.
Manage and maintain the operational budget, implementing cost-saving measures and lean manufacturing principles.
Collaborate with cross-functional departments to ensure seamless manufacturing process integration.
Drive process and product improvements to enhance quality, manufacturability, and customer satisfaction.
Apply lean principles to reduce scrap and optimize resource utilization for cost reductions.
Collaborate with leadership to develop and execute strategic plans and continuous improvement projects.

Requirements

Oversee the ramp-up and ongoing operations of battery cell manufacturing, transitioning from prototype to high-volume serial production while maintaining safety, quality, and efficiency standards.
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team, including managers, supervisors, technicians, and operators, fostering a culture of operational excellence and accountability.
Develop and implement manufacturing KPIs to track safety, people, costs, performance, efficiency, and sustainability, ensuring alignment with plant-wide strategic objectives.
Support the deployment of active management tools e.g., SCADA to enhance operational control, real-time decision-making, and quality assurance.
Establish a cadence for weekly, monthly, and quarterly reviews, driving continuous improvement through operational excellence initiatives and achieving Annual Operating Plan AOP milestones.
Develop and maintain the operational budget, achieving cost savings through cost-saving measures, kaizen events, and lean manufacturing principles.
Partner with departments such as product development, planning, finance, manufacturing engineering, safety EHS, and operations engineering to ensure seamless integration of manufacturing processes.
Utilize technical expertise to drive process and product improvements, addressing quality concerns, enhancing manufacturability, and improving customer satisfaction.
Apply lean manufacturing principles to reduce scrap, optimize resource utilization, and achieve significant year-over-year cost reductions (e.g., 20% operational expense reduction, 80% reduction in scrap per vehicle).
Collaborate with executive leadership to develop the plant department Annual Operating Plan (AOP), aligning with strategic plans and cascading continuous improvement projects throughout the organization.
Possess a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent; MBA preferred.
Have at least 10 years of experience in construction management, with a minimum of 5 years of experience managing large, complex projects.
Experience working with brownfield or greenfield sites is a plus.
Knowledge of Automotive Regulations, EV Batteries, Energy, or Complex Site Construction is a plus.
Demonstrate strong project management skills, including the ability to develop and implement project plans, track progress, and manage budgets.
Exhibit excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.