General Manager of Operations

Overview Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a General Manager of Operations? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today! Responsibilities General Manager of Operations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tMgKm_71qs (by clicking this link you are being referred to an external site that is not part of Panasonic) Meet the Recruiter: Eric Laffey Summary: Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we're building the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you'll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation. Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Job Summary: The General Manager of Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for a major manufacturing function or group of production departments within a large-scale lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility. This role is responsible for achieving safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people objectives while ensuring alignment with plant strategy, operational priorities, and business goals. The General Manager leads through Production Managers and other operational leaders to drive operational excellence, workforce capability, continuous improvement, and sustainable manufacturing performance. This position is accountable for operational results, organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, budget management, and the successful execution of plant initiatives that support business growth and operational scalability. Essential Duties: Functional Leadership & Operations: Lead manufacturing operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people performance objectives across assigned production areas Direct and support Production Managers and operational leaders to ensure execution of manufacturing strategy, operational priorities, and performance expectations Establish operational goals, performance measures, and workforce plans that support plant objectives and customer requirements Manage operating budgets, labor utilization, productivity, and resource allocation within assigned areas Support capital planning, equipment strategy, and operational readiness initiatives to improve manufacturing performance Serve as the senior operational leader for assigned functions, resolving complex operational, organizational, and production issues Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement: Translate plant strategy and business priorities into operational objectives and action plans for assigned manufacturing areas Drive continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, operational excellence, and structured problem-solving methodologies Lead efforts to improve production efficiency, productivity, quality performance, and cost competitiveness Champion change management activities associated with business growth, operational transformation, production ramp-up, and new product introduction initiatives Monitor operational performance trends and identify opportunities to improve organizational effectiveness and business results Team Development & Knowledge Sharing: Develop, coach, and mentor Production Managers and operational leaders to strengthen organizational capability and succession readiness Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence Partner with Human Resources to support workforce planning, talent development, succession planning, and employee engagement initiatives Ensure leaders and employees receive the training, coaching, and development necessary to support performance and career growth Promote knowledge sharing, best-practice adoption, and operational standardization across manufacturing areas Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Maintenance, Human Resources, Finance, Facilities, and EHS teams to achieve operational and business objectives Collaborate on production planning, capacity expansion, capital projects, continuous improvement initiatives, and operational readiness activities Provide operational insights, performance updates, and risk assessments to plant leadership and key stakeholders Support customer visits, operational reviews, audits, and business initiatives as needed Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management: Promote and reinforce a culture of safety, quality, compliance, and operational discipline across assigned manufacturing areas Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, environmental, customer, and company requirements Drive accountability for quality systems, product standards, and operational performance expectations Identify and mitigate operational risks that may impact safety, quality, delivery, or business continuity Support continuous improvement of systems, processes, and controls to enhance operational performance and reduce risk Supervisory Responsibilities: Provide direct leadership to Production Managers and other operational leaders, with indirect responsibility for supervisors and hourly production personnel across assigned manufacturing areas Responsible for workforce planning, organizational design, talent development, succession planning, budget management, and performance management Establish departmental goals, performance expectations, and strategic priorities to ensure alignment with quality, operational, and business objectives Travel Requirement: This position is primarily site-based with up to 20% travel as needed to support customer engagements, audits, benchmarking activities, training, and business initiatives Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements: To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator. The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job. Qualifications Requirements - Required and/or Preferred Education, Certifications, and Licenses: Required: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Business Administration, or a related field Relevant work experience may be substituted for required education Preferred: Master's degree (MBA, MS, or equivalent) in a related discipline Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification or higher Essential Qualifications: 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience within a high-volume manufacturing environment Experience leading multiple manufacturing departments, value streams, or operational functions through subordinate leaders Demonstrated success driving safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people performance in complex manufacturing operations Experience developing leaders, building organizational capability, and leading high-performing teams Strong business, financial, and operational acumen including budget management, workforce planning, and resource allocation Proven ability to lead continuous improvement, operational transformation, and change management initiatives Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, operational excellence principles, and structured problem-solving methodologies Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills across all organizational levels Demonstrated ability to influence decision-making and drive results in fast-paced, complex manufacturing environments Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English Alignment to Panasonic's seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude) Preferred Qualifications: Prior experience in a general manager or senior management role leading teams within large-scale manufacturing environments Experience within lithium-ion battery manufacturing, automotive, semiconductor, or other advanced manufacturing environments Experience supporting production ramp-up, capacity expansion, operational transformation, or greenfield manufacturing initiatives Experience leading large-scale Lean Manufacturing or operational excellence programs Physical Demands: Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to: Sit: 40% Walk: 30% Stand: 30% Required Lifting and Carrying: Rare (