Manufacturing Manager

AESC is looking to add a Manufacturing Manager to our team in Florence, SC.

• Full-Time
• On-site

AESC is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high-performance batteries for zero-emission electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Founded in Japan in 2007 and headquartered in Yokohama, AESC has been building manufacturing capabilities around the world in the U.S., U.K., Europe, Japan and China to serve key markets and leading customers locally for over 14 years. Today, AESC has become the partner of choice for the world's leading OEMs and energy storage providers in North America, Europe, and Asia. Its advanced technology powers over one million electric vehicles and provides more than 15GWh of installed capacity for battery energy systems in over 60 countries.

AESC is expanding its footprint in the United States with gigafactories in Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee to meet the growing demand for EV and BESS batteries and strengthen its presence in the North American market. AESC's Tennessee gigafactory in Smyrna, which has been operational since 2012, produces batteries for Nissan. The Kentucky gigafactory in Bowling Green will supply Mercedes-Benz with high-performance battery cell modules. The South Carolina gigafactory in Florence will supply technology-leading battery cells for new electric models produced in BMW Group's Spartanburg plant. AESC is committed to our local communities where it is making its investments, creating jobs, and supporting local charities.

The Manufacturing Manager will initially join the core project team responsible for the development, revision, and execution of a hiring plan for manufacturing team members as well as other key operations team members. This role will also be responsible for developing necessary training plans and recruitment strategies with the representatives of the local and the State government. Managing real-time operations supporting lithium-ion battery production by leading a team of Manufacturing Supervisor, Manufacturing Technicians and other team members in a manner that facilitates the use of company resources. This role also ensures equipment uptime improvements while achieving Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with an emphasis on improving Safety and OEE while reducing equipment downtime and achieving critical cost reductions/increases to profitability. Work with plant leadership, develops, reviews, and tracks manufacturing budgets and supporting AESC Production Way. Evaluates manufacturing policies and procedures. Provides project support of equipment installation, debugging and program launches.

• Understands the overall project schedule and develops a detailed hiring plan for Manufacturing team members as well as other key Operations team members in conjunction with the core project team.
• Makes necessary revisions to the hiring plan to align with the overall project schedule.
• Creates a master training plan, training requirements and an evaluation system in accordance with the AESC Production way.
• Reviews overall progress of the training activity and its effectiveness and makes necessary adjustments to ensure success.
• Works with the local and the State government officials to develop necessary training requirements and programs.
• Oversees daily activities of the team to maximize real-time utilization of resources; interfaces with Management to achieve smooth coordination to the project schedule and maximization of schedule adherence.
• Leads and participates in production equipment buyoff and training activities.
• Manages pilot production and reporting KPIs.
• Monitors and tracks equipment uptime. Investigates and implements ways to improve overall equipment uptime. Plans corrective action on downtime issues. Enacts contingency plans as needed when troubleshooting is required or to escalate issues.
• Ensures that Supervisors coordinate technicians' schedules and manage schedule adherence; analyzes and recommends scheduling of personnel and staffing increase or decreases to ensure optimum results.
• Conducts staff meetings and positively leads the team to achieve all KPI meetings and institutes countermeasures to the top technical issues.
• Develops and manages In-House budget. Participates in daily, weekly and monthly KPI meetings and institutes countermeasures to the top technical issues.
• Reviews and approves expense reports, P-card purchases and participates in the selection of potential vendors to assist in various manufacturing related activities.
• Maintains a favorable working relationship with all employees to foster and promote a corporative and harmonious work environment. Monitors safety performance and facilitates implementation of action to improve safety performance. Proactively identifies and addresses safety concerns before an accident occurs.
• Manages Manufacturing Supervisors, Leaders, and Technicians.
• Leads the team to achieve the plant metrics.
• Has non-exempt through journey-level exempt subordinates or contractors. Supervises and provides leadership, coaching, guidance, training and staff development; interviews and selects employees; plans and evaluates employee performance; may recommend merit increases, transfer and promotions; counsels and disciplines employees as necessary; recommends termination when appropriate; monitors time and attendance of subordinates and approves timesheets.
• Ensures all 5S standards and requirements are met within the facility.
• Understands and follows all standards of IATF16949 and VDA 6.3 quality standards.
• Understands and follows all standards of ISO14001 environmental standards.
• Supervises and provides leadership, coaching, guidance, training, and staff development; interviews and selects unit employees; plans and evaluates employee performance; recommends merit increases, transfers and promotions; counsels and disciplines employees as necessary; recommends termination when appropriate; and monitors time and attendance of subordinates.
• As necessary, performs other related duties of which the above are representative.
• Defines and communicates expectations clearly per the Senior leadership guidelines.
• Has engineering and other professional subordinates including contractors. Supervises and provides leadership, coaching, guidance, training and staff development; leads employees to establish team and individual annual goals that relate to corporate Key Predictive Indicators (KPIs) and guide them in tracking these goals for each phase of a project; interviews and selects unit employees; provides timely feedback in terms of performance; recommends merit increases, transfers and promotions; counsels and disciplines employees as necessary; recommends termination when appropriate; and monitors time and attendance of subordinates. As necessary, performs other related duties of which the above are representative.
• Other duties as assigned.

Welcome to AESC, where you'll have the opportunity to tackle the world's most fascinating challenges alongside exceptionally talented individuals who are driven to make a difference. We strive to ensure that our employees are well taken care of, enabling them to focus on their work and contribute to our collective mission.

We offer:

• Comprehensive compensation packages including a competitive salary and a rewarding bonus program.
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development.
• Highly automated, clean, safe, and temperature-controlled production environment
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• HSA and Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401K with company match
• Life Insurance (Company paid and additional voluntary life available)
• Paid Vacation and 14 Paid Holidays
• Short term and long-term disability coverage (Company Paid)
• Tuition reimbursement

• Bachelor's degree in an accredited institution in a related discipline.
• Five years of experience working in a manufacturing environment involving complex automated equipment.
• Two or more years Supervisory experience, providing leadership, coaching, guidance, and training and contributing to staff development. Supervised subordinates or contractors with differentiated roles. Subordinate positions carried several different titles. Functions, though similar in objective, were distinct.
• Working knowledge of word processor, spreadsheet, other PC applications, or other PC applications to produce non-standard, creative products.

Even if you don't meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. Your application allows us to learn more about you and find potential fits within our team. We strive to respond to all applicants promptly, though times may vary with submission volume. If you don't receive an immediate response, it doesn't reflect on your candidacy; we'll keep your application for future opportunities. Thank you for your patience and enthusiasm as we improve our application process.

At AESC, we are committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to all individuals. We participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S Join us in our passion to design, manufacture, and sell high-performance products, contributing to a sustainable and zero-carbon emission future.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
• Ability to read, write, speak, hear; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach and lift with hands and arms frequently throughout the day.
• Required to occasionally lift, push, pull and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally required to lift, push, pull and/or move up to 35 pounds.

The work environment is primarily an automated manufacturing plant with a concrete floor and is characterized by some temperature extremes, moderate noise, and forklift traffic. The individual must be able to perform all essential functions as appropriate on the plant floor, in meetings, and with employees, management, customers and suppliers.

Candidate must perform the essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation efficiently and accurately, and without causing significant safety threat to self or others. The statements made herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive and inclusive list of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required of personnel so classified.

Hiring is contingent upon successful completion of drug screen and background check. AESC US LLC is a drug-free workplace.

Occasional domestic and international travel required.

#LI-JH2