Associate Director, Manufacturing

Gotion Inc. is based in Silicon Valley, CA, currently building a Manufacturing facility in Manteno, IL and has R&D centers in Ohio, China, Japan and Europe. We innovate in the next generation electric vehicle and energy storage technologies (lithium batteries and related systems) with the aim to accelerate electrified transportation and achieve sustainable development. Gotion is powered by a leading power battery technology company that provides solutions for vehicles including the world's first mass commercial e-bus route. Gotion is a career destination - we are not simply attempting to just fill another job, but to pursue a dream of global green energy together! We offer outstanding opportunities to individuals seeking an exciting and challenging working environment. Everyone is highly valued and plays a vital role in the growth of our organization. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Operational Leadership : 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. Team Development : Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team, including managers, supervisors, technicians, and operators, fostering a culture of operational excellence and accountability. Performance Metrics : Develop and implement manufacturing KPIs to track safety, people, costs, performance, efficiency, and sustainability, ensuring alignment with plant-wide strategic objectives. Technology Integration : Support the deployment of active management tools (e.g., SCADA) to enhance operational control, real-time decision-making, and quality assurance. Operational Excellence : Establish a cadence for weekly, monthly, and quarterly reviews, driving continuous improvement through operational excellence initiatives and achieving Annual Operating Plan (AOP) milestones. Budget Management : Develop and maintain the operational budget, achieving conversation cost targets through cost-saving measures, kaizen events, and lean manufacturing principles. Cross-Functional Collaboration : Partner with departments such as product development, planning, finance, manufacturing engineering, safety (EHS), and operations engineering to ensure seamless integration of manufacturing processes. Process Optimization : Utilize technical expertise to drive process and product improvements, addressing quality concerns, enhancing manufacturability, and improving customer satisfaction. Cost Reduction : 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). Strategic Planning : Collaborate with executive leadership to develop the plant/department AOP, aligning with strategic plans and cascading continuous improvement projects throughout the organization. Required Qualifications: MBA Preferred, Bachelor's degree Engineering is acceptable 10+ years of experience in construction management, with at least 5 years of experience on large, complex projects. Experience working with brownfield or greenfield sites is a plus. Knowledge of Automotive Regulations, EV Batteries or Energy or Complex Site Construction is a plus. Strong project management skills, including the ability to develop and implement project plans, track progress, and manage budgets. Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. The U.S. base salary range for this full-time position is $165,000.00 - $200,000.00, plus eligibility for 20% bonus and benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by factors such as the role, level, and geographic location. The range listed in the job posting represents the minimum and maximum target salaries for this position across all U.S. locations. Actual compensation within the range will be influenced by the specific work location,