Overview:
Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Sr. Production Manager - Operations Control? 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:
Sr. Production Manager - Operations Control
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Meet the Recruiter: Jenny Willhoit
Shift: Monday - Friday Day Shift
Department: Assembly
Job Summary:
Leads and delivers Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, and People (SQCDP) performance for Senior Production Manager – Operations Control across PECNA Operations. Expected to serve as a leader who sets clear expectations, holds people accountable, removes barriers, and inspects what you expect with courtesy and respect. Ensures end-to-end supply chain value-stream accountability by collaborating upstream and downstream to maintain proper inventory control levels and healthy WIP. Personal Safety is imperative and the mandate of Quality is the foundation of everything we do—neither will be compromised under any circumstances.
Essential Duties:
Functional Leadership & Operations:
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Establishes and sustains a single Operations Control cadence integrating Hourly Boards, Command Center/Obeya, production control boards, and escalation routines.
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Ensures plan vs. actual performance is visible, owned, and acted on; drives structured recovery when gaps persist.
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Creates shift-to-shift visibility and disciplined handoffs so issues are not carried forward as “unknowns.”
Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:
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Implements standard work and reporting discipline across ERP/MES/traceability and other operational systems.
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Strengthens PDCA by ensuring recurring gaps have verified countermeasures and sustainment checks.
Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:
- Develops managers and teams to operate with strong accountability, data discipline, and urgency in escalation.
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Builds cross-functional routines that reinforce ownership and closure with evidence.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:
- Partners with Supply Chain to translate production plans into executable schedules and to manage constraints/risks.
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Coordinates PMO project execution support to remove operational constraints and ensure SOP readiness and handover discipline.
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Ensures supply chain value-stream alignment upstream/downstream to maintain inventory thresholds and WIP health.
Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:
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Ensures all cadence and decision-making maintains the non-negotiable standards for Personal Safety and Quality.
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Ensures audit-ready transaction discipline for material movement, holds, and reconciliations.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Directly leads Production Manager – Inventory Control and Production Manager – Planning & PMO.
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Owns the Operations Control cadence and governance connecting planning, inventory, and execution across departments.
Travel Requirement:
Minimal travel as required for business needs.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:
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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:
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Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, or related field.
Preferred:
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Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Science (MS)
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Lean/CI certification and/or project management certification preferred.
Essential Qualifications:
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7+ years progressive experience in manufacturing operations control, production control, materials/inventory control, or supply chain execution.
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Proven ability to run daily management systems (plan vs. actual, escalation routines, issue/action tracking) and drive closure with accountability.
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Experience with inventory governance and transactional discipline in ERP/MES environments.
Preferred Qualifications:
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Experience in high-speed/high-volume and/or regulated/traceable manufacturing environments.
Physical Demands:
Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:
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Sit: 10%
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Walk: 50%
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Stand: 40%
Required Lifting and Carrying: Rare (<1%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%), Continuous (67-100%)
For this position, the required frequency is:
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Up to 10 lbs.: Continuous
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Up to 20 lbs.: Frequent
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Up to 35 lbs.: Frequent
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Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Occasional
Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You:
Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:
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Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
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Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
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Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
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Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
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Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
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Health Management and Wellbeing Programs –Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
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Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
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Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
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On-site Food Options: Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events
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Free Shuttle: Rides to and from work!
Where You'll Be:
For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.
Who We Are:
Meet Panasonic Energy! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us.
Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one.
As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs.
Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions.
We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact.
In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.
We Take Opportunity Seriously:
At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer.
We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!
Supplemental Information:
Pre-employment drug testing is required.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.
Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America.
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