Production Manager, Assembly - D Shift

Panasonic•De Soto, KS

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Join Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, 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.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related technical field. Relevant work experience may be substituted for required education.
5+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in a high-volume, 24/7 production environment
Demonstrated success owning safety, quality, cost, and delivery performance metrics
Strong data-driven decision-making capability and financial acumen
Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing, 6S, structured problem-solving, and continuous improvement methodologies
Experience with ERP/MES systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, FactoryTalk)
Ability to influence cross-functional partners without direct authority
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
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)

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (MBA or MS) in a related discipline
Lean Six Sigma Certification (Green Belt or higher)
OSHA 30-Hour General Industry certification
7+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience
Experience leading large production organizations (100+ employees) in a high-volume, automated environment
Proven track record driving productivity, cost reduction, and operational transformation initiatives
Experience supporting new product introductions or major capacity expansions
Strong change management and organizational leadership capability
Advanced analytical skills and structured root cause problem-solving expertise
Bilingual or multilingual capabilities (e.g., Japanese, Spanish)

Responsibilities

Own manufacturing performance across assigned production lines, ensuring achievement of safety, quality, cost, delivery, and productivity targets
Manage departmental operating expenses and support annual budget planning processes
Lead and develop Production Supervisors to ensure effective daily execution of production plans
Ensure capacity planning, labor optimization, and resource allocation align with production demand
Drive adherence to standardized work, operating procedures, and operational controls
Serve as escalation point for line-level operational, quality, and people-related issues
Translate plant-level strategy into actionable production plans and performance expectations
Drive Lean manufacturing, 6S, and continuous improvement initiatives across assigned areas
Lead structured problem-solving efforts to eliminate chronic losses and improve operational stability
Monitor and analyze SQDCP metrics, identifying trends and deploying countermeasures
Champion cost reduction and productivity improvement initiatives
Develop, coach, and evaluate Production Supervisors and other direct reports
Build leadership capability and succession pipelines within the production organization
Partner with HR on workforce planning, employee engagement, and performance management
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Lead change management initiatives within assigned manufacturing areas
Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and EHS to ensure operational alignment
Participate in PFMEA reviews, capacity planning discussions, and new product/process introductions
Ensure effective implementation of control plans and process controls
Provide performance updates and operational insights to senior leadership
Ensure safe manufacturing operations by enforcing compliance with safety standards and EHS requirements
Drive proactive risk identification and mitigation across production lines
Ensure defects are contained at the source and systemic quality issues are resolved
Oversee root cause investigations and ensure sustainable corrective actions are implemented
Maintain compliance with regulatory, environmental, and operational standards
Provide direct leadership to Production Supervisors and indirectly oversee hourly production personnel across assigned lines
Responsible for performance management, workforce planning, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness within assigned areas

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, prescription plans
Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options
Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance
401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting
Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave
Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service
Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources
High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus
Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events