Sr Manager, Analytics and AI

Panasonic•De Soto, KS

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Panasonic Energy is seeking a Senior Manager, Analytics and AI, reporting to the Sr. Director, Innovation and Analytics. The role establishes and maintains the enterprise roadmap for analytics and AI initiatives that improve manufacturing and business performance. It leads a multidisciplinary Analytics & AI team and partners with business and site leaders to identify valuable use cases, translate business needs into opportunities, prioritize work, and guide initiatives through delivery, adoption, value tracking, and expansion across PECNA sites. The role provides portfolio and technical leadership across data visualization, advanced analytics, machine learning, predictive models, computer vision, generative AI, agentic AI, digital twins, and decision-support applications. It ensures solutions are practical, explainable, secure, governed, and incorporated into operational and business workflows. The manager coordinates with Finance, IT, OT, cybersecurity, architecture, platform teams, external providers, and other partners, while supporting change management and team development. This is an onsite role involving office, meeting, and manufacturing environments. Occasional local travel between company facilities is required, with travel of up to 20% including trips between Nevada and Kansas sites. PPE may be required in the workplace. The role regularly involves sitting, standing, and walking, and may occasionally require lifting or carrying items up to 20 pounds; team lifting is required for heavier items.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Industrial Engineering, Information Systems, Business, or a related field.
At least 8 years of experience in analytics, data science, applied AI/ML, data products, digital transformation, or related technology delivery.
At least 3 years of experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams or a significant analytics and AI portfolio.
Proven ability to lead analytics or AI initiatives from opportunity identification through deployment, adoption, and measured business impact.
Strong understanding of data visualization, statistical analysis, predictive analytics, machine learning, computer vision models, generative AI, agentic AI, and AI solution delivery.
Experience managing a portfolio, setting priorities, allocating resources, and communicating recommendations to senior leaders.
Experience with modern data and analytics platforms such as Palantir Foundry, Microsoft Azure, AWS, Power BI, Tableau, or comparable technologies.
Working knowledge of manufacturing and business systems such as MES, SCADA, ERP, CMMS, quality systems, historians, inspection systems, and Tableau-based operational and executive reporting.
Ability to guide technical teams and evaluate solution approaches without serving as the primary developer for every initiative.
Strong leadership, coaching, communication, stakeholder management, customer engagement, structured problem-solving, and change-management skills.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and balance near-term business needs with longer-term capability development.
Willingness and ability to meet onsite and travel requirements.
Ability to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.
Successful completion of required pre-employment drug testing.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in a related field.
Certifications in analytics, AI/ML, cloud platforms, Palantir Foundry, project management, Lean Six Sigma, or responsible AI.
Experience in lithium-ion battery, semiconductor, automotive, pharmaceutical, chemical, or high-volume manufacturing.
Experience delivering manufacturing analytics, quality analytics, predictive maintenance, yield optimization, SPC automation, ML solutions, computer vision models, digital twins, command-center capabilities, GenAI applications, or agentic AI workflows.
Experience with data governance, model governance, responsible AI, cybersecurity, privacy, and production monitoring practices.
Experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, 4DX, or other structured continuous-improvement and execution methods.
Experience working across multiple sites or with Japanese manufacturing partners and cross-cultural teams.

Responsibilities

Serve as the accountable team leader for Analytics & AI outcomes across PECNA.
Establish, maintain, and communicate the enterprise analytics and AI roadmap in alignment with business priorities, Hoshin, AOP, and manufacturing performance goals.
Translate the roadmap into a prioritized portfolio with defined business outcomes, sequencing, ownership, resource requirements, dependencies, and success measures; review and update it as conditions and realized value change.
Align leaders across Nevada and Kansas on analytics and AI priorities, platform direction, reusable capabilities, and opportunities to scale solutions.
Partner with business and site leaders to identify, shape, and communicate high-value use cases in areas including yield, quality, scrap, downtime, productivity, cost, supply chain, and workforce effectiveness.
Establish a forward deployed engineering model that embeds engineers within business units to support operations, develop process expertise, improve use-case development, and increase speed to build.
Create a process for evaluating business ideas and communicating high-value opportunities to technical teams and leadership.
Prioritize initiatives based on business value, data readiness, feasibility, risk, scalability, and available resources.
Lead end-to-end delivery of analytics and AI solutions from discovery through deployment, adoption, and value realization.
Provide leadership for data visualization, advanced analytics, machine learning, predictive models, computer vision models, generative AI, agentic AI, digital twins, and decision-support applications.
Ensure analytics, ML, computer vision, and agentic AI solutions are practical, explainable, secure, governed, and integrated into business and operational workflows.
Establish goals, delivery standards, governance, and performance measures for the Analytics & AI portfolio.
Partner with Finance and business owners to define value baselines, validate benefits, and track sustained impact.
Coordinate with IT, OT, cybersecurity, architecture, and platform teams to support reliable and scalable deployment.
Provide concise portfolio updates to senior leadership on progress, delivered value, risks, resource needs, and decisions required.
Lead change management, training, and communication to support adoption and long-term ownership.
Manage relationships with technology providers, consultants, systems integrators, and other external partners.
Develop team capability and repeatable approaches to scale successful solutions across Nevada and Kansas.
Provide direct leadership and day-to-day oversight for DevOps engineers, data engineers, data scientists, software engineers, data analysts, forward deployed engineers, and other assigned team members.
Set team priorities, assign work, review progress, and ensure accountability for delivery and business outcomes.
Coach and develop team members through goal setting, performance feedback, technical guidance, career development, and cross-functional collaboration.
Plan team capacity and allocate resources across initiatives based on business value, urgency, and skill requirements.
Oversee work performed by contractors, consultants, platform partners, and other external resources supporting Analytics & AI initiatives.
Serve as the functional and technical leader for Analytics & AI while balancing innovation, governance, and operational requirements.
Travel between company facilities as needed, including Nevada and Kansas sites, up to 20% of the time.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, and prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
Voluntary life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer leave, and parental and caregiver leave.
Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
Lifestyle Spending Account, Employee Assistance Program, virtual health management, chronic condition support, neurodiversity resources, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources; availability and eligibility may vary.
Employee recognition and awards platform, with quarterly and annual recognition.
Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
On-site cafes, snack and beverage kitchens, vendor visits, and employee events.
Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits options supporting physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental well-being.