About the Role

We are seeking a Plant Manager to be a part of the integrated supply chain team setting the direction of operational performance at our Celgard facility in Concord, NC. This position directly reports to the SVP of Integrated Supply Chain and directly leads and is accountable for wall-to-wall operations of the facility. The plant manager supervises plant functional managers in the areas of production, engineering, warehouse, ES&H, as well as administrative support. The incumbent will be responsible for setting direction that will improve operational performance efficiency and effectiveness for the manufacturing location. This position is also responsible for all facets of the day-to-day operation of the facility leading plant Cost, Quality, Service, Safety, and Morale programs and, in parallel, establishing the strategic direction for the facility.

Asahi Kasei and Celgard Values

• Sincerity - Being sincere with everyone
• Challenge - Bolding taking challenges, continually seeking change
• Creativity - Creating new value through unity and synergy

Key Accountabilities

• Setting and implementing strategies that drive overall improvements in environmental safety and health (EHS) compliance, product quality, productivity (cost structure), asset utilization, improved work processes, waste reduction and minimizing variation throughout the business.
• Optimize Manufacturing Costs, Service Levels, and Working Capital while driving improvement in each respective area.
• Establish and manage operational objectives, key performance indicators, and standardize business processes and metrics across the operations.
• Establish an annual productivity plan; track and build contingency plans to meet financial and operational commitments.
• Set and monitor the performance of the plant against standards and targets in areas such as manufacturing and administration efficiency, cost control, sales revenue, legal compliance, and human resource management.
• Responsible for maintenance, manufacturing, quality control, engineering, supply and logistics.
• Develop annual plant operating budget consistent with business strategy.
• Lead Plant Talent Management efforts including interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and constructively resolving problems.
• Promote a culture of commitment to continuous improvement of plant processes to positively affect operational manufacturing cost, product quality, and process variability.

• Ensures general practices are consistent with company policies, environmental and safety standards, service standards and applicable laws and regulations. Maintain compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including operators and technicians, and drive ideas and operational issues to meaningful and workable solutions to serve the needs of the business.
• Lead required 6 Sigma/ Continuous Improvement teams on defined topics and related investment.
• Identify, manage, and implement projects (capital & non-capital) utilizing MET (Most Effective Technology).

• Provide meaningful feedback and communication to employees on a consistent basis.

• Promote a culture of empowerment and recognition to all levels of the plant team. Identify and continually improve KPIs and identify medium- and long-term focus points of improvement.
• Support root cause failure analysis (RCA) process by serving as a team member or leader for non-standard performance in Integrated Supply Chain.

• Set high level of expectations and drive accountability at all levels within the plant.

• Develop and implement plans for cost effective use of materials, machines, and employees.

Qualifications

Education Background:

• Bachelor's degree is required (mechanical engineering or other engineering discipline preferred); master's degree is a plus.
• Lean or Six Sigma certification required.

Knowledge & Experience:

• Must possess at least 10 years of progressively increasing responsibility in manufacturing management with 5 years in a senior level production or plant management role.
• Must have demonstrated experience turning around poor performing operations into a well-performing manufacturing site.
• Experience managing both engineering and production talent as well as manufacturing; support functions is preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge and successful experience driving lean manufacturing, kaizen, and six sigma methodologies is required.
• Must have strong understanding of financial principles, manufacturing cost controls, inventory management techniques, budgeting, supply chain operations, and maintenance operations.
• Demonstrated success in developing individual talent and teams is required.
• Proven skills in improving employee engagement for improved plant performance, required.

• Must possess strong problem-solving skills and experience with typical Continuous Improvement problem solving tools such as fishbone, 5 why, process flow map, etc.
• Must have previous plant management experience.
• Ability to analyze data to determine solutions and improvement opportunities is required.
• Process instruction and report writing ability are required.

Key Attributes:

• Strong business acumen, process driven logical thinking and planning skills, influencing skills, excellent communication skills
• A wide degree of creativity and latitude is required
• A change agent who generates urgency and meets high safety and quality standards while effectively motivating team members to achieve results
• Ability to establish a vision, attain team/organization buy-in and drive to execution
• Exemplifies integrity - follows through on communicated plans/decisions/actions
• Energized and motivated to succeed but focused on personal and team targets
• An effective active listener who balances team/organization input against personal perspectives
• Delegates appropriately, setting clear expectations and holding team accountable
• Allows team freedom to operate while setting clear expectations and appropriate boundaries
• Strong communicator on individual, team and site levels; appropriately adjusts style based on situation and employee level
• Demonstrate high energy level with sense of urgency and bias for action

Travel:

• Must be able and willing to travel up to 10% for domestically and abroad for training and visiting other company locations and customers.

Working Environment

This position is in a manufacturing plant setting that would require working in a production environment around chemicals. Work will require standing and walking for up to 80% of the time. Lighting and temperature are adequate. You may be required to lift up to 35 pounds and/or force necessary to push, pull, or otherwise move objects.

Celgard manufacturing sites are IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 certified.

Perks & Benefits

• Comprehensive Healthcare Benefits, effective 1st day of the month
• Flexible Spending Account & Health Savings Account
• Vacation + 8 Paid Holidays + 24 Hours of Floating Holidays
• 401K Safe Harbor Contribution + Matching
• Paid Parental Leave after a Year of Employment
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life & Disability Insurances

About Us

For more than 50 years, Celgard has proven itself as a global leader in the development and production of high-performance membrane technology. Celgard specializes in solvent-free, dry-process, microporous membranes used as separators that are a major component of lithium-ion batteries that power a broad range of electric vehicles (EV) and energy storage systems (ESS). Celgard® membrane is also used in specialty applications such as satellites and military installations as well as other barrier-type applications like technical textiles for waterproof and breathable apparel. Headquartered in the United States, we operate manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and China and have sales and technical service staff located strategically throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

Celgard, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polypore International, LLC, an Asahi Kasei Company. With manufacturing facilities or sales offices in nine countries serving six continents, Polypore brings advanced development and manufacturing know-how as well as unique problem-solving capabilities to customers' lithium-ion and lead-acid battery development teams. The Asahi Kasei Group is a diversified group of companies led by holding company Asahi Kasei Corp., with operations in the material, homes, and health care business sectors. With more than 46,000 employees around the world, the Asahi Kasei Group serves customers in more than 100 countries. We are Creating for Tomorrow!

Location Information

Concord is part of the Charlotte, NC metro area. Charlotte, known as the Queen City, is a thriving metropolitan area of over 2.6 million people across 15 counties. It is situated just north of the South Carolina border and is close enough to drive to the mountains and the beach in two-three hours. Charlotte brings diversity in people, industries and living, from urban to rural. It is ranked second among 25 largest cities for most desirable place to purchase a home by Nerdwallet.com and is ranked eighth among the top 10 big booming cities by CNNmoney.com. Charlotte is home of one of North Carolina's largest college campuses, UNC Charlotte. Along with a friendly southern culture, Charlotte offers dining, arts, museums, major league basketball, a national football team, a soccer team, a minor league baseball team, NASCAR, shopping, festivals, a variety of amenities and quick access to several parks for people who love to get outdoors.

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