Job Description
The Opportunity
As the Team Manager - Production, you will lead the execution, optimization, and continuous improvement of high-volume assembly and manufacturing operations within our advanced BESS facility. In this role, you will:
• Lead with Purpose: Build, inspire, and lead an agile production team to deliver advanced battery storage technology driving the future of the American grid.
• Lead System Performance: Drive standardization, discipline, and execution of the Ford Energy Production System (FEPS) to ensure peak manufacturing efficiency, quality, and operational stability.
• Enable Business Results: Deliver SQDCPME (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, People, Maintenance, Environment) objectives through effective shift scheduling, resource alignment, and line performance management.
• Drive Continuous Improvement: Champion data-driven decision-making to optimize cycle times, eliminate production bottlenecks, reduce scrap, and maximize First Time Through (FTT) rates.
• Develop People & Capability: Build a high-performing manufacturing team through hands-on coaching, mentorship, and skill development of production operators, team leaders, and technicians.
• Partner Cross-Functionally: Align seamlessly with Maintenance, Quality, Engineering, and Logistics to resolve systemic line issues, support new product launches, and meet plant-wide objectives.
Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Operational Leadership
• Accountable for department-wide performance against key manufacturing metrics, including Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), First Time Through (FTT) capability, scrap reduction, and unit cost.
• Translate high-level corporate business plans into actionable, daily shop-floor manufacturing strategies, ensuring seamless alignment across all production shifts.
• Ensure absolute compliance with contamination-control protocols, cleanroom standards, and material handling guidelines critical to battery energy storage technology.
• Direct the response to critical facility constraints, material shortages, or major equipment failures, ensuring rapid escalation, root-cause resolution, and sustainable corrective actions.
• Manage department budgets, staffing plans, capacity constraints, and operational expenditure (OpEx) targets. Lead daily pre-task analyses and support safe work execution across all production shifts.
Quality & Continuous Improvement
• Champion systemic continuous improvement efforts, utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., 8D, DMAIC) to eliminate waste and variability.
• Govern the layered process audit (LPA) structure and process confirmation routines to ensure total adherence to standardized work.
• Partner with Quality and Launch Engineering to manage new product introductions (NPI), engineering changes, and system validation trials without compromising daily throughput.
Leadership & Culture
• Directly lead, evaluate, and develop Senior Production Supervisors and department staff, establishing clear performance expectations and accountability.
• Foster a culture of psychological safety, absolute integrity, and collaboration, promoting trust and high engagement across all levels of the organization.
• Lead high-level tiered operating meetings (Tier 3/4) to align cross-functional plant leadership (Maintenance, Quality, Logistics, and Engineering) on daily priorities and systemic issues.
• Manage team relations proactively, ensuring all operational decisions comply with company policies and applicable agreements.
Safety & Environmental Stewardship
• Own the safety culture for the production department, driving a zero-injury mindset and ensuring compliance with all government, corporate, and plant safety regulations.
• Enforce rigorous adherence to safety routines, control plans, ergonomic standards, and environmental requirements on the production floor.
Capabilities for Success
• Resilient Leader: An emotionally intelligent leader who remains calm and decisive in ambiguous or high-pressure situations.
• Collaborative Influencer: A proven ability to build trust and influence cross-functional teams to achieve shared business strategies.
• Complexity Manager: Skilled at managing highly complex processes and communicating effectively with all levels of leadership.
• Business Acumen: Strong operational and project management skills with a focus on metrics-driven team development and resource optimization.
Qualifications
Position Qualifications and Key Capabilities
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related technical field.
• Experience: Significant, progressive leadership experience in high-volume manufacturing (e.g., automotive, battery cell/pack assembly, food manufacturing, or semiconductor industries).
• Leadership Track Record: Proven experience managing other leaders (such as Senior Supervisors, Supervisors, or Process Coaches) and leading large, multi-shift production teams.
• Technical Systems: Strong working knowledge of manufacturing execution systems (MES), automated assembly lines, parts traceability, and end-of-line testing.
• Problem-Solving: Advanced root-cause analysis capability with a track record of implementing systemic, long-term technical and operational solutions.
• Flexibility: Ability to support a 24/7 manufacturing operation, including flexibility to work across shifts, weekends, and extended hours as business needs dictate.
Preferred
• Master's Degree in Engineering, Management, or a related field.
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• Strong working knowledge of traceability and testing data systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in conflict management, negotiation, and persuasion.
• Ability to work closely with others to deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
Leadership Attributes
• Strategic Visionary: Able to translate the rapidly evolving global energy storage market into actionable maintenance strategies.
• Decisive Under Pressure: The ability to remain calm and make rapid, data-driven decisions during facility constraints or critical equipment failures.
• Adaptability: The resilience to lead a team through the ambiguity of a new startup, where processes are being built and refined in real-time.
• Business Partner: The ability to translate technical maintenance requirements into sound financial business cases for executive stakeholders. Visionary strategic thinker able to navigate rapidly evolving global energy storage markets.
Location & Travel
U.S. with domestic travel
Company
As Ford establishes a wholly owned subsidiary focused on Battery Energy Storage Systems, this role will initially be employed by Ford and is expected to transition to the subsidiary within one year.
