Operations Manager

Overview

Element has an oppotunity for an Operations Manager who is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of a high-performance automotive testing laboratory in Warren, Michigan, supporting automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and other mobility technology customers. This role oversees laboratory personnel, test facilities, equipment, customer programs, scheduling, safety, quality, and operational performance across a broad range of automotive system and component testing capabilities.

The laboratory provides comprehensive automotive testing services, including full-vehicle and vehicle-system testing, electric vehicle (EV) battery testing, climatic and environmental simulation, electrical systems testing, fluid systems testing, hydraulic testing, vibration and mechanical shock testing, and related durability and qualification testing.

The Operations Manager serves as a key connection between laboratory operations, engineering, business development, project management, and customers. The position requires a strong understanding of automotive testing environments, laboratory management, test standards, instrumentation, equipment utilization, and the technical requirements of OEM and Tier 1 automotive programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations of the automotive testing laboratory, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality execution of customer testing programs
• Manage laboratory personnel, including department managers, test engineers, and other technical staff
• Establish staffing requirements, work assignments, shift coverage, and resource allocation based on customer demand and laboratory capacity
• Develop and maintain operational processes that maximize laboratory throughput, equipment utilization, and customer responsiveness
• Monitor laboratory capacity, scheduling, turnaround times, utilization, and operational performance
• Identify bottlenecks and implement continuous-improvement initiatives to improve efficiency, productivity, quality, and profitability
• Support capital planning and expansion of laboratory capabilities, equipment, and infrastructure

Skills / Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Engineering Technology, Applied Science, or a related technical discipline
• 7+ years of experience in automotive testing, validation, engineering, laboratory operations, or a closely related technical environment
• 3+ years of leadership or management experience in an automotive testing or laboratory environment
• Experience working directly with automotive OEMs and/or Tier 1 suppliers
• Demonstrated experience managing complex testing operations involving multiple concurrent customer programs
• Strong understanding of automotive test and validation processes
• Experience with laboratory equipment, instrumentation, data acquisition, and test systems
• Strong understanding of laboratory safety, quality systems, equipment maintenance, and operational controls
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and manage competing priorities
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and customer-facing communication skill

Preferred

• Experience with EV battery and high-voltage automotive testing
• Experience with full-vehicle testing or vehicle-system validation
• Experience with environmental/climatic chambers and environmental simulation
• Experience with vibration, mechanical shock, durability, and structural testing
• Experience with electrical/electronic systems testing
• Experience with automotive fluid, thermal-management, cooling, or HVAC systems testing
• Familiarity with ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory requirements
• Familiarity with ASTM, SAE, ISO, IEC, and OEM-specific automotive test procedures
• Experience with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), ERP systems, scheduling software, or test-
• management platforms
• Experience with capital equipment planning and laboratory expansion

This position operates within a technically sophisticated automotive testing laboratory and requires regular interaction with engineering personnel, technicians, customers, suppliers, and senior management. The role may require time on the laboratory floor and exposure to test equipment, high-voltage systems, environmental chambers, vibration systems, mechanical testing equipment, vehicles, and other industrial laboratory environments.The Operations Manager must be comfortable working in a fast-paced, customer-driven automotive testing environment where priorities can change based on OEM program requirements, vehicle development schedules, equipment availability, and testing deadlines.

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Company Overview

Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. Globally we have more than 9,000 brilliant minds operating from 270 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to ‘Make tomorrow safer than today’.

When failure in use is not an option, we help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network of scientists, engineers, and technologists support customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access.

While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.

Industries across the world depend on our care, attention to detail and the absolute accuracy of our work. The role we have to play in creating a safer world is much bigger than our organization.

Diversity Statement

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”.

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c) 

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