Vice President of Operations

The Asahi Kasei Group operates with a commitment of creating for tomorrow.  Our business sectors, Material, Homes, and Health Care, contribute to the development of society by anticipating the changing needs of those around the world. We look for candidates that offer a fresh perspective and a variety of skills to help us achieve our commitment.

We are currently seeking applications to fill the following job opening at Celgard where we develop and manufacture membrane battery separators that are critical components used in lithium-ion batteries for electric drive vehicles (EDVs) and energy storage systems (ESS).

Company:

Celgard, LLC

Job Description:

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a Vice President of Operations to lead the end-to-end global manufacturing strategy and execution to ensure cost-effective, high-quality production and continuous improvement across Celgard. This position is responsible for the strategic leadership and development of the company’s global operations while building strong relationships with key stakeholders, executives and employees across the company to secure organizational commitment for defined strategies. This position is responsible for the entire global operations – including 3 manufacturing plants, division engineering, and quality The role ensures safety, quality, output, and cost performance across the manufacturing footprint, while driving strategic growth and operational excellence.

This role reports directly to president of Celgard with direct reports in both plants and operation functions and has following primary responsibilities.

First, the incumbent will champion and guide plants and operations functions in aligning on Celgard strategy execution. This role is responsible for driving deeper on lean implementation, optimization projects, and OPS discipline across Celgard. While improving cost structure and efficiency with our existing production portfolio, the role also needs to efficiently drive our new operational capability and new business model on board.

Second, as part of Celgard global Leadership team, this role needs to consolidate best practices and collaborate with other functions to drive culture changes that our transformation strategy is driving the Company toward. This includes advocating agility and lean principles in our organization, driving accountability and results-oriented practices, and building a high say-do ratio organization that fosters accountability.

Third, this role will engage with our JV in China through our Celgard China team and bring valuable insights and best practices promptly back to the US plants daily operations to improve our cost structure and volume for ramping up, as well as CAPEX and operation spending practices. Simultaneously, this role will also be providing necessary resources and support to our JV.

Key Accountabilities

• Strategic Leadership: Provide leadership and vision to the global operation teams. Create and communicate culture and vision down to the shop floor while driving a results focused culture and accountability while increasing employee engagement.
• Operations Oversight: Develop and execute manufacturing strategies, including capability building and footprint optimization. Accomplish the forecasting, planning and production of the Celgard business that includes all process from order to cash generation as well as direct contact with all suppliers and customers. 
• Process Improvement: Lead continuous improvement initiatives, implement lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies to enhance efficiency and quality.
• Cost & Quality Control: Integrate cost control, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance into all manufacturing processes.
• Technology & Automation: Lead division engineering, integrating design, process optimization, and project execution to support production goals with minimal disruption.
• Leadership Development: Build and lead site leadership teams, develop plant managers, division engineering leader and quality leader, and ensure strong EHS and regulatory compliance.
• Capex & Ramp Execution: This position also oversees capital budgets, global project management, and implementations of all global engineering projects including expected installations.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with R&D, supply chain/procurement, SMS and Marketing, sales and finance.
• Performance Management: Monitor and improve network performance metrics (safety, quality, delivery, cost) and drive productivity from the shop floor.

Qualifications

Education Background:

• Bachelor’s degree required; degree in engineering or a related field preferred; master’s degree is a plus.

Knowledge & Experience: 

• Must have 15+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing, including plant leaders and plant expansions. Must also have experience leading engineering and quality.
• Must have 5+ years of multi-site oversight experience; at least 5 years of global experience is strongly preferred.
• Must possess strong operational, financial, and strategic planning skills.
• Must have expertise in Lean Six Sigma or similar methodologies to drive actions down to detail and ability to lead change and manage complex projects.
• Proven track record in driving cost reduction, quality improvement, and operational excellence is required.
• Experience building high performing leaders and teams, with a proven track record of execution and delivering on an organization’s goals and objectives is required.
• Proven ability to effectively lead and manage within a fast-paced, high-growth, complex organization, with global operations and relationships is required.
• Must have experience creating an engaged and aligned workplace that helps drive an accountable and performance-based culture.

Key Competencies:

• Must have previous change management experience with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Must possess a strong financial acumen.
• Must have proven ability as a productive and collaborative executive team member.
• Strong evidence of developing talent and leading an organization to excellence is required.

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 

Travel

Must be able and willing to travel around 30% domestically and abroad. 

Working Environment

General office environment at the Celgard Charlotte Corporate office. This position also requires working in a manufacturing plant setting that would require working in a production environment around chemicals.  

Celgard manufacturing sites are IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 certified. 

Perks & Benefits

Comprehensive Healthcare Benefits, effective 1st day of the monthFlexible Spending Account & Health Savings AccountVacation + 8 Paid Holidays + 24 Hours of Floating Holidays401K Safe Harbor Contribution + MatchingPaid Parental Leave after a Year of EmploymentEmployee Assistance ProgramLife & 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 Asahi Kasei. 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

Charlotte, NC, known as 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 be outdoors. 

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As an equal opportunity employer, Asahi Kasei believes a diverse workforce will provide us with the ability to continuously support the changes in the economy, society, and environment.