Job Information
Panasonic North America Quality Lab Manager (PECNA) in De Soto, Kansas
Overview
Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Quality Lab Manager? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!
Responsibilities
Meet Panasonic (https://careers.na.panasonic.com/life-at-panasonic)
Meet the Recruiter : Eric Laffey
Explore Panasonic Careers (https://careers.na.panasonic.com/careers-home/jobs?page=1&sortBy=relevance&location=Kansas,%20United%20States&woe=8®ionCode=US&stretchUnit=MILES&stretch=50)
Panasonic Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-x_hDfMqb0) Our Mission: Create Technologies That Move Us
Summary:
Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation.
Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.
Job Summary: The Quality Lab Manager will oversee the day-to-day operations of the lab, ensuring a smooth workflow and timely delivery of results. This role involves developing, implementing, and monitoring standard operating procedures (SOPs) for testing and analysis. They will lead a team, manage staff, delegate tasks, and resolve conflicts, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and innovation. Also, will work together with the Operations, Product and Process development teams, resolving bugs, defects, and other potential issues and ensuring that products meet customer specifications.
Essential Duties:
Oversee day-to-day operations of the lab, ensuring smooth workflow and timely delivery of results.
Develop, implement, and monitor standard operating procedures (SOPs) for testing and analysis.
Leadership and Management Skills: Lead a team, manage staff, delegate tasks, and resolve conflicts. Fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and innovation.
Training: Lead and train junior level engineers, technicians, and inspectors to conduct testing.
Rapid Response and Analysis: Conduct laboratory analyses swiftly to support production and identify root causes of issues.
Analytical Instrumentation: Utilize various analytical instruments to conduct analyses and provide support across multiple groups within the organization.
Production Support: Assist in resolving production quality issues within the cell manufacturing process.
Customer Support: Provide support to customers in resolving claims related to cell production quality issues.
Manage Inventory: Maintain supply of laboratory consumables to ensure continuous operation.
Production Support: Assist in resolving production quality issues within the cell manufacturing process.
Process Data Evaluation: Analyze and evaluate process input/output data to reduce defects and improve battery performance.
Maintain Equipment: Maintain laboratory equipment upkeep, perform routine maintenance processes, calibration, and schedule repairs as necessary.
Safety Culture: Oversee daily operations to ensure adherence to safety standards and protocols.
Manage Budget: Manage laboratory budgets, including procurement of materials and allocation of resources.
Chemical/Materials Analysis: Take charge of chemical and materials analysis to enhance processes and resolve production challenges.
Continuous Improvement: Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement by sharing best practices, providing training, and fostering a collaborative environment.
Additional Duties: Perform other duties as assigned.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:
- To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees’, wearing PPE is a possibility and includes equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator. Respirator fit test will be required based on functional area.
The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.
Qualifications
Requirements - Required and/or Preferred:
Education:
Required: Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Material Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
Preferred: Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Chemistry, or a related discipline.
Essential Qualifications
7+ years of manufacturing/laboratory or managerial experience.
Experience with laboratory analysis using chromatography, SEM/EDS, FTIR, or similar tools.
Academic or industry experience with materials characterization, elemental analysis, or electrochemistry.
Expertise on non-destructive inspection of electronic components – CT Scanner Systems.
Expertise in handling chemicals and following laboratory safety procedures.
Familiarity with quality management tools (control chart, FTA, FMEA, etc.)
Experience with data processing software and dashboards (LIMS, Power BI, Foundry, etc)
MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Critical thinking skills and close attention to detail.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience using ISO 9001 quality management system auditing.
A laboratory background working in high-volume manufacturing is strongly desired.
Experience developing analytical laboratory methods.
Data analysis experience such as statistical process control of production data.
Experience in defect reduction of high-volume manufacturing products.
Six-Sigma Green Belt, or Black Belt.
Physical Demands:
Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:
Sit: 20%
Walk: 50%
Stand: 20%
Lift: 10%
Required Lifting and Carrying: Not required (0%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%, Continuous (67-100%)
For this position the required frequency is:
Up to 10 lbs.: Frequent
Up to 20 lbs.: Frequent
Up to 35 lbs.: Frequent
Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Occasional
Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You:
Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:
Highly inclusive and class-leading healthcare options to include family planning, mental health, and pet insurance
Employee assistance programs that support total well-being with complimentary session offered each and every month
Company-matched and fully vested 401K retirement program that starts immediately from date of enrollment
Annual bonus program, High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
Simplified access to self-guided and representative-supported short and long-term financial wellness and retirement planning
Educational Assistance & Reimbursement Program
Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and associated employee resource groups that promote representation and belonging
Leadership, career, and mentorship development programs opportunities at all levels across the organization
Collaborative and motivating culture routed in continuous personal and professional growth and much more.
Where You'll Be:
For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.
Who We Are:
Meet Panasonic Energy (https://careers.na.panasonic.com/life-at-panasonic) ! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-x_hDfMqb0) .
This is an exciting time to join us as we expand our operations to De Soto, Kansas and build the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory. We will provide you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one.
As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs.
Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions.
We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact.
In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.
We Take Opportunity Seriously:
At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer.
We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!
Supplemental Information:
Pre-employment drug testing is required.
Panasonic Energy of North America is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to: race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.
Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy of North America.
#LI-EL1
REQ-150866