Project Manager

Asahi Kasei; Port Colborne; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead the development of a new battery separator manufacturing facility. This role involves overseeing project governance, ensuring alignment with company objectives, and managing stakeholder communication. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in project management methodologies and a strong background in large-scale industrial projects. Join a forward-thinking company committed to innovation and sustainability in the rapidly growing electric vehicle sector. This position offers a dynamic work environment with opportunities for professional growth and collaboration across international teams.

Benefits

Flexible Work Schedule

Travel Opportunities

Professional Development Programs

Health and Wellness Benefits

Qualifications

• 7+ years of project management experience in manufacturing.
• Proficiency in project management methodologies like PMI and Agile.
• Experience in large-scale industrial projects preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement PMO frameworks and methodologies.
• Support project teams in planning, scheduling, and budgeting.
• Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies.

Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder Coordination

Risk Management

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

PMP Certification

Business Administration Degree

Tools

Microsoft Project

Primavera

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

The Asahi Kasei Group operates with a commitment of creating for tomorrow. Our business sectors, Materials, 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.

Asahi Kasei is a long-trusted supplier of lithium-ion battery separators – polymer-based microporous membranes that are a key component of the lithium batteries used to power electric vehicles, renewable energy storage systems, and more. We are currently seeking applications to fill the following job opening at Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Canada, where we are in the process of constructing a new lithium battery separator manufacturing facility to support increasing North American demand.

Company:

Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Canada Corporation

Job Description:

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to be a part of the Project Management Office in support of a new plant build and start-up based in Port Colborne, ON. The incumbent will support the successful execution of multiple projects within our battery materials production factory initiative. This role ensures project governance, standardization, and efficiency across all project phases. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in project management methodologies, stakeholder coordination, and risk management, with experience in large-scale industrial projects. The ideal candidate would also have the ability to utilize the most effective and latest project management tools.

Reporting Relationships

This position directly reports to the Vice President of Project Management and does not supervise others at this time.

Asahi Kasei Values

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

Key Accountabilities

PMO Strategy & Governance:

• Develop and implement PMO frameworks, methodologies, and best practices to ensure project alignment with organizational objectives.
• Drive the alignment of company goals and strategies to ensure project sub teams align with business priorities, budgets and schedules.
• Organize and plan project tasks and schedules to ensure project charter deliverables are achieved.
• The person in this role is expected to develop key metrics for the overall project and also for the sub projects to monitor progress against deliverables.
• The incumbent will be expected to support the Vice President of PMO and Executive Vice President of the company in reporting, managing the project schedule and budgets.
  
  

Project Planning & Execution:

• Support project teams in developing project plans, timelines, budgets, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Delegate work to team members based on skills and expertise, check on their progress, and ensure that each project is completed to the highest standard.
• Develop high level times lines for overall project, consistent with sub team goals and deliverables, report out timeline risks at bimonthly meetings to management team.
• The incumbent will be expected to coach and mentor project sub team leaders to ensure critical project methodologies are followed, updates are timely and meaningful and issues are identified in a timely fashion and contingencies are developed for risk mitigations.
  
  

Risk & Change Management:

• Identify potential project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and establish change control processes to minimize disruptions.
  
  

Stakeholder Communication:

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including Japanese, Canadian, and American team members, to ensure alignment and effective communication.
• Create individualized presentations and reports to communicate project status to stakeholders and key project participants.
  
  

Performance Monitoring & Reporting:

• Establish reporting mechanisms to track project performance, milestones, and deliverables while ensuring transparency for senior leadership.
• Manage and coordinate multiple projects to ensure they are completed on time and on budget.
  
  

Resource Allocation & Optimization:

• Ensure optimization of project deliverables, schedule, and budgeting.
• Assist in resource planning and allocation to ensure efficient utilization of personnel and materials.
• Work with proposal teams to develop cost estimates and project plans.
• Facilitate and encourage collaboration across and within councils to ensure projects are completed successfully.
• Keep the project team focused on the end goal.
  
  

Process Improvement:

• Continuously assess and enhance project management processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
  
  

Qualifications

Education Background:

• A bachelor’s degree is required; with a preference for a degree in engineering, degrees in business administration, information technology, project management, would be considered based on experience in large projects..
• Certification in PMP or PRINCE2 is preferred.
  
  

Knowledge & Experience:

• 7+ years of experience in project management in a manufacturing environment is required.
• Relevant experience in large-scale industrial or manufacturing projects is required; experience in the battery materials or automotive sectors is preferred.
• Must have a high level of proficiency of project management methodologies (e.g., PMI, PRINCE2, Agile).
• Ability to make schedules in MS project or primavera is a strong requirement.
• Experience in the field of quality, maintenance, manufacturing, environmental health and safety (EH&S), product stewardship, supply chain management, manufacturing/operational excellence, and manufacturing digitalization transformation are preferred.
• Understanding of compliance, regulatory requirements, and safety standards in an industrial setting is preferred.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office suite tools, cloud-based hosting platforms and version control tools, and project management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Primavera or other platforms).
• Japanese language proficiency is a plus.
  
  

Key Attributes:

• Must have ability to work in a multicultural environment and coordinate between international teams.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills are required.
• Must possess ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong interpersonal and team leadership skills are required.
• Strong organizational, time management, and verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule would be a strong consideration due to the need to manage a dynamic project with a multinational project team.
  
  

Travel:

• Must be able and willing to travel up to 15% domestically and abroad for training and visiting other company locations.
  
  

Schedule:

• Must be able and willing to work a flexible schedule for emergencies and to attend in-person meetings and conference calls outside of normal business hours. The incumbent can flex working hours to accommodate.
  
  

Working Environment

This position will be based in a temporary structure on the construction site until the permanent office is built in 2026. The final work environment will be at a 24/7 manufacturing operation. This position is in support of manufacturing and requires working in a production environment around chemicals. The manufacturing facility will be a state of the art in terms of automation and being temperature and humidity controlled. This will be a clean and comfortable environment due to the nature of the products being produced.

About Us

Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Canada, an Asahi Kasei Company, is a pioneer in battery technology and a long-trusted supplier of lithium battery separators, which are polymer-based microporous membranes that are key components of lithium-ion batteries (LIB).

The company’s Hipore brand of separators have been commercially available since the lithium battery market’s inception in the early 1990s and they are found primarily in electric drive vehicles (EDVs) as well as in consumer electronics (CE) such as smartphones, tablets and personal computers. Hipore membrane separators bring high porosity and excellent energy transfer, while contributing to battery safety and reliability and they are especially well matched for the high-capacity batteries required for power plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and full battery (BEV) vehicles.

Asahi Kasei is accelerating its next phase of global growth with proactive investment and capacity expansion in battery separators to meet increasing demand for electric vehicle applications. Expansions have been announced at existing Asahi Kasei LIB separator facilities in the United States, Japan, and South Korea, with start-up scheduled in succession from the first half of fiscal year 2026. Asahi Kasei will continue investing to further build its LIB separator infrastructure for automotive applications to meet growing demand in North America where significant expansion of electric vehicle production is forecasted.

We are now in the early phases of staffing our new greenfield site, in Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada, that will have an investment of about 1.57 billion CAD$ to further build its LIB separator infrastructure for automotive applications to meet growing demand in North America where significant expansion of electric vehicle production is forecasted.

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 48,000 employees around the world, the Asahi Kasei Group serves customers in more than 100 countries. We are Creating for Tomorrow!

Location Information

Port Colborne, Ontario is a charming harbour town situated in the Niagara Region on the coast of Lake Erie. The Niagara Region is made up of 12 municipalities and has a population of approximately 478,000. It is an international trade hub with industry ranging from agriculture, construction, manufacturing, technology, tourism, transportation and warehousing. There are two regional airports, easy access to four international airports, railway, and other public transportation. It is home to Brock University, Niagara College Canada, McMaster University, as well as public and private schools that offer a selection of concentrations. The area offers a safe, affordable lifestyle with a hometown community feel. Recreational attractions include Humberstone Speedway, Niagara Falls, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, the Welland Canal, Canada’s largest casino, wineries, sporting and entertainment venues for concerts and festivals. Other amenities include the Niagara Heath System, a variety in dining, farmer’s markets, ample parks, trails and outdoor activities. Within driving distance, the greater Ontario province offers modern cities and countryside that are rich in culture, history, and natural beauty. It is about a 90-minute drive to Mississauga, Toronto, and Brampton.

As an equal opportunity employer, Asahi Kasei is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce. Asahi Kasei believes that its diverse workforce strengthens the company’s ability to adapt and thrive in a changing world .