Administration Director
Location: U.S. Manufacturing Facility
Level: Director
Reports to: Head of Management Center
Site Size: Approximately 500 employees
Position Summary
The Plant Administration Director is responsible for leading the overall administrative operations and site services for a manufacturing facility of approximately 500 employees.
This role ensures the safe, efficient, professional, and cost-effective operation of the site by overseeing general administration, employee services, security, transportation, catering, facility support, vendor management, workplace services, executive/VIP visits, and major site events.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on site leader with strong experience supporting large-scale manufacturing operations and building effective administrative systems in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities
1. Plant Administration & Site Operations
- Lead the overall day-to-day administrative operations and site services for a manufacturing facility of approximately 500 employees.
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve administrative policies, procedures, service standards, and operating processes.
- Ensure administrative services effectively support production schedules, shift operations, and overall plant requirements.
- Identify operational issues and drive timely resolution in coordination with relevant departments.
- Develop annual administration plans, budgets, and cost-control initiatives.
2. Employee & Workplace Services
- Oversee employee services including catering, transportation/shuttle services, accommodation support, uniforms, office supplies, meeting rooms, mail/courier services, and other workplace services.
- Ensure administrative resources are appropriately adjusted based on workforce growth, production schedules, and shift requirements.
- Establish service standards and employee feedback mechanisms to continuously improve the employee experience.
3. Site & Facility Support
- Oversee administrative management of office areas, common areas, and plant support facilities.
- Manage janitorial services, landscaping, snow removal, waste services, pest control, and other general site services.
- Partner closely with Facilities, Engineering, EHS, Production, and Maintenance teams to ensure site issues are resolved efficiently.
- Maintain a professional, organized, and operationally ready workplace environment.
4. Security & Site Access
- Oversee plant security operations, including security vendors, access control, visitor management, vehicle access, site patrols, and restricted-area management.
- Establish and maintain effective visitor and contractor management procedures.
- Coordinate with EHS and plant leadership on emergency response and business continuity activities related to site administration.
5. Vendor & Contract Management
- Manage administrative vendors and service providers, including catering, transportation, security, janitorial, accommodation, and workplace service providers.
- Establish and monitor vendor KPIs and SLAs related to quality, cost, compliance, responsiveness, and service performance.
- Conduct regular vendor performance reviews and drive corrective actions when required.
- Identify opportunities for cost reduction, contract optimization, and service improvement.
6. Executive Visits & Major Events
- Lead administrative coordination for executive visits, customer visits, government delegations, business partners, and other VIP guests.
- Plan and support major plant meetings, employee events, celebrations, community events, and corporate activities.
- Establish professional and standardized protocols for VIP reception and plant tours.
7. Cross-Functional Coordination
- Partner closely with HR, EHS, Production, Engineering, Finance, Procurement, IT, and other functions to support plant operations.
- Lead cross-functional resolution of administrative and site service issues.
- Support relationships with local service providers, community organizations, government agencies, and other external stakeholders as needed.
8. Team Leadership
- Lead and develop the plant administration team, including organization design, staffing, performance management, and capability development.
- Establish clear team responsibilities, KPIs, service standards, and accountability mechanisms.
- Build a professional, responsive, service-oriented administration organization capable of supporting continued plant growth.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, Operations, Hospitality Management, or a related field preferred.
- 10 years of progressive administration, site operations, or general affairs experience, preferably within a manufacturing environment.
- 5 years of people management experience, with demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary administrative teams.
- Experience supporting a 300-1,000 employee manufacturing facility strongly preferred.
- Strong knowledge of plant administration, employee services, security, transportation, catering, workplace services, and vendor management.
- Demonstrated experience in budget management, cost control, contract negotiation, and vendor performance management.
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, and cross-functional leadership skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively to urgent site operational issues.
- Strong executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with senior leadership, employees, vendors, customers, and external stakeholders.
- Experience in battery, EV, automotive, semiconductor, energy, or other advanced manufacturing industries preferred.
- Experience working in a multicultural and international organization is highly desirable.
- Bilingual English/Mandarin communication skills are a plus.