Director of Administration

Gotion Illinois; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Gotion Illinois is seeking a Plant Administration Director to lead the administrative operations and site services for a manufacturing facility of about 500 employees.

You will build and drive administration policies, oversee employee and workplace services, site facilities, security, and vendor management, while coordinating cross-functionally with HR, EHS, Production, and Finance to support plant growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive administration, site operations, or general affairs experience.
• 5+ years of people management experience leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience supporting a 300–1,000+ employee manufacturing facility preferred.
• Strong budget management, cost control, contract negotiation, and vendor performance experience.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day administrative operations and site services for a manufacturing facility (~500 employees).
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve admin policies, procedures, service standards, and operating processes.
• Ensure admin services support production schedules, shift operations, and plant requirements.
• Identify issues and drive timely resolutions with relevant departments.
• Develop annual admin plans, budgets, and cost-control initiatives.
• Oversee employee services including catering, transportation, accommodations, and workplace services.
• Manage site facilities, janitorial, landscaping, waste, pest control, and other services.
• Oversee security operations, access control, visitor management, and vendor management.
• Coordinate executive visits, VIP tours, and major plant events.
• Build and lead the plant administration team with clear KPIs and service standards.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with HR, EHS, Production, Engineering, Finance, Procurement, IT and others.

Skills

People management

Cross-functional leadership

Budget management

Vendor management

Operations management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Management/Operations/Hospitality Management or related field

Job description

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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.