Director of Administration

Gotion Illinois; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Gotion Illinois is seeking a Plant Administration Director to lead all administrative operations and site services for a manufacturing facility of roughly 500 employees. You will ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective administration, vendor management, security, catering, employee services, and workplace support aligned with production schedules.

The ideal candidate brings hands-on site leadership in large-scale manufacturing, builds strong administrative systems, and partners with HR, EHS,

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive administration, site operations, or general affairs experience
• 5+ years of people management experience
• Experience supporting a 300–1,000+ employee manufacturing facility
• 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 urgent site operational issues
• Experience in battery/EV/automotive/semiconductor/energy or advanced manufacturing environments preferred
• Experience working in multicultural and international organizations desirable

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
• Oversee employee services including catering, transportation, accommodation support, uniforms, office supplies, meeting rooms, mail/courier services
• Oversee administrative management of office areas, common areas, and plant support facilities
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Budgeting & cost control

Vendor management

Executive presence

Operations management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Management/Operations/Hospitality

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.