Lead Production Manager – 24/7 Battery Manufacturing

Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America; De Soto (KS); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid time-off

Job summary

Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America in De Soto, Kansas, is seeking a Production Manager to lead multiple production lines in a high‑volume, 24/7 manufacturing environment for a state‑of‑the‑art lithium‑ion battery factory near Kansas City.

You will own safety, quality, cost, delivery and productivity targets, drive Lean manufacturing and 6S, develop Production Supervisors, and collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain to deliver continuous improvement and

Responsibilities

• Own manufacturing performance across assigned production lines, ensuring achievement of safety, quality, cost, delivery, and productivity targets
• Manage departmental operating expenses and support annual budget planning processes
• Lead and develop Production Supervisors to ensure effective daily execution of production plans
• Ensure capacity planning, labor optimization, and resource allocation align with production demand
• Drive adherence to standardized work, operating procedures, and operational controls
• Serve as escalation point for line-level operational, quality, and people-related issues
• Translate plant-level strategy into actionable production plans and performance expectations
• Drive Lean manufacturing, 6S, and continuous improvement initiatives across assigned areas
• Lead structured problem-solving efforts to eliminate chronic losses and improve operational stability
• Monitor and analyze SQDCP metrics, identifying trends and deploying countermeasures
• Champion cost reduction and productivity improvement initiatives
• Develop, coach, and evaluate Production Supervisors and other direct reports
• Build leadership capability and succession pipelines within the production organization
• Partner with HR on workforce planning, employee engagement, and performance management
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Lead change management initiatives within assigned manufacturing areas
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and EHS to ensure operational alignment
• Participate in PFMEA reviews, capacity planning discussions, and new product/process introductions
• Ensure effective implementation of control plans and process controls
• Provide performance updates and operational insights to senior leadership
• Ensure safe manufacturing operations by enforcing compliance with safety standards and EHS requirements
• Drive proactive risk identification and mitigation across production lines
• Ensure defects are contained at the source and systemic quality issues are resolved
• Oversee root cause investigations and ensure sustainable corrective actions are implemented
• Maintain compliance with regulatory, environmental, and operational standards
• Provide direct leadership to Production Supervisors and indirectly oversee hourly production personnel across assigned lines
• Responsible for performance management, workforce planning, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness within assigned areas
• Minimal travel as required for business needs

Job description

Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America in De Soto, Kansas, is seeking a Production Manager to lead multiple production lines in a high‑volume, 24/7 manufacturing environment for a state‑of‑the‑art lithium‑ion battery factory near Kansas City.

You will own safety, quality, cost, delivery and productivity targets, drive Lean manufacturing and 6S, develop Production Supervisors, and collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain to deliver continuous improvement and