Sr. Director, Manufacturing

Nextpower LLC, USA; Mesa (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Nextpower LLC is seeking a Senior Director of Manufacturing / Multi-Site Plant Manager to lead a distributed factory network assembling utility-scale solar and energy storage inverters. You will drive reliability, quality, cost, and capacity across sites and partner with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Quality to optimize the manufacturing footprint.

You will manage CM performance, lead Lean programs, and oversee safety, governance, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years in progressive manufacturing leadership with multi-site responsibility.
• Hands-on leadership on the factory floor and direct factory management with teams.
• Experience with contract manufacturers and CM-in-plant models preferred.
• Strong SPC/Kaizen/Lean background and data-driven decision making.
• Experience with start-ups, ramps, capacity expansions, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead Lean, Kaizen, automation, and test-time reduction to improve throughput and cost.
• Partner with Engineering for design-for-manufacturing and rapid changes.
• Provide executive reporting on performance, risks, and investments.
• Manage CM relationships, audits, and governance; ensure safety, quality, and delivery.
• Drive manufacturing excellence, start-ups, and capacity expansion on schedule.

Skills

Multi-site leadership

Lean manufacturing

Contract manufacturing management

Power electronics manufacturing

Data-driven decision making

SPC & Kaizen

P&L & cost modeling

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering or related field

MBA or advanced degree (plus)

Tools

ERP systems (SAP/Oracle)

Job description

Job Description: Job Description Position: Senior Director of Manufacturing / Multi‑Site Plant Manager

Business Unit: Power Conversion

Reports To: General Manager, Power Conversion

Location: Mesa, AZ

Position Overview / Role Purpose

Reporting directly to the General Manager of the Power Conversion Business, this leader owns a multi‑site factory network and is accountable for the reliability, quality, and performance of all company manufacturing operations assembling utility‑scale solar & energy storage inverters, along with safety, delivery, cost, and capacity. The role requires a hands‑on, data‑driven leader who spends time on the factory floor, can run factories directly with both company‑employed teams or contract manufacturers (CMs), including CMs operating inside company‑owned or leased facilities. Key partners include Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, EHS, Product Management, Sales and Customer Operations, Finance, and Legal. External stakeholders include contract manufacturers, equipment and automation suppliers, logistics providers, certification bodies, and customers.

Key Objectives

Deliver the highest reliable, high‑quality, high‑performing inverters, on time, across all factories to meet customer commitments and the company’s safety, growth and cost plans. Define and execute the manufacturing footprint and operating model strategy, blending company‑run and contract‑manufactured capacity to exceed customer expectations. Establish a consistent, data‑driven manufacturing system (standard work, statistical process control, KPIs, governance, and audit cadence). Drive field reliability, first‑pass yield, and cost‑per‑watt improvements through Lean, Kaizen, automation, and design‑for‑manufacturability feedback to the factory and matrixed organizations. Manage CM operational performance, including capacity commitments, throughputs, cost models, quality agreements, and continuous improvement planning. Build and develop a high‑performing manufacturing engineering bench, with strong plant operational excellence, and continuous improvement capability. Continuously drive innovation in manufacturing processes, automation, and test as a technology‑based company, and lead factory start‑ups and capacity expansions on schedule and on budget.

Core Responsibilities

Operating Model & Contract Manufacturer Management

• Lead Lean and Kaizen programs, automation, and test‑time reduction to improve throughput, quality, and cost, with improvements verified in the data.
• Partner with Engineering to ensure design‑for‑manufacturing and rapid engineering‑change implementation, and champion new manufacturing technologies and process innovation.
• Provide executive‑level reporting on manufacturing performance, risks, and investments to the General Manager and executive leadership as needed.
• Run regular business reviews with CMs; hold partners accountable for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and continuous improvement targets.
• Maintain transparency and control over CM operations through audits, shared data systems, and embedded company staff where needed to partner together for continuous improvement.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Foster a zero‑harm safety culture and ensure compliance with EHS regulations at all sites.
• Partner with Quality to maintain robust statistical process controls, test and burn‑in strategies, traceability, and corrective action systems that protect field reliability.
• Ensure compliance with product safety and certification requirements (e.g., UL, IEC), trade and customs rules, and customer audit requirements.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or a related technical discipline. MBA or advanced degree is a plus.
• 12+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including 3+ years leading multiple factories or a multi‑site network in electrical, electronics, power electronics, or similar high‑mix/high‑volume assembly.
• Proven hands‑on leader with a track record running factories directly with company‑employed teams.
• Demonstrated experience managing contract manufacturers, including commercial negotiation and performance governance; experience with CM‑in‑plant or co‑located models strongly preferred.
• Expert knowledge and hands‑on experience applying statistical process control (SPC), Kaizen, and Lean factory methods to drive yield, reliability, and cost improvement.
• Strong working knowledge of quality systems, EHS, production planning, and test/validation processes; experience leading factory start‑ups, ramps, and capacity expansions.
• Highly data‑driven, with a record of using manufacturing data and analytics to make decisions; strong financial acumen, including P&L, cost modeling, and capital planning.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and executive presence, with the ability to influence across functions and external partners.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (up to 40%) and to be on site as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience in inverter, power conversion, energy storage, EV charging, or solar manufacturing.
• Experience with high‑voltage power electronics assembly, including wiring, torque, thermal management, burn‑in, and end‑of‑line testing and reliability.
• Knowledge of UL 1741, IEC 62109, and relevant product safety and certification standards.
• Experience operating in the United States and in international or low‑cost regions, including managing cross‑border supply chains and compliance.
• Familiarity with MES, ERP, and data‑driven manufacturing analytics.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent continuous improvement experience.

Skills and Competencies

Reliability, quality, and operational excellence: Drives disciplined execution of reliability, quality, performance, safety, delivery, and cost metrics across sites.

Applies SPC, Kaizen, and Lean methods to remove constraints and sustain continuous improvement.

Data‑driven decision making: Relies on data and analytics rather than anecdote to run the business. Defines the right metrics, insists on data integrity at company and CM sites, and uses statistical analysis to find root causes and verify results.

Hands‑on leadership and innovation: Leads from the factory floor, engaging directly with people, processes, and problems. Brings a technology company’s drive for continuous innovation to manufacturing methods, automation, and test.

Partner and contract management: Negotiates and manages CM relationships as an extension of the company’s own operations. Sets clear expectations, monitors performance, and addresses issues firmly and constructively in a partnering way.

Leadership and talent development: Builds and develops strong site leaders in both company‑run and partner‑run environments. Sets high standards, empowers teams, and drives accountability.

Aligns site‑level decisions to the company’s long‑term capacity and customer strategy.

Cross‑functional collaboration and communication: Works effectively with Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, and Sales. Communicates clearly and credibly with factory teams, partners, and executives.

Safety, quality, and risk judgment: Puts safety and product reliability first when evaluating trade‑offs. Anticipates operational, supplier, and compliance risks, and escalates early with clear options.

At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility‑scale power plants.

Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power.

Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data‑driven insights, and advanced automation.

Together, we’re building the foundation for the world’s next generation of clean energy infrastructure.

Nextpower is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

We are Nextpower At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility‑scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data‑driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we’re building the foundation for the world’s next generation of clean energy infrastructure.