Sr. Manager Operations

AESC US; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Bonus program

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

401K with company match

Paid Vacation and Holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

AESC US LLC in Blythewood, SC is seeking a Senior Operations Manager to lead manufacturing operations, drive safe and cost-efficient production, and integrate planning with workforce, materials, and equipment.

The role requires broad plant operations leadership across functions, plus collaboration with Maintenance, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to ensure consistent performance and readiness for growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or substantial manufacturing leadership experience.
• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing experience, including 5+ years in plant operations leadership.
• Experience with ERP/MES, Lean, and operational performance management.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily manufacturing operations across shifts and production areas.
• Establish and execute production plans aligning labor, equipment, materials, and delivery requirements.
• Manage KPIs including throughput, OEE, labor productivity, downtime, scrap, cost, and on-time delivery.
• Collaborate with Maintenance and Engineering to ensure equipment availability and preventive maintenance.
• Partner with Quality to manage defects, process compliance, containment, and corrective actions.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain and Logistics to maintain material flow and inventory accuracy.
• Lead production supervisors and team leaders, setting expectations for attendance and staffing.
• Manage operating expenses, labor utilization, and production resource requirements.
• Promote a disciplined safety culture with EHS and enforce standards.
• Support commissioning, ramp-up, process stabilization, and future plant expansion.
• Develop staffing, succession, and workforce capability plans.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic planning

Problem solving

Safety leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations/Manufacturing or related

Tools

ERP/MES systems

Lean manufacturing

Operational performance management

Job description

About AESC US LLC

AESC is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high-performance batteries for zero-emission electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Founded in Japan in 2007 and headquartered in Yokohama, AESC has been building manufacturing capabilities around the world in the U.S., U.K., Europe, Japan and China to serve key markets and leading customers locally for over 14 years. Today, AESC has become the partner of choice for the world's leading OEMs and energy storage providers in North America, Europe, and Asia. Its advanced technology powers over one million electric vehicles and provides more than 15GWh of installed capacity for battery energy systems in over 60 countries.

Job Description

AESC is expanding its footprint in the United States, and the Blythewood Repack Operation supports the broader South Carolina production network. AESC is committed to our local communities where it is making its investments, creating jobs, and supporting local charities.

About The Role

The Senior Operations Manager provides comprehensive leadership of manufacturing operations, driving safe, reliable, efficient, and cost-effective production. This role is responsible for integrating production execution with workforce planning, material flow, equipment availability, quality performance, and operational readiness.

The successful candidate must possess a broad understanding of plant operations and demonstrate the ability to lead across functions rather than operate solely as a production manager.

What You Will Do

• Direct daily manufacturing operations across assigned shifts and production areas.
• Establish and execute production plans that align labor, equipment, materials, and customer delivery requirements.
• Manage operational KPIs including throughput, OEE, labor productivity, downtime, scrap, cost, and on-time delivery.
• Collaborate with Maintenance and Engineering to ensure equipment availability, preventive maintenance execution, and effective downtime response.
• Partner with Quality to manage manufacturing defects, process compliance, containment, and corrective actions.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain and Logistics to maintain effective material flow, inventory accuracy, and production readiness.
• Lead production supervisors and team leaders, establishing clear expectations for attendance, timekeeping, staffing, overtime controls, and employee performance.
• Manage operating expenses, labor utilization, and production resource requirements.
• Promote a disciplined safety culture with EHS and enforce manufacturing operating standards.
• Support commissioning, production ramp-up, process stabilization, and future plant expansion.
• Develop staffing, succession, and workforce capability plans.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

What You Need

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or a related discipline, or equivalent substantial manufacturing leadership experience.
• At least 10 years of progressive manufacturing experience, including five years in plant operations leadership.
• Demonstrated accountability for manufacturing performance, staffing, safety, cost, and cross-functional execution.
• Experience with ERP/MES systems, Lean manufacturing, and operational performance management.

What is "Nice to Have"

• Automotive OEM or Tier 1 experience.
• Battery manufacturing experience.
• High-volume automated manufacturing experience.
• Plant launch or greenfield ramp-up experience.

Travel Requirements

20% International Travel

What We Offer

Welcome to AESC, where you'll have the opportunity to tackle the world's most fascinating challenges alongside exceptionally talented individuals who are driven to make a difference. We strive to ensure that our employees are well taken care of, enabling them to focus on their work and contribute to our collective mission.

• Comprehensive compensation packages including a competitive salary and a rewarding bonus program.
• An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development.
• Highly automated, clean, safe, and temperature-controlled production environment.
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance.
• HSA and Flexible Spending Accounts.
• 401K with company match.
• Life Insurance (Company paid and additional voluntary life available).
• Paid Vacation and 14 Paid Holidays.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage (Company Paid).
• Tuition reimbursement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

At AESC, we are committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) to all individuals. We participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Join us in our passion to design, manufacture, and sell high-performance products, contributing to a sustainable and zero-carbon emission future.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• Ability to stand, walk, and work on a concrete production floor for extended periods of time.
• Ability to read, write, speak, hear; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach and lift with hands and arms frequently throughout the day.
• Ability to wear all required PPE when working on the production floor.
• Required to occasionally lift, push, pull and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally required to lift, push, pull and/or move up to 35 pounds.

Work Environment

The work environment is primarily a semi-automated/automated plant with a concrete floor and is characterized as climate controlled, moderate noise, and forklift traffic. The individual must be able to perform all essential functions as appropriate on the plant floor, in meetings, and with employees, management, customers and suppliers.

Candidate must perform the essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation efficiently and accurately, and without causing significant safety threat to self or others. The statements made herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive and inclusive list of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required of personnel so classified.

Hiring is contingent upon successful completion of a drug screen and background check, and verification of the candidate's eligibility to work in the United States. AESC US LLC is a drug-free workplace.