Overview
Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as an Equipment Specialist Supervisor? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!
Responsibilities
Equipment Specialist Supervisor
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Meet the Recruiter: Eric Laffey
Summary:
Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation. Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.
Job Summary:
The Equipment Specialist Supervisor is responsible for leading a team of Equipment Specialists in support of equipment reliability, defect reduction, productivity improvement, and safe manufacturing operations. This role provides frontline leadership through workforce planning, employee development, performance management, and operational execution while ensuring alignment with departmental and organizational objectives. Working closely with engineering, production, maintenance, quality, and operational leaders, the Equipment Specialist Supervisor establishes priorities, allocates resources, removes barriers, and drives continuous improvement initiatives to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives. The position combines technical knowledge with strong leadership capabilities to develop team performance, improve operational effectiveness, and support business growth.
Essential Duties:
Functional Leadership & Operations:
- Provide direct leadership, guidance, and support to Equipment Specialists
- Establish daily priorities and allocate resources to support equipment reliability, productivity, and operational objectives
- Monitor team performance, work quality, and execution to ensure achievement of departmental goals and expectations
- Manage workforce scheduling, staff coverage, attendance, and workload balancing to support operational requirements
- Remove barriers impacting team performance and escalate issues requiring additional support or resources
- Ensure equipment recovery, operational readiness, and manufacturing continuity through effective coordination of team activities and resource allocation
- Monitor and communicate key performance indicators (KPIs), taking corrective action as needed to improve team performance
- Ensure timely completion of assigned projects, corrective actions, improvement initiatives, and operational deliverables
- Provide leadership during equipment-related escalations and support resolution of critical operational issues
Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, equipment reliability, productivity, and cost reduction
- Partner with engineering, production, maintenance, and quality teams to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities
- Review root cause investigations and corrective action plans to ensure effectiveness, sustainability, and accountability
- Utilize operational, maintenance, and equipment performance data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement
- Ensure alignment between departmental objectives and daily team execution
- Support implementation of new equipment, technologies, processes, and operational initiatives
- Promote the use of PDCA, Root Cause Analysis, Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement methodologies throughout the team
- Support development and execution of departmental goals, metrics, and strategic initiatives
Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:
- Lead employee performance management activities, including goal setting, coaching, performance feedback, and development planning
- Conduct regular one-on-one meetings to support employee engagement, development, and performance improvement
- Develop succession plans and identify opportunities to strengthen technical and leadership capability within the team
- Oversee onboarding, training, qualification, certification, and skill development activities for team members
- Recognize and reinforce strong performance while addressing performance concerns in a timely and effective manner
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, continuous learning, and operational excellence
- Support knowledge sharing and best-practice development across teams, shifts, and operational areas
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:
- Partner with engineering, production, maintenance, quality, and operational leadership to support business objectives and manufacturing performance
- Serve as the primary leadership representative for the Equipment Specialist team
- Communicate departmental priorities, risks, resource needs, and operational performance to stakeholders and leadership
- Participate in operational reviews, production meetings, leadership discussions, and escalation activities
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners to ensure effective execution of equipment-related priorities and improvement initiatives
- Build and maintain strong working relationships across all levels of the organization
Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:
- Promote and maintain a strong safety culture through leadership, accountability, and adherence to company policies and procedures
- Ensure compliance with environmental, health, safety, quality, and operational requirements
- Lead or support investigations related to safety incidents, quality concerns, equipment failures, and operational deviations
- Ensure compliance with lockout/tagout requirements, safe work practices, and applicable regulatory standards
- Monitor workplace risks and implement corrective actions to mitigate potential safety, quality, or operational concerns
- Ensure team adherence to established documentation, auditing, training, and recordkeeping requirements
- Support a culture of quality and operational discipline through consistent application of standards and procedures
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Provide direct supervision to Equipment Specialists, including work assignment, performance management, coaching, training, employee development, and adherence to safety and operational standards
- Conduct performance evaluations, provide ongoing feedback, and support employee career development planning
- Participate in hiring, onboarding, disciplinary actions, corrective action processes, employee engagement activities, and workforce planning
- Manage staffing, scheduling, attendance, and team performance to support operational requirements
Travel Requirement:
- Limited travel may be required for training, benchmarking activities, business meetings, or support of operational initiatives
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:
- To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.
The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.
Qualifications
Requirements - Required and/or Preferred
Education, Certifications, and Licenses:
Required:
- Associate degree in Electronic Technology, Mechatronics, Industrial Maintenance, Manufacturing Technology, Engineering Technology, Business Management, or a related field
- Relevant experience may substitute for required education
Preferred:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Technology, Engineering, Business Management, or a related field
- Six Sigma Green Belt or higher
- Leadership development training or supervisory certification
- Advanced Root Cause Analysis training
Essential Qualifications:
- 3+ years of progressive leadership experience or 2+ years as a PECNA Equipment Specialist III
- Demonstrated experience leading technical, maintenance, manufacturing, engineering support, or operational teams
- Ability to lead, coach, develop, and hold employees accountable for performance expectations
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, equipment reliability, troubleshooting methodologies, and continuous improvement principles
- Experience utilizing operational metrics, KPIs, and performance data to drive decision-making and results
- Working knowledge of PDCA, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies
- Ability to prioritize resources, manage competing operational demands, and drive execution in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
- Strong conflict resolution, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
- Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate effectively across multiple departments and organizational levels
- Strong verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills
- Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office applications, MES, Tableau, and other manufacturing support systems
- Ability to analyze operational and performance data and translate findings into actionable improvement plans
- Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English
- Alignment to Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)
Preferred Qualifications:
- 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in a manufacturing, industrial maintenance, engineering support, or technical operations environment
- Experience leading maintenance, engineering support, or highly skilled operations or technical teams
- Experience supporting highly automated manufacturing environments
- Strong knowledge of PLC-controlled equipment, automation systems, and manufacturing technologies
- Experience managing departmental KPIs, workforce planning, resource allocation, and operational performance metrics
- Demonstrated success leading organizational change, workforce development, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Experience presenting operational performance, improvement initiatives, and business recommendations to senior leadership
Physical Demands:
Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:
- Sit: 30%
- Walk: 30%
- Stand: 40%
Required Lifting and Carrying: Rare (<1%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%), Continuous (67-100%)
For this position, the required frequency is:
- Up to 10 lbs.: Frequent
- Up to 20 lbs.: Frequent
- Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional
- Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Occasional
Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You:
Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:
- Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
- Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
- Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
- Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
- Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
- Health Management and Wellbeing Programs –Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
- Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
- Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
- On-site Food Options: Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events.
Where You'll Be:
For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.
Who We Are:
Meet Panasonic Energy! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us. Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one. As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs. Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions. We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact. In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.
We Take Opportunity Seriously:
At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer. We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!
Supplemental Information:
Pre-employment drug testing is required. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.
Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America.
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