Vice President of Operations

~ Build a Bright Future; Come Shine with Us! At SolarWorld, each and every one of our green-collar employees is helping to save the world by delivering clean energy from sand and sun. ~

Our vision is simple: We Build the SolarWorld. We are a global leader in providing customer-oriented solar energy solutions, striving to make solar energy competitive and affordable for the average consumer.

The SolarWorld group is dedicated to the core business of solar photovoltaic products and technology, operating production facilities in Germany and the USA. With 500 MW of production capacity at our state of the art manufacturing facility in Oregon, SolarWorld operates the largest crystalline solar manufacturing site in North America.

Innovation, customer focused and growth not only define our company, but also describe our employees - the foundation of our success. SolarWorld is dedicated to providing a work climate that promotes career growth, open communication and new ideas. To ensure employees' success, we provide best-in-class benefits that focus on delivering quality of life and personal development. SolarWorld employees enjoy a minimum of 4 weeks of vacation (5 weeks for exempt) and reimbursement of education expenses for qualified degree level programs!

Our culture not only encourages, but also demands personal responsibility, diversity, and an entrepreneurial way of thinking. Join us in a bright future and build a successful career for yourself. Feel good knowing that the work you do every day will build a better tomorrow for generations to come!

Position Overview

In this critical role you will act as a Vice President of Operations over SolarWorld's Hillsboro site. This position is responsible for managing all high-volume, 24x7 production facilities on the campus including >500MW of solar cell manufacturing and 60/72 cell module manufacturing, and the operation and success of the supplier related functions in the Americas' markets.

Your organization includes Production Operations, Equipment Maintenance, Equipment Engineering, Process Engineering, Quality, Facilities, local Research & Development, Product Management and Health/Safety/Environmental, Purchasing, Logistics, and Production Planning in a state-of-the art solar manufacturing site.

This position will work as part of a global matrix organization, integrating global and regional strategies for manufacturing cost reduction programs, quality improvements, and factory material. You will be part of SolarWorld America's Executive Management team as well as part of SolarWorld's Global Operations team and Global Executive Committee.

As a key leader of the world's largest Western crystalline solar manufacturer, you will work both in the Americas as well as globally to manage core processes, practices, and methodologies and will set overall business strategies for the company as a whole.

Responsibilities

• Set the overall Americas business strategy (product, process, technology, production) in conjunction with the SolarWorld Americas executive team and the Global matrix leadership team.
• Lead local management and collaborate with global management to set aggressive targets, align team to targets and ensure adequate business plans to achieve targets.
• Achieve required safety, quality, output, cost and employee results.
• Engage, lead, and develop current teams, building competencies for industry-leading functions in these areas.
• Build and manage effective teams for high-volume manufacturing in the Americas' market.
• Drive key global business processes and build a matrix team to ensure low cost and on-time delivery of bill of materials and spare parts for highly efficient manufacturing processes.
• Plan, organize, manage, and control activities related to site-wide production.
• Drive business processes and teams to continuously improve supplier quality. Ensure material quality is improved to maintain world class product quality, and support manufacturing yield and cost objectives.
• Work directly with regional Heads of Purchasing and Logistics to manage and negotiate high-level contracts for strategic commodities in the Americas regions.
• Integrate with a Global Purchasing, Production Planning, and Logistics functions to ensure lowest cost supply of high-quality components used in SolarWorld's wafers, cells and modules worldwide.
• Coordinate with Sales Operations and Project functions to ensure the effective scoping, build-out and implementation of an enhanced order-fulfillment processes to our customers; this includes enhanced procurement processes and functions for our system components.
• Lead warehousing and logistics functions in support of multi-site, high-volume manufacturing and product distribution.
• Organize, supervise, and direct the work of division employees - You will need to effectively manage through others and direct projects to effective completion across multiple functional areas including production, maintenance, equipment and process engineering, quality, purchasing, production planning, logistics and all support organizations.
• Evaluate, select and grow leadership talent for all new employees in production, maintenance, equipment engineering, process engineering, quality, purchasing, production planning, logistics and other related positions.
• Manage employee performance utilizing performance management tools.
• Ensure that all departmental staff are effectively aligned to global organizational performance metrics. Coach for career growth and succession planning to ensure SolarWorld sustainability.
• Interact with key support group functions including IT, Human Resources, and Finance to ensure proper overall business performance.
• Interact with internal and external customers as the top operational leader in the Americas.
• Own the P&L and be responsible for business results. Apply business acumen in all decisions / strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement, cost reduction and quality improvement systems and methods. Implement industry-leading lean manufacturing practices for sustained high-volume manufacturing.
• Champion mission-critical business projects and drive cross-functional and cross-site project teams to accomplish goals.
• Work effectively as part of an international management team, leveraging international talent, systems and processes as needed to meet business objectives.
• Set standards that align with SolarWorld's philosophy of sustainability. Drive these standard through all areas of the business.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Candidates for this position must have significant proven success leading world-class 24x7 operations in a high volume, low mix environment.
• Candidates must also bring to this position a proven ability to guide, influence, and inspire through both formal and informal leadership.
• Successful candidates should demonstrate a desire for personal development, communicate easily, enjoy working in a team environment and be highly flexible.

Additional professional and personal requirements include:

• Advanced functional expertise in a high-tech, high-volume manufacturing environment is required with 10+ years leadership experience in operations and supply chain management.
• Must possess minimum of 3+ years management experience at the Manufacturing director level or higher.
• Bachelors degree (B.S.) in engineering, manufacturing technology or related discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience. An advanced degree in a related field (e.g., MBA, PhD) is preferred.
• Preference for detailed understanding and training in statistical analysis, lean manufacturing and problem solving methodologies and tools that are used in a high-volume manufacturing environment.

Preferred skills in Purchasing, Production Planning, and Logistics:

1. BOM reduction programs.
2. Strategic purchasing / Global commodity management.
3. Negotiations & contracts management.
4. Inventory management.
5. High-Volume manufacturing materials and spare parts support following principles of: Kanban; JIT; Lean; Six Sigma.
6. Supplier development.
7. Strategic planning.

• Demonstrated expertise in negotiations, including specific training in negotiation and successful track record of driving critical BOM reductions through vendor negotiations, supply chain re-alignment or related projects.
• Must have strong track record of effective leadership (e.g., people management) skills including team building, performance management, career development and coaching of other senior leaders.
• Demonstrated track record of success in highly matrixed organizational structures; ability to achieve objectives by working in and with cross-functional, international, and multi-cultural teams.
• Global perspective, awareness, and ability to understand customers' needs beyond their domestic operations are required.
• Effective interpersonal and relationship management skills are paramount.
• Must possess ability to manage budgets and have prior P&L ownership experience.
• Must be able to work independently and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic and team-based environment.
• Must possess strong analytical and financial capabilities, be process-oriented and attentive to detail.
• Strong desire to bring best practices to the team, share knowledge and expertise and enable team members' mutual success as the organization continues to grow.
• Must possess excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills (written and verbal), particularly in an international, distributed work environment. 
• Must be able to effectively communicate with all levels of employees within the organization.
• Ability to build and articulate clear business cases for executive level decision making is required, including verifiable references that demonstrate how your work has positively impacted the company.
• Must possess advanced computer skills utilizing Microsoft Office productivity tools (e.g., Excel, Power Point, Word). 
• Additional preference for detailed knowledge of ERP and MES systems for reporting, analysis and management and control of high-volume manufacturing.
• Proven track record of driving operational excellence in dynamic / fast-paced industries.
• Excellent business judgment, including the ability to assess the reasonableness and likelihood of success of various business alternatives.
• Must have the ability to work in an open office environment as well as manufacturing environment and wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) as required.
• Obtain a valid passport and travel domestically and internationally as needed.
• Successful candidates may be required to complete a third party assessment center evaluation, and have a satisfactory result.

To Apply

Please click below: "Apply Here!" and follow the application instructions provided on our website.