Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Director of Quality Operations? 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!

Meet the Recruiter: Denise Goetz

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 Director of Quality Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for all quality functions within lithium-ion battery manufacturing. Panasonic Energy Company of North America (PECNA) is seeking an ambitious Director of Quality who will design, hire, build and lead a team of extreme talented and equally motivated individuals who will be responsible for Quality of Manufacturing Operations of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery initiative. With superior battery designs and the fastest manufacturing lines in the world, Panasonic is currently producing millions of batteries per day at the Gigafactory in Reno, NV to support electric vehicle and energy storage businesses, and now invites you to join us in this ongoing further accelerate this effort to electrify our society, this time in DeSoto Kansas.

The Director of Quality Operations oversees the entire quality aspect of manufacturing operations. This involves ensuring the improvement of processes and the delivery of quality products through effective quality management practices.

Essential Duties:

Functional Leadership & Operations:

• Risk Management: The role involves using advanced statistical and predictive analysis techniques to identify potential quality-related risks. Implementing risk mitigation strategies is crucial to prevent issues such as product recalls, safety incidents, losses, or compliance problems.
• Quality Management System (QMS) Ownership: Maintain and Enforce the Quality Management System across the manufacturing operations to ensure compliance with applicable standards and regulations Continuously review and improve the QMS to meet changing industry demands.
• Process Optimization: Identifying opportunities for process improvement throughout the manufacturing cycle is vital. Collaboration with various teams is necessary to implement efficiency-enhancing measures while maintaining product quality
• Develop and implement rigorous quality assurance protocols to monitor all stages of battery production
• Establish and maintain strict quality control measures to detect, contain, and prevent defects
• Develop, monitor, and report key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the effectiveness of quality initiatives
• Prepare and deliver performance summaries and improvement recommendations to senior leadership
• Manage departmental budgets and resources effectively to support operational priorities and continuous improvement initiatives

Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:

• Identify and implement process improvement opportunities throughout the manufacturing cycle to enhance efficiency, reduce variability, and maintain product quality
• Lead root cause analyses and corrective action activities to resolve quality issues and non-conformances
• Implement preventive measures to eliminate recurrence of identified issues
• Align quality objectives with organizational strategy to ensure quality operations support company-wide goals for safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction
• Champion digital transformation and data-driven decision-making within quality operations to improve traceability, analysis, and responsiveness

Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of quality professionals, fostering a culture of continuous learning, accountability, and operational excellence
• Establish clear performance expectations and professional development plans to strengthen technical expertise and leadership capability
• Promote best practice sharing and knowledge transfer across global and regional quality teams to drive consistency and innovation

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Collaborate with sales, manufacturing, and customer quality teams to address customer feedback and complaints
• Partner with procurement and supplier quality teams to ensure supplier compliance with specifications, standards, and quality performance metrics
• Engage with executive leadership, engineering, and production teams to align on quality goals, priorities, and performance outcomes
• Represent quality operations during customer audits, management reviews, and cross-functional strategic initiatives

Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:

• Implement proactive mitigation strategies to prevent product recalls, safety incidents, losses, and compliance issues
• Ensure compliance with all applicable industry standards, regulatory requirements, and internal policies, including ISO, IATF, and environmental health and safety guidelines
• Monitor and manage product safety and reliability metrics, ensuring timely execution of corrective and preventive measures
• Promote a proactive culture of safety, quality, and risk awareness across all levels of the organization

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This position provides direct leadership to the Quality Operations Managers, Metrology Leader, and Quality Engineers. The Director is responsible for setting departmental goals, overseeing performance management, guiding professional development, and ensuring effective staffing and succession planning across all quality functions.

Travel Requirement:

• Less than 20%

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:

• To ensure health and safety in the workplace and for employee protection, wearing PPE is a possibility and includes equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator. A respirator fit test will be required based on functional area.

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:

Education:

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, quality management, manufacturing, or a related field
• Preferred: Master's or PhD in a related discipline

Essential Qualifications:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in quality management and manufacturing operations, including leadership of cross-functional teams
• Proven track record managing QMS implementation, audits, and compliance with ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 standards
• Strong understanding of lithium-ion battery manufacturing processes and industry-specific regulations
• Expertise in root cause analysis, corrective/preventive action, and continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean, TQM)
• Skilled in data-driven decision-making using statistical or predictive analysis tools
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills to influence at all organizational levels
• Ability to align quality initiatives with business strategy and drive operational excellence
• Alignment with Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles: contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, and gratitude

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience directing quality operations within a lithium-ion battery or related advanced manufacturing environment
• Experience managing global or multi-site quality programs and supplier quality systems
• Demonstrated success leading customer-facing quality initiatives to improve satisfaction and performance metrics
• Proficiency in developing and presenting quality performance reports to executive leadership

Preferred Certification(s):

• Certified Quality Manager (CQM)
• Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)

Physical Demands:

Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 40%
• Walk: 30%
• Stand: 20%
• Lift: 10%

Required Lifting and Carrying: Not required (0%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%), Continuous (67-100%)

For this position, the required frequency is:

• Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional
• Up to 20 lbs.: Not Required
• Up to 35 lbs.: Not Required
• Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Not Required

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.

This is an exciting time to join us as we expand our operations to De Soto, Kansas and build the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory. We will provide 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!

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.

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:

• Highly inclusive and class-leading healthcare options to include family planning, mental health, and pet insurance
• Employee assistance programs that support total well-being with complimentary session offered each and every month
• Company-matched and fully vested 401K retirement program that starts immediately from date of enrollment
• Annual bonus program, High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
• Simplified access to self-guided and representative-supported short and long-term financial wellness and retirement planning
• Educational Assistance & Reimbursement Program
• Inclusion programs and associated employee resource groups that promote representation and belonging
• Leadership, career, and mentorship development programs opportunities at all levels across the organization
• Collaborative and motivating culture routed in continuous personal and professional growth and much more.

Supplemental Information:

Pre-employment drug testing is required.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, 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.

#LI-DG1