Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as an Emergency Manager? 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: 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 Emergency Manager leads emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for our Kansas facilities. This role manages the local Emergency Management Program (EMP), develops policies and training, coordinates emergency operations, and supports post-incident recovery. The Emergency Manager provides leadership to the Fire Brigade Supervisor and collaborates with designated emergency response personnel to ensure effective coordination of PECNA’s overall emergency readiness. This role is critical to strengthening facility resilience and aligning with PECNA’s safety and business continuity objectives. The position requires strong leadership under pressure, collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, and proactive risk mitigation. Limited travel and availability for emergency response outside regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, are required.

Essential Duties:

Functional Leadership & Operations:

• Manage the local Emergency Management Program (EMP) for Kansas-area facilities, ensuring its relevance and effectiveness
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date emergency management documentation
• Respond to emergencies under pressure while managing competing priorities and deadlines
• Facilitate meetings and briefings with diverse stakeholders during or after emergency events
• Demonstrate initiative and manage multiple assignments with efficiency, ensuring timely and accurate completion of responsibilities

Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:

• Help develop, implement, and maintain emergency management policies, standards, and procedures
• Evaluate current risks and implement mitigation strategies aligned with company priorities
• Stay informed on emergency management best practices, standards, and technologies; recommend updates to company processes as needed
• Implement proactive problem-solving strategies using internal and external best practices

Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:

• Plan, deliver, and improve emergency training programs including seminars, tabletop exercises, drills, and functional simulations
• Evaluate the effectiveness of training exercises to ensure emergency plans are robust and participants are well-prepared
• Foster internal capabilities by developing core competencies among key response personnel

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Collaborate with PECNA Facilities Fire Systems staff and other internal partners to support a unified response strategy
• Build and maintain professional working relationships with fire departments, emergency medical services, and county emergency management officials
• Attend and participate in emergency preparedness meetings with local, regional, state, and federal agencies, addressing relevant recommendations and outcomes
• Assist with business continuity planning and engage in post-incident recovery strategies with internal teams and community partners

Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:

• Remain available to respond to incidents on a 24/7 basis, within reason, by assessing situations, triaging, and escalating to appropriate stakeholders
• Participate in incident investigations to identify root causes and recommend corrective actions to prevent recurrence

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and direction to the Fire Brigade Supervisor and coordinate with internal emergency response personnel to ensure cohesive and effective incident response

Travel Requirement:

• Limited — occasional travel to support training, coordination, or post-incident response at other sites

Education, Certifications, & Licenses:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in emergency management, fire science, occupational safety, environmental health and safety, or a closely related field. Active enrollment in a bachelor’s degree program in emergency management with previous emergency management experience may be considered.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in Emergency Management, Public Safety, Homeland Security, or related discipline
• Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) through the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) or equivalent state-level emergency management certification
• Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) certification
• Additional credentials in business continuity, incident investigation, or hazardous materials response

Essential Qualifications:

• 5+ years of progressive experience in emergency response, disaster management, or industrial emergency planning
• 3+ years in a leadership or supervisory role related to emergency management or public safety
• Completion of FEMA Independent Study courses: IS-100, IS-200, IS-300, IS-400, IS-700, and IS-800, along with the FEMA Professional Development Series
• Demonstrated ability to respond to real-world incidents under pressure and manage emergency teams effectively
• Strong knowledge of emergency management planning, risk assessment, and recovery procedures
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills with an ability to communicate clearly across all levels of an organization
• Strong decision-making, prioritization, and problem-solving skills in dynamic and high-pressure environments
• Technological proficiency with emergency notification systems, planning software, and training tools
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with external agencies such as fire departments, EMS, and emergency management offices
• Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience within a manufacturing, industrial, or high-risk operational environment (e.g., energy, chemicals, or heavy equipment)
• Familiarity with lithium-ion battery risks, hazardous materials handling, and facility-based emergency protocols
• Experience developing and conducting full-scale drills and multi-agency response exercises
• Ability to inspire and lead cross-functional emergency teams and drive a culture of safety and preparedness
• 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, gratitude)

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 includes equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator. 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.

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.: Occasional
• Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional
• Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Occasional

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:

• 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

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.

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