Plant Manager

About Us

Asahi Kasei Battery Separator Canada, an Asahi Kasei Company, is a pioneer in battery technology and a long-trusted supplier of lithium battery separators, which are polymer-based microporous membranes that are key components of lithium-ion batteries (LIB).

The company’s Hipore brand of separators have been commercially available since the lithium battery market’s inception in the early 1990s and they are found primarily in electric drive vehicles (EDVs) as well as in consumer electronics (CE) such as smartphones, tablets and personal computers. Hipore membrane separators bring high porosity and excellent energy transfer, while contributing to battery safety and reliability and they are especially well matched for the high-capacity batteries required for power plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and full battery (BEV) vehicles.

The Asahi Kasei Group is a diversified group of companies led by holding company Asahi Kasei Corp., with operations in the material, homes, and health care business sectors. With more than 48,000 employees around the world, the Asahi Kasei Group serves customers in more than 100 countries. We are Creating for Tomorrow

About the Role

We are seeking a Plant Manager to be a part of a new plant start-up based in Port Colborne, Ontario, CA. The Plant Manager is responsible for setting direction that will drive operational performance efficiency and effectiveness for the manufacturing location.  This includes setting and implementing strategies that drive overall improvements in environmental safety and health (EHS) compliance, product quality, productivity (cost structure), asset utilization, improved work processes, waste reduction and minimizing variation throughout the business.

Reporting Relationships

This position directly reports to the SVP of Integrated Supply Chain and will hire and supervise the ES&H Manager, Plant Engineering Manager, Process Engineering Manager, Production Manager, Warehouse Manager and plant administrative assistant.

Asahi Kasei Values
- Sincerity - Being sincere with everyone
- Challenge - Bolding taking challenges, continually seeking change
- Creativity - Creating new value through unity and synergy

Key Accountabilities
- Provide leadership in driving and sustaining a “Zero Harm” work environment
- Build team from the ground up for new plant operations in line with the cultural attributes of Asahi Kasei
- Establish and manage operational objectives, key performance indicators, and standardize business processes and metrics across the global operations
- Establish an annual productivity plan; track and build contingency plans to meet financial and operational commitments
- Set and monitor the performance of the plant against standards and targets in areas such as manufacturing and administration efficiency, cost control, sales revenue, legal compliance, and human resource management
- Responsible for maintenance, manufacturing, quality control, engineering, supply and logistics
- Develop annual plant operating budget consistent with business strategy
- Develop, implement, and monitor annual capital plans
- Promote a culture of commitment to continuous improvement of plant processes to positively affect operational manufacturing cost, product quality, and process variability
- Ensures general practices are consistent with company policies, environmental and safety standards, service standards and applicable laws and regulation
- Drive the development of employee capability and potential
- Provide meaningful feedback and communication to employees on a consistent basis
- Promote a culture of empowerment and recognition to all levels of the plant team
- Demonstrate high energy level with sense of urgency and bias for action
- Set high level of expectations and drive accountability at all levels within the plant
- Understands local perspective and proactively finds ways create positive company brand across the community
- Other tasks may be added according to future operation

**Qualifications**:
Education Background:

- Bachelor’s degree is required. B.S. Mechanical or Chemical Engineering or equivalent technical degree is strongly preferred. Master’s degree is preferred.

Knowledge & Experience: 
- Minimum 10 years of progressively increasing responsibility in manufacturing management with 5 years in a senior level production or plant management role is required
- Previous green field experience, conception to production, is required
- Must have proven track record of quantitative operational results with demonstrated ability to (1) exceed productivity and product quality goals, (2) motivate the work force, (3) develop strong functional leaders, and (4) manage manufacturing operations ethically and profitably
- Must possess previous experience in a continuous improvement environment
- Must have experience managing both engineering and production talent as well as manufacturing support functions
- Comprehensive knowledge and successful expe