Plant Manager
Confidential* Must Have Solar Manufacturing Experience* The Plant Manager leads the startup, production ramp-up, and ongoing operations of Translucent Solar’s solar module manufacturing facility. Accountable for safety, quality, production, on-time delivery, workforce development, equipment reliability, and manufacturing costs, this hands-on leader builds effective teams, establishes operational best practices, and translates company objectives into measurable results. Job Duties and Responsibilities Lead startup and production ramp-up: Coordinate equipment installation and commissioning, operational readiness, staffing, training, and production trials. Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, and suppliers to resolve startup issues and achieve planned capacity. Direct daily operations: Manage production schedules, staffing, shift coverage, and operating procedures. Coordinate with Procurement, Supply Chain, Quality, and Sales to align material availability, production capacity, and customer commitments. Champion safety and environmental compliance: Partner with the HSE Manager on training, hazard assessments, machine guarding, hazardous-energy controls, and incident corrective actions. Ensure unsafe conditions are addressed before affected work resumes. Maintain product quality: Work with the QA/QC Manager to support quality systems aligned with ISO 9001 and customer and product requirements. Maintain process controls, traceability, audit readiness, corrective actions, and approved procedures for nonconforming materials and product release. Build and develop the team: Partner with Human Resources to recruit, train, coach, and evaluate managers, supervisors, and employees. Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, effective shift handoffs, and development opportunities. Improve equipment reliability and processes: Coordinate preventive maintenance priorities, resolve recurring downtime, and improve equipment utilization. Support equipment upgrades, capacity expansion, and new product introductions. Control costs and drive continuous improvement: Manage plant budgets, labor plans, operating expenses, and capital requests within approved authority. Apply Lean manufacturing and structured problem-solving to reduce scrap, rework, downtime, and cost per watt without compromising safety or quality. Monitor performance and accountability: Track production output, overall equipment effectiveness, first-pass yield, scrap, downtime, labor productivity, schedule attainment, and manufacturing costs. Lead operating reviews and assign corrective actions with clear owners and deadlines. Maintain records and reporting: Ensure accurate production, inventory, labor, maintenance, and material-usage records. Report performance, risks, and resource needs to executive leadership. Coordinate with Finance and other responsible departments to support audits and documentation for applicable domestic manufacturing requirements and company incentive programs. Required Qualifications At least four years of solar manufacturing experience, including production leadership and demonstrated management of a solar module factory or substantial module manufacturing operation. Direct photovoltaic module manufacturing experience is required. Strong knowledge of solar module manufacturing processes and equipment, including cell stringing, layup, lamination, framing, junction box installation, inspection, testing, and packaging. Demonstrated success in team leadership, production planning, workforce scheduling, equipment reliability, budget management, and continuous improvement. Working knowledge of manufacturing safety, quality management systems, material flow, inventory control, and applicable operational compliance requirements. Strong communication, organizational, analytical, and decision-making skills, with the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams, resolve production problems, and respond to changing operational demands. Proficiency with spr…