Functional Project Manager Jobs in Independence, MO

Overview
Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Project 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!
Responsibilities
SOP Project Manager
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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 Project Manager leads cross-functional project execution for facility operations, capital improvements, and production scalability within a high-volume manufacturing environment, operating within established program priorities and organizational objectives. This role manages project scope, schedule, budget, and risk to ensure safe, compliant, and timely delivery. Working closely with engineering, procurement, operations, and vendor partners, the Project Manager drives alignment and execution without direct people leadership. Ideal candidates bring strong planning discipline, technical fluency, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Essential Duties:
Functional Operations:

• Lead planning and execution of mid- to large-scale projects supporting infrastructure, production, and capital initiatives
• Define project scope, schedules, deliverables, and resource requirements in partnership with key stakeholders
• Develop and maintain integrated project schedules, managing critical path activities and interdependencies
• Coordinate vendor execution, procurement timelines, and construction or installation milestones
• Execute assigned projects in alignment with established program plans, governance, and sequencing priorities

Performance Optimization & Continuous Improvement:

• Proactively identify project risks and implement mitigation strategies to protect cost, schedule, and scope
• Track project performance using established KPIs and dashboards to drive timely decision-making
• Support continuous improvement by applying and suggesting improvements to project workflows, templates, and standard processes
• Capture lessons learned and contribute to project closeout documentation to support continuous improvement efforts

Training & Team Support:

• Lead and facilitate recurring project meetings, ensuring accountability and alignment across teams
• Provide guidance to cross-functional contributors on project expectations, timelines, and deliverables
• Support adoption and effective use of project management tools and standard practices

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication:

• Serve as primary point of contact between engineering, operations, procurement, vendors, and leadership
• Deliver clear, consistent project communications through status reports, dashboards, and presentations
• Resolve project conflicts, remove execution barriers, and escalate risks or issues through defined governance channels as appropriate

Quality, Safety, & Compliance:

• Ensure project execution aligns with internal quality, safety, and regulatory requirements
• Maintain audit-ready project documentation and support internal or external inspections as required
• Reinforce safety expectations across project teams and vendor partners

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

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
Requirements - Required and/or Preferred
Education, Certifications, and Licenses:
Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Computer Science, or related technical/operations field. Relevant work experience may be substituted for required education

Preferred:

• Master's degree (e.g., MBA, MS in Project Management, Engineering Management, or Data Analytics)
• PMP, CAPM, or equivalent project management certification
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Essential Qualifications:

• 5+ years of hands-on project management experience delivering technical, construction, manufacturing, or capital projects
• Demonstrated ability to manage project scope, schedule, cost, and risk for mid- to large-scale initiatives
• Proven experience developing and maintaining detailed project schedules and managing critical path activities
• Strong working knowledge of project management tools such as Smartsheet, MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint, JIRA, or similar platforms
• Ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and external vendors without direct authority
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
• Effective written and verbal communication skills for delivering clear project status, risks, and mitigation plans to diverse audiences
• Experience operating within established governance, standards, and program or PMO frameworks
• Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English
• Alignment to 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)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in lithium-ion battery or high-volume manufacturing environments
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, or other structured methodologies
• Understanding of engineering drawings, capital expenditure projects, or facility systems
• Advanced proficiency in enterprise platforms (e.g., SAP, Oracle)
• Demonstrated ability to drive change and improve processes in fast-paced or evolving settings

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

• Sit: 40%
• Walk: 30%
• Stand: 30%

Required Lifting and Carrying: Rare (<1%), 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.): Rare

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.

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.
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.
Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing 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!
Supplemental Information:
Pre-employment drug testing is required.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, 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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