Manufacturing Operations Manager Jobs in Manchester, MD

The Production Supervisor is responsible for leading daily manufacturing operations for the assembly of lithium-ion battery cells used in custom, high-performance applications. In this role, the Production Supervisor will lead a team of approximately 20 production associates to execute production activities across three shifts.

The ideal candidate has experience leading hourly manufacturing teams in a technical, high-reliability, or regulated production environment and is comfortable working in a fast-paced operation where process compliance, documentation accuracy, equipment readiness, and team communication are critical.

• The individual that takes this role will support all production activities across three shifts including weekend overtime.
  
• The key focus areas of this position include, but are not limited to: Safety, Quality Compliance, Task Scheduling and Prioritization, Resource Utilization, Process Change Implementation, Employee Mentorship and Development, Continuous Improvement Initiatives and Cost Savings.
  
• The Production Supervisor will work closely with Operations, Process Engineering, Program Management, Quality, Maintenance, and Planning/Warehouse, to ensure the safe and on-time completion of the products manufactured at the correct quality level and within budget.

• This position is highly floor-focused and will require hands-on production support on related activities. This could include covering breaks/vacations or performing operator functions when business requires the support. A person in this position is expected to spend 75% of their time on the manufacturing floor supporting and overseeing work being performed.

• Must be a US Citizen or 10 yr green card holder
• A four-year degree is required.
• A Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering is strongly preferred. However, a Bachelor’s in Business or another technical discipline may also be acceptable.
• A Master’s degree in Business or another Technical discipline is a nice to have.
• 3+ years of leadership within a manufacturing environment. Preferably with experience in lithium-ion battery, aerospace, defense, automotive, electronics, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments
• Strong organizational and communication skills; works well independently and with cross-functional teams
• Must be resilient, self-motivated, and able to perform effectively under pressure
• Experience managing production performance metrics (SOPs, inventory management, KPIs, lean manufacturing)
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Daily work in a dry room environment
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Key Responsibilities:

Production Operations

• Manage production activities for approximately 20 associates across three shifts and coordinate weekend overtime as needed

• Forecast work schedule to identify resource constraints in advance. Take action to manage constraints and achieve the schedule
• Provide the central point for communications within the shift team. Ensure robustness in communications with the cross-functional team through the use of PMR meetings and shift hand-offs
• Maintain a strong presence on the manufacturing floor and provide hands-on support when required
• Serve as the primary escalation point for shift-level operational issues

Safety

• Promote and enforce a strong safety culture and compliance with HSE requirements
• Identify risks through use of assessment tools and collaborate with support teams to implement corrective actions
• Lead incident investigations and implement corrective actions

Continuous Improvement

• Monitor production performance, labor utilization, yield, and equipment uptime

• Contribute to continuous improvement within the Saft Excellence System (SES) culture via problem solving, Production Management Routines, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Collaborate with Engineering and Quality to improve manufacturability, productivity, and yields by using data-driven decision making
  

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure the production area is compliant to the requirements specified within the Saft, including AS9100 quality standards
• Ensure product is manufactured in accordance with the quality expectations. Utilize review tools such as bench top reviews to ensure work to be performed is thought through and well understood in advance of the work being performed. Review process changes to ensure manufacturability and product integrity are respected
• Support root cause investigations and continuous improvement efforts to reduce defects, scrap, and rework

Team Development

• Coach and develop a team of approximately 20 associates

• Advocate and support the team performing the work within the area. Ensure staffing levels are correct to support the required demand. Monitor and act when appropriate to maintain positive morale and employee engagement.
• Support hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management activities
• Maintain training compliance and encourage cross-training and skill development
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and operational excellence

Working Conditions:

• Manufacturing environment with frequent walking, standing, and interaction with production equipment, materials, and technicians.
• Must wear required PPE and adhere to controlled dry room requirements when on the production floor
• Must be able to support three-shift manufacturing operations and weekend overtime as necessary.
• May require occasional extended hours to support schedule recovery, customer demand, equipment issues, process changes, or urgent production priorities.
• Role requires regular presence on the production floor and active engagement with employees across all shifts.

Whether you are just getting started or are an experienced professional, we offer a robust total rewards package to include generous compensation based on market standards, healthcare, wellness, adoption assistance, discounted stock purchase, career development and recognition programs. Some of our superior benefits include parental (maternal and paternal) leave, 401K retirement contribution match at 7%, educational assistance (tuition reimbursement), Short-term Disability (STD), paid holidays, paid vacation, and paid employee referral award.

We appreciate diverse skills/experience and yours could add immense value to our team. Our customers have varied backgrounds and so do our employees. If you are excited about leaving your footprint on our technical customer-centric solutions while increasing sales, we would love to hear from you.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, and genetic information. If you require an accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact us by email at reasonableaccommodation@saft.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Saft is a global battery company like no other! Our long experience and pioneering spirit, combined with our unique industrial approach, puts us in a leading position to meet the needs of the most demanding customers.  Our batteries and battery systems make a different in every market sector they serve.

Established in 19 countries and supported by our 16 production sites, Saft has more than 4,300 employees around the world and more than 3,000 customers across a range of industries. 

Since 2016, Saft is a wholly owned subsidiary of TotalEnergies, a global integrated energy company that produces and markets various forms of energy, including oil, biofuels, natural gas, green gases, renewables, and electricity. With 100,000 employees, TotalEnergies is committed to provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to as many people as possible.  The company operates in approximately 120 countries and places sustainability at the core of its strategy, projects, and operations.