Operational Risk Manager Jobs in Kansas (NOW HIRING)

Overview
Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Maintenance Supervisor? 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
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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 Maintenance Supervisor leads a team of Maintenance Technicians, Machinists, and Apprentices responsible for maintaining production equipment availability, reliability, and performance across the manufacturing floor. The role oversees the execution of preventive and corrective maintenance on electro-mechanical, robotic, and pneumatic manufacturing systems to support safe and efficient production operations. In partnership with maintenance and operations leadership, the Supervisor supports the development and execution of maintenance and calibration programs for manufacturing equipment and tools while driving equipment reliability and uptime. The role also contributes to continuous improvement initiatives including 6S, Lean manufacturing, and production process optimization while supporting maintenance performance metrics for their assigned shift.
Essential Duties:
Functional Leadership & Operations:

• Supervise and coordinate maintenance operations supporting electrical, mechanical, and automated manufacturing equipment used in production
• Oversee maintenance activities supporting highly automated production systems including robotics, PLC-controlled equipment, sensors, and automated material handling systems
• Ensure effective execution of preventive and corrective maintenance to maximize equipment reliability and uptime
• Verify completion and quality of maintenance activities including PMs, SOPs, and Standard Work Instructions
• Serve as the primary point of contact for maintenance issues and operational escalations during the shift
• Monitor equipment performance and maintenance activities to support production schedules and operational goals

Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:

• Support development and execution of preventive maintenance programs to minimize downtime and improve equipment reliability
• Analyze equipment performance and maintenance data to identify root causes and implement corrective actions
• Lead or support Lean and 6S initiatives that improve operational efficiency, reliability, and workplace organization
• Contribute to process improvements including equipment upgrades, production line configuration, and material flow optimization

Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:

• Train, mentor, and develop maintenance personnel to strengthen technical capability and operational performance
• Provide coaching, feedback, and performance management to support employee growth and accountability
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and operational excellence

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Partner with production, engineering, and operations teams to resolve equipment issues and improve manufacturing performance
• Provide technical guidance during complex troubleshooting and equipment failures
• Communicate equipment status, risks, and maintenance priorities with relevant stakeholders
• Coordinate with Facilities Maintenance teams when equipment issues impact building utilities or infrastructure

Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:

• Ensure maintenance activities comply with safety policies, regulatory requirements, and operational standards
• Promote safe work practices and reinforce safety accountability across the maintenance team
• Lead response and coordination during equipment or facility incidents and manage on-shift escalations
• Support initiatives that improve safety performance, reliability, and operational risk management

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Provide direct supervision to Maintenance Technicians, Machinists, and Apprentices, including work assignment, performance oversight, training, and adherence to safety and operational standards

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:

• Associate's degree in technical discipline (e.g., electrical, mechanical, industrial maintenance). Relevant work experience may be substituted for required education.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, industrial technology, or related field
• Journeyman Certification in a relevant trade
• Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher)
• OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Certification
• PECNA approved Technical Training

Essential Qualifications:

• 3+ years of progressive maintenance leadership experience, or 2+ years of experience as a PECNA Maintenance Lead
• Experience supervising or leading electromechanical and instrumentation technicians in a manufacturing environment
• Strong knowledge of industrial maintenance practices including preventive and reliability-centered maintenance
• Experience troubleshooting automated manufacturing equipment including electromechanical, robotic, and pneumatic systems
• Working knowledge of PLC systems and industrial electrical theory
• Experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)
• Understanding of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and equipment reliability metrics
• Experience supporting Lean manufacturing, 6S implementation, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills in complex operational environments
• Effective communicator able to collaborate with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced production environment
• Resilient, self-motivated, and able to perform effectively under pressure in a 24/7 manufacturing environment
• 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:

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience supervising hourly maintenance staff in a high-volume manufacturing environment
• Experience supporting large-scale startup operations or highly automated manufacturing facilities
• Experience in lithium-ion battery, electronics, chemical, or other regulated manufacturing industries
• Strong understanding of SQDCP metrics and operational KPIs
• Bilingual or multilingual capabilities (e.g., Japanese, Spanish)

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

• Sit: 10%
• Walk: 50%
• Stand: 40%

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.: Continuous
• Up to 20 lbs.: Occasional
• Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional
• Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Occasional

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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