Utility Operations 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 Facilities Operations 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
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Meet the Recruiter: Anh Martin
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 Facilities Operations Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing facility operations across critical utilities and infrastructure systems, including SCADA-driven Facilities Management Systems (FMS), HVAC, electrical distribution, water and wastewater treatment, and chemical systems. This role oversees a large, multi-shift facilities organization through direct leadership of Facilities Supervisors and indirect leadership of hourly facilities personnel. The Manager ensures safe, reliable, compliant, and cost-effective operations in direct support of manufacturing and site objectives while driving continuous improvement, workforce development, and strategic alignment with Engineering, Maintenance, EHS, OHS, and Project teams.
Essential Duties:
Functional Leadership & Operations:

• Provide overall leadership and operational oversight of facilities utilities and infrastructure across assigned areas and shifts
• Ensure stable, reliable operation of SCADA-controlled Facilities Management Systems (FMS) supporting manufacturing and site operations
• Set operational expectations and standards for HVAC, electrical distribution, water/wastewater, and chemical system performance
• Guide Facilities Supervisors in daily execution, staffing, escalation management, and response to abnormal conditions
• Ensure effective shift coverage and operational readiness for a 24/7, high-reliability manufacturing environment

Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance safety performance, system reliability, uptime, energy efficiency, and cost effectiveness
• Establish and sustain standard work, preventive maintenance strategies, and operational best practices across facilities teams
• Utilize operational data, KPIs, and trend analysis to proactively identify risks, gaps, and improvement opportunities
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, forecasts, and cost controls in alignment with business objectives
• Support long-term facilities and utilities strategies in coordination with site and corporate leadership

Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:

• Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing facilities organization, including Supervisors, Leads, and hourly team members
• Drive performance management, succession planning, and leadership development for Facilities Supervisors
• Partner with HR to support hiring, onboarding, training, and workforce development initiatives
• Promote cross-training, technical capability building, and knowledge sharing across shifts and disciplines
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, continuous learning, and operational excellence

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Partner closely with Engineering, Maintenance, Construction, Project Controls, EHS, and Operations to align facilities support with business needs
• Provide operational input for utility design, project development, startups, expansions, and commissioning activities
• Collaborate with Procurement and vendors to support inventory strategies, material availability, and service performance
• Communicate facility performance, risks, and priorities effectively to site leadership and internal stakeholders
• Represent Facilities Operations in cross-functional meetings and strategic planning forums

Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:

• Ensure compliance with all environmental, health, safety, quality, and financial regulations, permits, and internal standards
• Establish expectations and accountability for safe work practices, including LOTO, confined space, energized work, chemical handling, and PPE
• Partner with EHS to drive safety initiatives, audits, training, and corrective action closure
• Provide leadership during facility emergencies, major outages, and incident response events
• Ensure accurate reporting, documentation, and traceability for operational events, audits, and performance metrics

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Provide direct leadership to Facilities Supervisors and indirect oversight of hourly Facilities personnel across assigned areas
• Responsible for performance management, workforce planning, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness within Facilities Operations

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 Business Administration, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Engineering, or a related field
• Relevant work experience may be substituted for required education

Preferred:

• Master's degree (MBA or MS) in a related discipline
• Certified Facility Manager (CFM) or Facilities Management Professional (FMP)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
• NFPA 70E or NFPA 70B certification
• OSHA 30-Hour General Industry certification
• Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) Trainer
• HAZWOPER 8- or 40-hour certification
• EPA Universal Certification (or equivalent refrigerant handling certification)
• Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

Essential Qualifications:

• 5+ years of progressive facilities or utilities leadership experience
• Proven experience overseeing critical building systems, including HVAC, electrical distribution, water/wastewater, and SCADA-driven systems
• Strong working knowledge of regulated-environment safety programs, including LOTO, confined space entry, energized work, and chemical handling
• Experience utilizing CMMS or digital maintenance management systems for asset management, preventive maintenance, and workforce planning
• Demonstrated ability to lead operations in a 24/7, high-reliability manufacturing environment
• Ability to manage complex priorities, make sound decisions under pressure, and lead through emergency or abnormal situations
• Strong data analysis and reporting capabilities, including KPI development and dashboard utilization
• 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:

• 7+ years of progressive facilities leadership experience in a large-scale, regulated manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated success improving safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity metrics (SQDCP)
• Advanced understanding of operational KPIs, utilities performance metrics, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Experience supporting utility startups, major expansions, commissioning activities, or complex system upgrades
• Familiarity with environmental permitting and compliance reporting (air, water, wastewater), as applicable
• Strong executive-level communication skills with employees, contractors, vendors, and senior leadership
• 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: 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.: Continuous
• 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, relig...