Manager, Cell Formation - Cell Manufacturing in Grünheide, Deutschland

• Lead and develop a multi-functional team across Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering — with accountability for both direct reports (Associate Managers, Supervisors) and indirect reports (Operators, Maintenance Technicians, Engineers) — including hiring, team structure, and training programs
• Own shop performance against key metrics: First Time Through (FTT), Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), Safety, Quality, Cost, and Daily Production Plan
• Accountable for full shift operations across the Cell Formation shop — ensuring seamless coverage, escalation management, and production continuity across all shifts spanning Aging, Formation Cycling, and Packaging
• Champion a safety-first culture across all functions — Formation processes involve high-voltage cycling systems, significant energy densities, and a dense, highly automated material handling environment; ensure rigorous adherence to safety standards, proactive hazard identification, and zero-compromise on safe working practices
• Drive reliability and throughput improvements across the fully integrated automation landscape — including automated rack and conveyor systems, pick & place operations, packaging equipment, and high-voltage formation cycling electronics — ensuring interdependent systems perform as a cohesive, high-output production flow
• Leverage the integrated Engineering team (Process, Equipment, Controls) to drive equipment reliability, process stability, formation protocol optimization, and automation performance across the full end-to-end system
• Own the shop's Process FMEA discipline and continuous improvement cadence — driving systematic risk identification, prioritization, and closure across Operations, Maintenance, and Engineering; embed a zero-defect mindset and ensure lessons learned are consistently fed back into updated standards and documentation
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across the Cell Manufacturing value chain — collaborating closely with upstream partners (e.g., Electrode, Cell Assembly) and downstream partners (e.g. Battery Pack) to ensure seamless material flow, aligned priorities, and rapid resolution of cross-functional issues
• Partner with Quality, EHS, and Supply Chain to resolve quality concerns, support new product introductions, and coordinate new model launches
• Own and drive shop compliance — ensuring adherence to all regulatory, environmental, health, safety, and internal policy requirements; act as the accountable leader for audit readiness and corrective action closure across all functions
• Translate strategic direction into clear team actions; represent the shop to senior leadership with clarity

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or Industrial Engineering — or equivalent with demonstrated exceptional ability
• 7–12 years of experience in high-volume manufacturing, with direct and indirect leadership
• Proven experience in high-volume industry, ideally battery or electrochemical manufacturing
• Demonstrated ability to build and enforce a safety-first culture
• Proven experience operating and optimizing highly automated, end-to-end manufacturing systems — including automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS), conveyor networks, pick & place automation, and packaging equipment at high volume; demonstrated ability to manage complex system interdependencies and drive overall line reliability
• Proven experience leading Maintenance teams systematically in a highly automated manufacturing environment — including establishing and driving Preventive Maintenance (PM) programs, Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) and Mean Time To Repair (MTTR) tracking, spare parts strategy, and escalation frameworks; ability to shift a maintenance organization from reactive to predictive, data-driven operations at scale
• Strong background in OEE-driven operations — demonstrated ability to diagnose and close losses across availability, performance, and quality in a continuous, high-throughput environment
• Experience leading or closely collaborating with Controls and Equipment Engineering teams — ability to bridge operational needs with technical solutions across process, equipment, and automation domains
• Proven experience ramping manufacturing lines to rate readiness, including managing cross-functional dependencies, resolving early-production instability, and scaling automated systems to target volumes under time pressure
• Proficiency in structured problem-solving (8D, DMAIC, or equivalent); experience applying FMEA and zero-defect principles in production
• Exceptional relationship builder — proven ability to establish trust and credibility across functions, levels, and cultures; navigates complex stakeholder environments with confidence and fosters a collaborative, solutions-oriented working culture
• Fluent in English, German is a plus (written and spoken)
• Availability to cover shifts during buy-off or severe process issues; willingness to travel internationally as required