Site Operations Director - SOLARCYCLE, Inc
Mesa, AZ
About the Job
Do you want to be on the cutting edge of the clean energy and climate tech industry? Are you excited about the intersection of renewable energy and the circular economy? We are too. And that's why we launched SOLARCYCLE, an advanced technology-based recycling company.
The solar industry needs a global end-of-life partner to restore, renew, and ultimately recycle yesterday's solar panels for tomorrow's clean energy projects. SOLARCYCLE aims to be the partner of choice for solar asset owners looking for a responsible solution to their end-of-life system needs. And we need you to direct our field operations to help us become a leader in this new burgeoning sector in the renewable energy industry.
About the role:
SOLARCYCLE is establishing a specialized pilot plant to recycle end of life solar panels and looking for a seasoned operations leader to help design, build and run a world-class solar recycling operation. We are looking for someone that has experience in both start-ups and larger companies and has scaled up pilot plant operations to full production.
If you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with lots of challenges and opportunities, this is the right role for you. Since we are an early-stage company with strong growth prospects, there will be many opportunities for career advancement.
Responsibilities:
- The role will manage the facility, people, equipment, process, quality, safety and logistics for the operation
- The role requires a hands-on leader possessing a combination of operational and technical management skills. This Leader easily transitions between office duties (boardroom, meetings, operational reviews) to walking the floor and interfacing with people, process, and machines.
- Recruit, select, train, assign, schedule, coach, and counsel direct and indirect employees assign and manage their Critical Success Factors (CSFs)and personal growth goals
- Contribute operations information and recommendations to strategic plans and reviews; prepare and complete business and site action plans; implement production, productivity, quality, and customer-service standards; resolve problems; complete audits: identify trends
- Manage incoming and outgoing inventory flows for the warehouse and stock yard. and coordinate delivery schedules with vendors and Customers
- Develop, implement, and enforce company policies.
- Ensure compliance to Customer and Environmental requirements
- Analyze and improve business processes and manufacturing operations using LEAN principles.
- Drive continuous improvement while managing change to ensure a positive impact on cost, capacity and quality.
- Manage relationships with key internal and external customers and suppliers.
- Track equipment metrics and drive reliability and productivity using root cause analysis and preventive actions.
- Assist in design, development, procurement, installation and commissioning of new equipment, and optimize equipment layouts for efficiency in material movement
- Prepare and adapt operational forecasts, prepare annual budgets and operating plans, schedule expenditures: analyze variances: initiating corrective actions; assemble and communicate weekly, monthly, and quarterly operational plan vs actual updates (dashboards, metrics, operations review, etc.)
- Communicate with legal counsel to ensure all processes remain compliant with OSHA health and safety regulations and other governmental regulation
Education, Training and Professional Experience:
- At least 10 years experience running production operations or supervising production lines in a manufacturing environment.
- Semiconductor factory (fab), automotive factory, or advanced manufacturing with factory floor/management experience is a strong plus where Statistical Process Control (SPC), Kaizen floor activities, Kanban, 5S, and other Lean Manufacturing approaches and background are a natural part of every work-day.
- Skilled in 8D root cause analysis, data analytics, and design of experiments (DOE) a plus
- Experience with logistics management, shipping and receiving
- Solar and/or recycling operations experience is a plus.
- A passion for your work, eager to learn and to mentor others with a "can-do" attitude
- A great attitude to work hard, have fun and make the world a better place.
#LI-Onsite
You don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you think this role is for you but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right person for this role.
You will be working alongside a highly successful team who deliver amazing innovative work in the solar PV industry! The solar industry needs a global end-of-life partner to restore, renew and ultimately recycle yesterday's solar panels for tomorrow's clean energy projects. SOLARCYCLE aims to be the partner of choice for solar asset owners looking for a responsible solution to their end-of-life system needs.
Solar power is one of the most powerful tools humanity has in our fight against climate change. But for solar to truly scale to its full potential, we need to create renewable supply chains and a vibrant secondary market for upcycled panels and recycled materials. Since its launch in 2022, SOLARCYCLE has assembled a world-class management team with experience scaling companies and organizations such as Amazon, Nextracker, Sierra Club, Solaria, and SunPower. The company has secured high-volume contracts with industry leaders such as AES, EDF Renewables North America, EDP Renewables North America, Greenbacker, Ørsted, Qcells, Silfab, Silicon Ranch, and Sunrun. This is the next frontier - ensuring a cleaner, more sustainable and domestic supply of the critical minerals needed for the next wave of solar. We exist to make clean energy massively scalable and even more sustainable by radically advancing recycling technology and infrastructure for the solar industry. If this resonates with you, we really want to meet you.