Head- Semiconductor Operations USA

Job Description

First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset.

Basic Job Functions:

• Is responsible for Semiconductor Factory operations.
• Leads a team of managers responsible for semiconductor-processing performance in a thin-film photovoltaic manufacturing flow.
• Develops and executes strategy for operational metrics that include Safety, Quality, Product Performance, Throughput, Yield, and Cost.
• Defines goals, creates operating systems, and ensures cross-functional collaboration for area leads under their oversight.
• Covers for Plant/Site Manager in their absence as member of the Site Leadership Team.
• Collaborates with global teams to implement and ramp new processes and product technologies per program timelines.
• Architects associate competency and development programs for the site.
• Establishes and invests in training and development of people, upskills associate technical competencies, and standardizes training programs for all plants.
• Helps develop Annual Operating Plan (AOP) with their Plant Manager.
  
  

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in an Engineering or Science Discipline (Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation and Controls, Materials Science, Physics, or Chemistry).
• Master’s degree in Engineering or Advanced Degrees (MTech, MBA) preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years in a managerial role(s) in a high-tech manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 15 years of Manufacturing experience in a technical field or manufacturing environment.
• Experience in at least one of the areas – Photovoltaic Processing and Equipment Engineering, Large Area Glass Substrate Processes (Architectural or Flat Panel Display), Thin-Film Deposition Processes or Equipment, Laser Processes (Laser Cutting or Ablation Equipment).
  
  

Required Skills/Competencies:

Behavioral

• Demonstrates a Safety-First Mentality.
• Is self-motivated and able to provide strong leadership in high matrix organization structure.
• Provides leadership and strategy to accomplish First Solar’s goals and objectives.
• Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as experience with cross-functional coordination required.
• Demonstrates employee relations skills and knowledge of Human Resources practices.
• Has proven experience in Strategic Planning and Organization Development to accomplish the company’s Mission and Vision.
• Attracts and develops talent from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Demonstrates core values of Agility (champions changes, is creative and resilient), Collaboration (builds trust and respect, values inclusion and diversity, and manages through conflicts) and Accountability (commits and delivers through discipline and integrity, makes data-driven decision, and owns the outcomes).
  
  

Technical

• Has a Lean Six-Sigma background (Green-Belt or higher).
• Possesses a knowledge of industrial electrical, mechanical, high-vacuum, and laser processing systems.
• Demonstrates experience with implementing and sustaining Statistical Process Control Systems.
• Demonstrates experience with Robust Engineering and Design of Experiments.
• Is adept with at least one data analytics and visualization platform – JMP, Minitab, SAS, Power-BI.
• Has knowledge of Theory of Constraints.
• Demonstrates excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrates excellent computer skills.
• Proficient use of all Microsoft Office suite programs.
  
  

Essential Responsibilities:

[Safety & 5S]

• Serves as member of the site safety steering committee. Drives and instills a strong “safety-first” culture and world class house-keeping standards within plant operations to enable a zero-recordable rate.
• Collaborates with EH&S to execute safety programs like Lock-out Tag-out and Incident Reporting and Management System.
• Timely and appropriate resolution of equipment or process safety concerns.
  
  

[Operations]

• Provides leadership and oversight of daily plant semiconductor operations (Thin-Film Deposition, Diffusion-Activation, Cleans, and Cell-Definition groups) through Operations Leads.
• Chairs forums to monitor progress toward meeting plant metrics per P90 plan and identifies corrective actions as it pertains to Man-Method-Machine performance.
• Collaborates with other functional leads in EH&S, Q&R, Supply-Chain to identify constraints to P90 at a tactical and strategic level and resolves them.
• Drafts department budgets and forecasts capital and operational expenditures.
  
  

[Engineering]

• Provides leadership and oversight of systems for process control and performance.
• Develops strategy for bottle-neck management in the semiconductor operations area that include setting OEE goals (Uptime, Unplanned Downtime, G2G/ MTTR, Yield) and deploying the right resources to address chronic issues.
• Collaborates with local integration teams to address equipment or process under-performance.
• Is accountable for ISO compliance in their area through up-to-date process and equipment documentation and training records.
• Oversees cost monitoring and waste mitigation programs for BOM and equipment spares. Supports the qualification of new suppliers.
• Is accountable for global alignment and fingerprinting. Reports deviations and assessed risks in a timely fashion – copy-exact vs. copy-smart as applicable.
  
  

[Technology and Continuous Improvement]

• Initiates or vets continuous improvement work-streams ensuring they pass through relevant change-management forums.
• Establishes a DMAIC mindset among associates as a way of problem solving and a Kaizen approach to improvement.
• Follows TOC (Theory of Constraints) concepts to resolve bottlenecks as it pertains to daily operations or road-map execution.
• Participates in global forums (TRT, GAT), escalates process technology challenges that are a risk to P90, and collaborates on local and global solutions for the same.
• Collaborates with New Process Introduction and Global Technology teams to develop implementation plans for new processes or equipment and closes gaps identified during execution.
  
  

[People]

• Coaches’ direct reports to execute per First Solar’s – Vision, Mission and Values.
• Architects and maintains oversight of continuous learning programs for associates in their organization to ensure a trained and competent workforce.
• Develops a “strong bench strength” of associates that can step up to the next level.
• Other job duties as assigned.
• Job description subject to change at any time.
  
  

Reporting Relationships:

• This position will have direct reports.
  
  

Travel:

• 10% travel is required during a given year.
  
  

Estimated Salary Range:

• $154,400 - $220,000 Annually.
  
  

US Physical Requirements:

Office Physical Requirements:

All positions in our office require interaction with people and technology while either standing or sitting. In order to best service our customers, internal and external, all associates must be able to communicate face-to-face and on the phone with or without reasonable accommodation. First Solar is committed to compliance with its obligations under all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. In keeping with this commitment, it attempts to reasonably accommodate applicants and employees in accordance with the requirements of the disability discrimination laws. It also invites individuals with disabilities to participate in a good faith, interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made without imposing an undue hardship.

Potential candidates will meet the education and experience requirements provided on the above job description and excel in completing the listed responsibilities for this role. All candidates receiving an offer of employment must successfully complete a background check and any other tests that may be required.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: First Solar is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a driving force in the success of our company.