Program Manager– Manufacturing Global IV USA

Job Description

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

Basic Job Functions:

• Manage major programs such as Manufacturing Capacity Expansion and New Technology Rollout with overall responsibility for ensuring the assigned programs are meeting business expectations for budget, schedule and scope.
• Own all aspects of the program lifecycle from creation of scope document, schedule and budget, team formation and creation of risk register, all the way through project sunset.
• Meet with cross-functional program team members on a regular basis to review status, plan future actions and identify any items which require escalation.
• Maintain accurate and detailed dashboard of all program deliverables.
• Prepare and deliver program update reports to senior management up to and including C-level executives.
  
  

Education/Experience:

• Ten or more years professional work experience in a high-volume manufacturing or high-tech industry with at least five years in a dedicated program/project management role
• Bachelors degree or higher required, STEM-related degree strongly preferred
• PMP and/or Six-Sigma certification preferred but not required.
  
  

Required Skills/Competencies:

TECHNICAL:

• Demonstrable high proficiency in all aspects of program management lifecycle and techniques such as Critical Path
• Strong general understanding of manufacturing systems and processes
• Expert at leading cross-functional project teams
• Expert at leading effective, value-added team meetings and driving accountability
• Expert at tracking project expenses to budget in a highly disciplined way keeping constant vigilance for cost reduction opportunities
• Expert at maintaining project/program dashboard
• Expert at creating clean, concise, professional-looking reports suitable for presenting to C-level executives
• Deep experience presenting program update reports to all levels of management up to executive level
• Ability to successfully manage more than one full program simultaneously.
  
  

PERSONAL:

• Proven ability to negotiate and secure commitments from all program participants and hold them accountable. Achieve the same without any direct authority.
• Understands interdepartmental functions in order to form project teams.
• Able to overcome daily obstacles and project "friction" to get things done
• Prepared to help in whatever capacity is necessary for the success of the program
• Treats all program participants fairly, giving credit where credit is due
• Comfortable with a "hands-on", personal style of interaction with all team members
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including knowing when to articulate diplomacy, resolve and encouragement.
• Not shy about asking for help/finding help when necessary
  
  

Essential Responsibilities:

• Oversight and management of major, mission-critical programs including manufacturing capacity expansion and equipment/technology rollouts.
• Responsible for driving the creation and planning of requirements, resources, schedules and work products and tracking same. Develops workable and comprehensive project plans with project owners. Secures agreement on deadlines, budget, resource commitment and deliverables.
• Proactively identifies risks and inhibitors to progress with the intent of mitigating them before they impact team productivity.
• Focused on making all participants successful by holding them accountable to reasonable and agreed upon commitments.
• Maintains up-to-date dashboard of program status (Schedule, Scope, Budget) with available details to dive into all dashboard items (including risk assessment, action items, issues, delivery milestones, etc.) and proactively takes action on any items as required.
• Evaluates projects at completion, verifying deliverables are met.
• Communicates program status to senior and executive management on a regular basis. Advises management of any risks and problems in need of escalation
• Champions Global Manufacturing interests within other departments. May act as point-contact for inquiries from outside parties.
• Has both business and technical focus. Ensures the programs are successful in both aspects.
• Looks for innovative, value-added improvements to the company’s Program Management best practices and drives implementation of same
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Job description subject to change at any time
  
  

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports to Program Management Director or other leadership within the Global Manufacturing Organization
• This position’s leadership scope is primarily via an indirect, program-by-program basis however the position may also have direct reports on a permanent or temporary basis.
  
  

Travel:

• Less than 10%
  
  

Estimated Salary Range:

• $97,500-$139,000 Annually
  
  

US 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 band 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.