Deputy General Manager

Gotion Inc. is based in Silicon Valley, CA, currently building a Manufacturing facility in Manteno, IL and has R&D centers in Ohio, China, Japan and Europe. We innovate in the next generation electric vehicle and energy storage technologies (lithium batteries and related systems) with the aim to accelerate electrified transportation and achieve sustainable development. Gotion is powered by a leading power battery technology company that provides solutions for vehicles including the world's first mass commercial e-bus route. Gotion is a career destination - we are not simply attempting to just fill another job, but to pursue a dream of global green energy together! We offer outstanding opportunities to individuals seeking an exciting and challenging working environment. Everyone is highly valued and plays a vital role in the growth of our organization. Role Summary: This role provides end-to-end operational leadership for scaling battery pack manufacturing from prototype through high-volume serial production, ensuring excellence in safety, quality, cost, and efficiency. The position builds and leads a high-performing manufacturing organization, establishes robust KPIs, and drives a culture of continuous improvement through lean manufacturing and operational excellence initiatives. Partnering cross-functionally with engineering, product development, finance, and EHS, the role ensures seamless process integration, cost reduction, and achievement of Annual Operating Plan objectives. The leader will also manage budgets, deploy advanced operational technologies, and collaborate with executive leadership to support long-term strategic growth. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Operational Leadership : Oversee the ramp-up and ongoing operations of battery pack manufacturing, transitioning from prototype to high-volume serial production while maintaining safety, quality, and efficiency standards. Team Development : Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team, including managers, supervisors, technicians, and operators, fostering a culture of operational excellence and accountability. Performance Metrics : Develop and implement manufacturing KPIs to track safety, people, costs, performance, efficiency, and sustainability, ensuring alignment with plant-wide strategic objectives. Technology Integration : Support the deployment of active management tools (e.g., SCADA) to enhance operational control, real-time decision-making, and quality assurance. Operational Excellence : Establish a cadence for weekly, monthly, and quarterly reviews, driving continuous improvement through operational excellence initiatives and achieving Annual Operating Plan (AOP) milestones. Budget Management : Develop and maintain the operational budget, achieving conversation cost targets through cost-saving measures, kaizen events, and lean manufacturing principles. Cross-Functional Collaboration : Partner with departments such as product development, planning, finance, manufacturing engineering, safety (EHS), and operations engineering to ensure seamless integration of manufacturing processes. Process Optimization : Utilize technical expertise to drive process and product improvements, addressing quality concerns, enhancing manufacturability, and improving customer satisfaction. Cost Reduction : Apply lean manufacturing principles to reduce scrap, optimize resource utilization, and achieve significant year-over-year cost reductions (e.g., 20% operational expense reduction, 80% reduction in scrap per vehicle). Strategic Planning : Collaborate with executive leadership to develop the plant/department AOP, aligning with strategic plans and cascading continuous improvement projects throughout the organization. Required Qualifications: Bachelor's degree Engineering, and ideally an MBA 10+ years of experience in construction management, with at least 5 years of experience on large, complex projects. Experience working with brownfield or greenfield sites is a plus…