Job Information
Panasonic North America Continuous Improvement Training Team Manager in De Soto, Kansas
Overview
Do you want to join a team that's changing the world? Do you have a strong background as a Continuous Improvement Training Team Manager? Then we're looking for you! Check out the job description and apply now! Put your skills to meaningful use, gain unique experience, and work with world-class team members with diverse backgrounds and expertise who share the same vision. Join the PECNA team today!
Responsibilities
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Meet the Recruiter: (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anhmartin/) Anh Martin
Summary:
Join us at Panasonic Energy as we expand to De Soto, Kansas, where we’re building the world’s largest lithium-ion battery factory. This is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while contributing to the future of electric vehicles. As part of our team, you’ll help push the limits of battery technology, enhancing performance and efficiency in sustainable transportation.
Our state-of-the-art facility, just outside the Kansas City Metro, will be a hub for innovation in green energy solutions. If you're passionate about sustainability and eager to contribute to the electric vehicle revolution, we invite you to be part of our dynamic team. Join us and make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation.
Job Summary:
The Continuous Improvement Training Team Manager leads the design, implementation, and continuous enhancement of training programs that support operational excellence and workforce capability in a lithium-ion battery manufacturing environment. This role partners with cross-functional leaders to identify skill gaps, develop impactful learning solutions, and drive continuous improvement initiatives aligned with Lean principles. The manager ensures training programs reinforce safety, quality, and efficiency while supporting business objectives. Additionally, this role integrates training into onboarding and employee development processes while promoting alignment with the PECNA Way System. Through strong leadership and data-driven insights, the manager drives measurable improvements in workforce capability and operational performance.
Essential Duties:
Functional Leadership & Operations:
Lead the development, coordination, and delivery of training programs, including instructor-led sessions, job aids, and structured learning experiences
Manage training operations to ensure alignment with manufacturing KPIs, workforce readiness, and production demands
Oversee training schedules, resources, and systems to ensure effective and efficient program execution
Oversee and, as needed, facilitate training sessions, workshops, and learning events to ensure high-quality participant experiences
Strategic Alignment & Continuous Improvement:
Identify current and future training needs through job analysis, performance evaluations, and business planning
Implement Lean principles and continuous improvement methodologies to enhance training effectiveness and production efficiency
Evaluate training programs using metrics, feedback, and performance outcomes to drive ongoing improvements
Stay current on industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in training and development
Team Development & Knowledge Sharing:
Lead, coach, and develop training team members to build instructional capability and subject matter expertise
Develop standardized work and translate processes into effective training materials such as job breakdown sheets
Promote a culture of continuous learning, knowledge sharing, and professional development
Support onboarding and ongoing employee development through structured training pathways
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:
Partner with production, engineering, quality, and HR teams to align training programs with operational goals
Collaborate with department leaders to identify skill gaps and implement targeted training programs
Engage external training providers and educational institutions to enhance training resources and capabilities
Participate in management meetings and provide updates on training performance, goals, and initiatives
Quality, Safety, Compliance, & Risk Management:
Champion a “Safety First” culture and ensure all training programs reinforce safe work practices and compliance requirements
Ensure training supports quality standards and adherence to company policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements
Utilize company resources to sustain safe manufacturing and operational excellence
Support continuous quality improvement initiatives through training and technical guidance
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Lead and manage a team of training professionals, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and development
Travel Requirement:
- Occasional travel may be required to support training initiatives, benchmarking, or external partnerships
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements:
- To ensure the health and safety in the workplace and for the protection of our employees, wearing PPE is a possibility and may include equipment such as a full Tyvek suit, safety shoes, gloves, safety glasses, face mask, bump cap, and a full hazmat suit that includes a respirator.
The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.
Qualifications
Requirements - Required and/or Preferred
Education, Certifications, and Licenses:
Required:
Bachelor’s degree in Education, Industrial Engineering, Organizational Development, Business, Operations Management, or a related field
Relevant work experience may substitute for required education
Preferred:
Master’s degree in Education, Organizational Leadership, Business Administration, or related field
Certified Training and Development Professional (CTDP)
Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD – ATD)
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
Train-the-Trainer certification (e.g., TWI Job Instruction)
Essential Qualifications:
5+ years of progressive continuous improvement leadership experience in a high-performance manufacturing, technical operations environment, or equivalent translatable experience
Demonstrated experience leading the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of workforce training programs in a manufacturing or technical environment
Demonstrated experience applying Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement methodologies, including training, coaching, and implementation in operational environments
Proven ability to lead, coach, and motivate teams in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and solve complex operational and training-related issues
Skilled in developing standardized work and translating processes into effective training materials, including job breakdown sheets
Experience using performance metrics and KPIs to evaluate training effectiveness and drive operational improvements
Strong writing and documentation skills, including development of training materials, reports, and standard operating procedures
Effective communication and interpersonal skills across multiple levels of the organization
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and/or other digital tools for training delivery and tracking
Experience leading cross-functional collaboration and facilitating structured problem-solving
Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
Must have working-level proficiency in English, including reading, writing, and speaking
Alignment to Panasonic’s seven (7) core principles (contribution to society, fairness and honesty, cooperation and team spirit, untiring effort for improvement, courtesy and humility, adaptability, gratitude)
Preferred Qualifications:
7+ years of continuous improvement leadership experience in battery, semiconductor, or advanced manufacturing environments
Experience designing and deploying structured training programs in highly regulated or technical manufacturing environments (e.g., automotive, aerospace, electronics, battery)
Familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS) and digital training tools (e.g., Articulate, Adobe Captivate, or similar)
Experience using data analysis and reporting to evaluate training effectiveness and drive operational performance improvements
Exposure to ISO 9001, IATF 16949, or other quality management systems
Experience supporting new production line ramp-up, product launches, or operational scale-up efforts
Bilingual or multilingual capabilities (especially Japanese or Spanish) to support a diverse workforce
Demonstrated success leading change management or culture transformation initiatives related to continuous improvement and workforce development
Experience developing or implementing blended learning solutions (e.g., e-learning, on-the-job training, simulations)
Physical Demands:
Physical Activities: Percentage of time (equaling 100%) during the normal workday the employee is required to:
Sit: 30%
Walk: 30%
Stand: 40%
Required Lifting and Carrying: Rare (<1%), Occasional (1-33%), Frequent (34-66%), Continuous (67-100%)
For this position, the required frequency is:
Up to 10 lbs.: Occasional
Up to 20 lbs.: Occasional
Up to 35 lbs.: Occasional
Team-lift only (over 35 lbs.): Rare
Benefits & Perks - What's In It For You:
Panasonic Energy prioritizes total well-being and offers comprehensive benefits options to support physical, emotional, financial, social, and environmental health:
Health Benefits – Offering medical, dental, vision, prescription plans, plus Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options.
Voluntary Benefits – Life, accident, critical illness, disability, legal, identity theft, and pet insurance.
Panasonic Retirement Savings & Investment Plan (PRSIP) – 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and immediate vesting.
Paid Time-Off Benefits – Vacation, holidays, personal days, sick leave, volunteer, and parental & caregiver leave.
Educational Assistance – Tuition reimbursement for job-related courses after six months of service.
Health Management and Wellbeing Programs –Lifestyle Spending Account, EAP, virtual health management, chronic condition, neurodiversity, tobacco cessation, substance abuse support, and life stage and fertility resources. Available to eligible employees starting the first day of the month following your start date. Eligibility for each benefit may vary based on employment status, location, and length of service.
Employee Recognition Program - High5 employee recognition and awards platform, quarterly and annual employee recognition
Annual Bonus Program - Opportunity for an annual performance-based bonus.
On-site Food Options : Several on-site cafes, plentiful snack and beverage kitchens, revolving on-site vendor visits and employee events.
Where You'll Be:
For our onsite roles, Panasonic Energy is committed to fostering an ideal working environment that goes beyond the conventional. We understand the significance of moments that matter in your onsite experience, and we prioritize creating a workspace that not only promotes productivity but also ensures a fulfilling and positive work atmosphere. Join us at Panasonic Energy, where your onsite presence is valued, and we strive to make each moment count in your professional journey.
Who We Are:
Meet Panasonic Energy! At Panasonic Energy, you'll do work that matters as we are dedicated to transforming the world through the acceleration of sustainable energy. By producing safe, high-quality lithium-ion batteries, you become part of a team that plays a crucial role in creating technologies that move us.
Our journey began in 2017, and now, as the world's largest lithium-ion battery factory, we are expanding operations to De Soto, Kansas, providing you with the opportunity to experience career growth in more ways than one.
As an innovative thinker, you'll thrive here, as we continually push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and production capabilities to enhance efficiency and performance in EVs.
Being part of Panasonic Energy means positively contributing to society, aligning with our commitment to building a better world through sustainable energy solutions.
We care about what you care about, fostering an environment where your contributions make a meaningful impact on the future of energy and transportation. Join us and be part of a team that values your work, encourages innovation, and actively contributes to a positive societal impact.
In addition to an environment that is as innovative as our products, we offer competitive salaries and benefits.
We Take Opportunity Seriously:
At Panasonic Energy, we are committed to a workplace that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. Fairness and Honesty have been part of our core values for more than 100 years and we are proud of our diverse culture as an equal opportunity employer.
We understand that your career search may look different than others and embrace the professional, personal, educational, and volunteer opportunities through which people gain experience. If you are actively looking or starting to explore new opportunities, submit your application!
Supplemental Information:
Pre-employment drug testing is required.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. All qualified individuals are required to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Due to the high volume of responses, we will only be able to respond to candidates of interest. All candidates must have valid authorization to work in the U.S. without restriction.
Thank you for your interest in Panasonic Energy Corporation of North America.
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