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

Basic Job Functions:

The RDC Planning Manager is a leadership role that promotes best practices for the Research & Development Center (RDC) throughput scheduling and planning, forecasting, cost control and improvement. This role is responsible for the monthly RDC operations forecast as well as the weekly and daily execution plan. This position interacts with team members from Development Engineering to ensure the forecast is accurate and meets the needs of the technology programs served by RDC. This position also interacts closely with the Global Supply and Demand teams, Site Manufacturing Control teams, and RDC operations execution teams to ensure materials and constraints are managed to support the plan as well as with Operations, and Manufacturing Engineering to ensure the material flow across plants are managed according to the plan. This role owns the RDC operational budget and is responsible for planning and cost controlling and interacts strongly with Finance and Accounting.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business administrator or management discipline.
• MBA or Master of Engineering or PhD a plus.
• 3 years of technology management or manufacturing leadership/management or engineering experience within First Solar required.
• 5-7 years of experience in production operations, engineering, supply chain, planning, or finance. Must have a good understanding of cost modeling and analysis.
• Proven track record of successful cost reduction project implementation and continuous improvement initiatives.

Required Skills/Competencies:

• Demonstrated track record of interacting and transacting successfully with top levels of DE and ME management.
• Strong project management skills and leadership experience.
• Demonstrated project management skills in high volume manufacturing environment.
• Advanced negotiation skills to obtain cooperation and commitment to project deliverables.
• Advanced skills in all aspects of project planning and execution.
• Capable of providing program management for greater than 3 projects simultaneously.
• Communicates clearly, oral and written, across the organization.
• Strong assertive characteristics to push projects through to completion.
• Partners with stakeholders to coordinate resources, activities, and priorities for rapid project completion.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to assertively motivate project participants.
• Must be motivated, self-starter, capable of multitasking and setting priorities.
• Knowledge and understanding of quality systems and requirements.
• Knowledge and understanding of EHS systems and requirements.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Provide mentoring and guidance to RDC Operations and Engineering associates as needed.
• Support RDC operations execution teams in meeting annual programs metrics for roadmap execution and HVM preparation.
• Manage RDC Operations planning team.
  • Lead capacity planning/scheduling process to maximize the utilization of the RDC asset base.
  • Manage program Integration capacity requests.
  • Forecast capacity commitments for technology development programs.
  • Support Manufacturing Engineering Tech seeding and training as needed for new program.
  • Manage Unit Technical Team (UTT) interactions regarding tool access in close collaboration with the RDC Technical Manager.
  • Coordinate with Global Supply/Demand teams to ensure supply meets demand with maximum utilization capabilities.
• Lead RDC logistics coordination to ensure material flows within RDC and across the PBG campus.
• Lead or participate in calls and meetings with site manufacturing and GSC teams within First Solar.
  • Coordinate Material interactions with manufacturing plants for process and tool validation.
  • Share best practices.
  • Communicate on rollout of process changes.
  • Set action plans for continuous improvement.
  • Owner of the forecasting and supply process for all materials used in RDC in close coordination with Global Supply Chain (GSC).
• Utilization/Throughput Champion
  • Team with DE Integration, UTT, and RDC operations teams to prioritize and drive projects based on key metric impact.
  • Simulation Expert - Perform Simulation "What if" scenarios to improve headcount and equipment utilization.
  • Maximize throughput, machine utilization and machine availability.
  • Data mine to support module process flow decisions.
• Cost Analysis
  • Prepares AOP inputs for OPEX.
  • Analyzes plant cost structure (variable and fixed cost model) and identifies gaps and improvement opportunities for cost reduction. Takes strategy and converts into actionable deliverables to meet the site OPEX budget.
  • Leads cost forum or focus team to establish and control the cost operating system.
  • Plans and designs overall plant cost programs and proactively monitors its progress, resolves issues, and initiates appropriate corrective actions.
• Operational System Expert
  • MES Applications
  • Oracle
  • Simulation software
  • Supply planning software
  • SharePoint
• Communicates and builds positive working relationships with cross functional teams to achieve the plant operation objectives.
• Supervises and motivates a team of associates creating a culture of personal responsibility and continuous improvement.
• Establishes good working relationships with global cost leads, operations, DE Integration, Supply Chain, and Finance associates to monitor and control operation expenses.
• Acts as a key coordinator for functional group members to roll up AOP budget planning. Works with stakeholders and revises cost strategies to meet the monthly affordable cost targets.
• Job description subject to change at any time.
• Other duties as assigned.

Reporting Relationships:

• This position reports to the Head of R&D Operations Center (RDC).
• This position will have direct reports.

Travel:

• 0% - 5% (On occasion/as needed for training, etc.)

Estimated Salary Range:

• $122,800 - $ 165,000 Annually

US Physical Requirements:

Office Physical Requirements:

All positions in our office require interaction with people and technology while either standing or sitting. 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.