Head- Semiconductor Operations USA

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 strat