​We are supporting a global advanced energy storage manufacturing organization in the appointment of a Plant GM for a key high-volume production site in Japan.

This is a critical leadership role within a rapidly scaling EV battery manufacturing environment, responsible for ensuring end-to-end plant performance, operational stability, and execution excellence across production and supply flow.

The site is undergoing continued scale-up, requiring a leader who can combine hands-on operational control with strong system-building capability in a complex, global supply chain environment.

Role Overview

• The Plant GM will take full ownership of site-level operations, ensuring consistent delivery across production output, quality performance, cost efficiency, material flow, logistics execution, and planning reliability

• The role requires a strong balance of execution leadership and operational system development, particularly in a high-growth industrial ramp-up setting.

• This position also acts as a key interface with global stakeholders, ensuring alignment between local execution and broader manufacturing and supply chain requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead overall plant operations covering production execution, planning, logistics flow, and material control

• Ensure achievement of key performance targets, including output, delivery, quality, cost, and inventory efficiency

• Drive stable and scalable production systems during ramp-up and expansion phases

• Oversee production planning and scheduling aligned with demand requirements and capacity constraints

• Manage end-to-end material flow from supplier coordination through to finished goods delivery

• Ensure optimal inventory levels across raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods

• Coordinate closely with suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted material supply

• Lead warehouse, logistics, and distribution execution, including inbound and outbound flow management

• Strengthen cross-functional coordination across production, engineering, quality, maintenance, and support teams

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, yield, efficiency, and cost reduction

• Develop and improve system-driven operations using ERP/MES and data-based decision-making tools

• Lead structured problem-solving for operational risks, bottlenecks, and supply disruptions

• Support cross-border logistics coordination, including import/export flow where required

• Build and develop plant organization capability, talent structure, and operational discipline

• Ensure strong adherence to safety, compliance, and operational governance standards

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in automotive, EV battery, or large-scale manufacturing environments

• Proven leadership experience in plant operations, production, supply chain, or integrated manufacturing roles

• Prior experience in senior or plant-level management roles within manufacturing operations

• Strong track record in high-volume production, ramp-up environments, or complex industrial operations

• Experience working across integrated manufacturing and supply chain interfaces

• Familiarity with ERP/MES systems and structured operational control environments

• Strong background in performance improvement, operational scaling, or plant transformation initiatives

• Strong analytical thinking with data-driven decision-making capability and structured problem-solving skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in complex, multi-site or global organizations with a strong ownership mindset

• Fluent Japanese and English communication skills required; Chinese language skills are an advantage.