Operations Manager

Element has an oppotunity for an Operations Manager who is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of a high-performance automotive testing laboratory in Warren Michigan supporting automotive OEMs Tier 1 suppliers and other mobility technology customers. This role oversees laboratory personnel test facilities equipment customer programs scheduling safety quality and operational performance across a broad range of automotive system and component testing capabilities.

The laboratory provides comprehensive automotive testing services including full-vehicle and vehicle-system testing electric vehicle (EV) battery testing climatic and environmental simulation electrical systems testing fluid systems testing hydraulic testing vibration and mechanical shock testing and related durability and qualification testing.

The Operations Manager serves as a key connection between laboratory operations engineering business development project management and customers. The position requires a strong understanding of automotive testing environments laboratory management test standards instrumentation equipment utilization and the technical requirements of OEM and Tier 1 automotive programs.

• Lead daily operations of the automotive testing laboratory ensuring safe efficient and high-quality execution of customer testing programs
• Manage laboratory personnel including department managers test engineers and other technical staff
• Establish staffing requirements work assignments shift coverage and resource allocation based on customer demand and laboratory capacity
• Develop and maintain operational processes that maximize laboratory throughput equipment utilization and customer responsiveness
• Monitor laboratory capacity scheduling turnaround times utilization and operational performance
• Identify bottlenecks and implement continuous-improvement initiatives to improve efficiency productivity quality and profitability
• Support capital planning and expansion of laboratory capabilities equipment and infrastructure

• Bachelors degree in engineering Engineering Technology Applied Science or a related technical discipline
• 7 years of experience in automotive testing validation engineering laboratory operations or a closely related technical environment
• 3 years of leadership or management experience in an automotive testing or laboratory environment
• Experience working directly with automotive OEMs and/or Tier 1 suppliers
• Demonstrated experience managing complex testing operations involving multiple concurrent customer programs
• Strong understanding of automotive test and validation processes
• Experience with laboratory equipment instrumentation data acquisition and test systems
• Strong understanding of laboratory safety quality systems equipment maintenance and operational controls
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and manage competing priorities
• Strong written verbal organizational and customer-facing communication skill

Preferred

• Experience with EV battery and high-voltage automotive testing
• Experience with full-vehicle testing or vehicle-system validation
• Experience with environmental/climatic chambers and environmental simulation
• Experience with vibration mechanical shock durability and structural testing
• Experience with electrical/electronic systems testing
• Experience with automotive fluid thermal-management cooling or HVAC systems testing
• Familiarity with ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory requirements
• Familiarity with ASTM SAE ISO IEC and OEM-specific automotive test procedures
• Experience with laboratory information management systems (LIMS) ERP systems scheduling software or test-
• management platforms
• Experience with capital equipment planning and laboratory expansion

This position operates within a technically sophisticated automotive testing laboratory and requires regular interaction with engineering personnel technicians customers suppliers and senior management. The role may require time on the laboratory floor and exposure to test equipment high-voltage systems environmental chambers vibration systems mechanical testing equipment vehicles and other industrial laboratory environments.
The Operations Manager must be comfortable working in a fast-paced customer-driven automotive testing environment where priorities can change based on OEM program requirements vehicle development schedules equipment availability and testing deadlines.

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At Element we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming the worlds most trusted testing partner.

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age disability ethnic origin gender marital status race religion responsibility of dependents sexual orientation or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about discussed or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge (b) in furtherance of an investigation proceeding hearing or action including an investigation conducted by the employer or (c) consistent with the contractors legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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