Senior Director, Battery Module Operations & Strategy

Job Description

Role Overview

As part of our continued investment in domestic manufacturing, we are expanding our U.S. battery module operations to support the next generation of advanced Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). The Senior Director of Battery Operations & Strategy will lead the strategy, execution, and scaling of our U.S. battery module production footprint. This leader will oversee contract manufacturing partnerships, operational excellence, cost competitiveness, and technology readiness, driving the growth and profitability of one of the most critical segments of our business. The ideal candidate combines deep technical knowledge of battery module manufacturing with strategic and operational leadership experience, capable of translating business strategy into scalable, efficient, and profitable manufacturing outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a multi‑year roadmap to scale domestic battery module operations aligned with company growth targets and U.S. content initiatives.
• Build a clear capacity and sourcing strategy that optimizes Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), including logistics, capital efficiency, and labor productivity.
• Drive long‑term strategy for domestic battery module supply‑chain localization, resilience, and sustainability.
• Partner cross‑functionally with Product Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure alignment of manufacturing capacity with product roadmap and customer demand.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee day‑to‑day operations and performance of domestic battery module manufacturing (internal and contract sites).
• Define and drive KPIs for output, yield, uptime, quality, and cost—ensuring operational stability, predictability, and continuous improvement.
• Lead contract manufacturer (CM) engagement, from factory readiness to volume ramp, including performance management and governance cadence.
• Ensure manufacturing processes are designed for quality, scalability, and automation readiness, leveraging advanced manufacturing techniques and Lean principles.

Technical & Engineering Leadership

• Provide technical oversight of automated module assembly processes.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and NPI teams to ensure robust DFM and DFT integration for new products.
• Champion digital manufacturing initiatives—MES, SPC, and data‑driven process control—to enhance traceability and decision‑making.

Financial Accountability

• Identify cost reduction opportunities across materials, processes, logistics, and overhead to achieve margin targets.
• Drive make‑versus‑buy assessments, capital investment justification, and ROI‑based expansion proposals.

People & Culture

• Build, mentor, and scale a high‑performing cross‑functional team encompassing operations, engineering, and program management.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with HR and leadership to attract and develop top technical and operational talent.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or Chemical Engineering (Master’s or MBA preferred).
• 15+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations with focus on automated equipment.
• Proven experience managing contract manufacturers (CMs) and scaling production in high‑growth environments.
• Strong understanding of battery module design, assembly processes, and quality systems (ISO/IATF 16949).
• Demonstrated ability to lead P&L, develop business cases, and deliver on financial and operational KPIs.
• Exceptional cross‑functional leadership and stakeholder management skills in a global matrix environment.

Additional Skills

• Experience with energy storage systems (ESS), automotive, or EV battery supply chains.

Equal Opportunity Employer At Fluence, we believe great teams are built on a collaborative and connected culture. We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcome qualified applicants of all backgrounds. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information or any other status protected by law.

Work Authorization To join our team, you’ll need to be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout your employment, without the need for employer sponsorship. Please note that Fluence does not sponsor work visas for this position.