Director, Manufacturing & Supply Chain Operations

About 1st Avenue Power:

 At 1st Avenue Power, we are on a mission to deliver simple, fast-to-deploy, customer-centric and intelligent power systems leveraging the abundance of solar to provide inexpensive and reliable clean energy to global customers from data centers to energy starved communities around the world. We envision a future where every community, business, and nation thrives on the limitless potential of clean energy, united in a shared commitment to a sustainable and equitable world.

You will be working with Dr. Tom Buttgenbach, one of the most successful clean energy technology innovators and entrepreneur who has been a driving force in making solar-based energy solutions the cheapest and most reliable energy option. Tom founded and led Avantus (formerly known as “8minute Solar Energy“), to become one of the largest and most profitable solar and energy storage companies in the United States and the largest in California, including delivering over 17% of Los Angeles’ power.  When Tom sold his interest in Avantus’ development business  to KKR in mid-2024, it had delivered over $1 billion in profit and secured over $10 Billion in power purchase agreements and project financings with a pipeline of over 30 GW of solar and 90 GWh of energy storage, capable of powering the homes of more than 20 million Americans day and night. Tom’s family office investment firm, 1st Avenue Capital, is building teams for the next generation of advanced solar power system architecture and AI to aggressively drive down the cost of and equitable access to clean and reliable energy.[1] 1st Avenue’s advanced large scale power systems are addressing the increasing inadequacy of the grid to meet the massively growing power demands of the digital economy, while its intelligent distributed solar utilities are leapfrogging the grid to provide equitable access to inexpensive, clean and reliable power to underserved communities around the world.

About the Role:

Join a groundbreaking team of proven leaders at the forefront of the clean energy transition. We are building a future where sustainable energy is accessible to all. The Director, Manufacturing & Supply Chain Operations will define and lead the strategy, structure, and execution of 1st Avenue Power's global manufacturing and supply chain operations. In this role, you will be responsible for establishing and scaling our contract manufacturing partnerships, defining our global production footprint, and managing the full lifecycle of product ramp-up from sub-component sourcing through final assembly. Your work will be essential to delivering our solar and energy storage solutions at scale.

What Makes This Job Unique:

• Leadership Impact: As Director, Manufacturing & Supply Chain Operations,  you will have significant influence on key strategic decisions and play a vital role in shaping the future of 1st Avenue Power' energy strategy.
• Growth Potential: 1st Avenue Power and the project pipeline is in high growth mode, offering excellent opportunities for career growth and professional development.
• Co-Founder Mindset: This is an opportunity for a passionate and driven individual to join a groundbreaking team and contribute significantly to our mission. We encourage candidates who bring a co-founder mindset, with a focus on ownership, innovation, and a deep commitment to building a sustainable and equitable energy future.
• Global Exposure: Lead partnerships across the U.S., Mexico, and Asia with up to 40% travel during ramp-up.

Job Responsibilities:

• Define and execute the multi-year contract manufacturing (CM) strategy for our product portfolio
• Develop requirements and lead selection of CMs across the U.S., Mexico, and Asia
• Negotiate and establish commercial and operational terms with selected CMs
• Set up manufacturing processes for near-term scaling of v1 products and parallel R&D pathways for future products
• Drive product ramp-ups including process flow, quality and reliability standards, and QC systems
• Define and manage the master production schedule and multi-year manufacturing forecasts
• Establish and oversee sub-component vendor selection and readiness (e.g., metal stamping suppliers)
• Define and operationalize roles and responsibilities between 1AP and CMs
• Develop the end-to-end supply chain from raw materials through FATP
• Manage relationships with 3PL and 4PL logistics providers
• Manage project schedules and risks
• Coordinate timelines, priorities, and deliverables across hardware teams for both current and next generation platforms
• Ensure alignment on requirements between engineering, product, and customer teams
• Drive fast resolution of supplier and manufacturing issues for on-time production delivery
• Other duties as assigned 

Minimum Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in supply chain, manufacturing operations, or related fields in the clean energy, energy storage, solar, or advanced hardware space
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or Supply Chain. MBA is a plus.
• Demonstrated success launching and managing global contract manufacturing relationships
• Experience leading full New Product Introduction (NPI) process from prototype through EVT, DVT, and PVT phases to ensure successful product launch
• Proven ability to operate in early-stage environments and scale processes rapidly
• Strong understanding of both mechanical and electrical systems
• Experience working with engineering and manufacturers to refine designs for manufacturability, and timely and cost-effective execution
• Experience modeling product cost and executing cost reduction initiatives in design and production phases.
• Strong cost modeling skills (cost to build and should cost)
• Excellent negotiation skills & solid track record of deal execution
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels across the organization
• Willingness to travel up to 40% domestically and internationally

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with manufacturing operations in the U.S., Mexico, and Asia
• Familiarity with products like containerized BESS, solar racking systems, or integrated power systems
• Expertise in quality systems, manufacturing cost negotiation, and vendor performance management
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional programs including engineering, product, finance, and legal

Compensation & Benefits:

•  Competitive Compensation Package
• Health Insurance: We offer 100% coverage of employee premiums under a Gold-level PPO plan. Dental & Vision Insurance: 50% of employee premiums are covered.
• Retirement Plan: A 401(k) plan with a 6% employer match.

1AI Energy, the employing entity for 1st Avenue Power, and 1st Avenue Power are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee based on race (inclusive of traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding), age, veteran or military status, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, reproductive decision-making, or any other legally recognized protected class under federal, state, or local law.  We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), and local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on 1AI Energy or 1st Avenue Power. Please inform the company's personnel representative if you need assistance completing an application or to otherwise participate in the application process. 

 

Join our team and make a real difference in the world.

[1: Additionally, 1st Avenue is in the business of acquiring projects where there has been a final notice-to-proceed or financial close.]  

 

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