Job Description
Located in the heart of Central Ohio, Illuminate USA is transforming solar panel manufacturing from our cutting-edge facility in Pataskala. As a new standalone joint venture established by two global leaders in renewable energy, we’ve rapidly grown to over 1,500 associates and are now fully operational in our 1.1 million-square-foot factory. Our vision is to establish one of the largest solar panel manufacturing operations in the Western Hemisphere.
This is an exciting time to join Illuminate USA as we continue to grow and innovate. We’re not just building solar panels—we’re building a team of dedicated, passionate associates eager to make a real impact. If you’re looking to be part of a collaborative, people-focused, and forward-thinking workplace, we want to hear from you!
We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and continuous opportunities for career growth. Come join us on this journey to create a brighter, more sustainable future in the Columbus area.
As Project Manager – Operational Effectiveness at Illuminate USA, you will drive production projects to ensure strategic business priorities and projects are identified, prioritized, executed and results measured. This position will report directly to the Leader of Organizational Effectiveness and collaborate closely with the COO and CMO on initiatives to improve our operational effectiveness and manufacturing performance.
Responsibilities:
- Support the development of strategic business planning and alignment of manufacturing improvement initiatives
- Drive strategic linkage to overall business goals and collaboration across manufacturing
- Establish strategic action plans (goals, measurable targets, schedule, roles and responsibilities)
- Coordinate with project owners to ensure alignment of deliverables and realize achievable results
- Identify and report any production / engineering project issues, delays, concern
- Track and report on improvement initiatives and projects at management meetings
- Collect feedback from key stakeholders and share solutions for improvement with leadership
- Reflect on results and assist management with the development of a path forward strategy for continuous improvement
- Utilize and continue to develop engineering excellence to help navigate and support production projects.
- Develop business planning and project management expertise within the organizational effectiveness and manufacturing teams
- Support organizational effectiveness and associate development initiatives as needed
- Help us deliver Business Strategy for projects “the illuminate way”
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
- 8+ years of Project Management experience. Manufacturing environment preferred.
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and MS Visio, with strong skills in data analysis and reporting.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, focusing on effectiveness and efficiency.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, capable of working effectively with both technical and functional teams.
- Experience in supporting process improvements and managing system updates.
- Ability to communicate a story and effectively make a business case for change or improvement
- Ability to make sound decisions with limited direction.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Engineering Degree
- Project Management certification
- Six Sigma certification
- Monday.com excperience
- Bi-lingual a plus
At Illuminate USA, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We proudly embrace equal opportunity for all, ensuring that all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Your unique background and experiences are valued here, as we believe they strengthen our team and drive our mission forward.
Illuminate is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience
- 8+ years of project management experience
- Manufacturing environment experience
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
- Proficiency in Microsoft Visio
- Strong data analysis and reporting skills
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills
- Experience supporting process improvements and managing system updates
- Ability to communicate business cases for change or improvement
- Ability to make sound decisions with limited direction
- Engineering degree
- Project management certification
- Six Sigma certification
- Monday.com experience
- Bilingual communication skills
Illuminate USA Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Illuminate USA and has not been reviewed or approved by Illuminate USA.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered competitive for the area, often described as above-average for local production roles and fair for the work performed. Opportunities for overtime further enhance earnings for those who want it.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage are included, with eligibility beginning shortly after hire and indications of quick start in some cases. This breadth of core health coverage strengthens the total rewards baseline.
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Parental & Family Support — Company-paid maternity leave at no cost to associates is explicitly provided. This family-oriented benefit adds tangible support beyond base pay.
Illuminate USA Insights
What We Do
Illuminate USA is an American leader in advanced clean energy manufacturing, dedicated to delivering cutting-edge solar panel technology and sustainable energy solutions. With a focus on innovation, Illuminate USA empowers a dynamic workforce to drive progress in the renewable energy sector. Based in Pataskala, Ohio, Illuminate USA operates a 1.1 million-square-foot facility, employing more than 1,400 associates across eight production lines, six of which are currently operational, with two more to be added by the end of 2024. At full capacity, the facility will produce more than 9.2 million advanced solar panels annually, equaling five gigawatts of electricity production — enough to power one million American homes. Illuminate USA is committed to onshoring the solar supply chain and investing in and upskilling the Ohio workforce by providing opportunities for engineers, technicians, production associates, and more. Together, we are making strides in American-generated, clean energy and lighting the way for a sustainable future.
