Project & Operational Effectiveness Specialist

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.

Job Description

As a Project & Operational Effectiveness Specialist at Illuminate USA, you will support management to ensure strategic business priorities and projects are identified, prioritized, executed and results measured. This position will report directly to the VP of Manufacturing and collaborate closely with key stakeholders across manufacturing and business functions to ensure effective coordination and reporting of improvement initiatives for the manufacturing team. 

This role requires a unique blend of strategic thinking partnered with project management skills to synthesize manufacturing projects into realized team business results while aligning with overall organizational effectiveness.

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 results
• Track and report on improvement initiatives 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
• Develop business planning and project management expertise within the manufacturing team
• Support organizational effectiveness and associate development initiatives as needed

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• 5-7 years of project management and/or relevant experience.
• 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:

• Project Management certification
• Six Sigma certification
• Bi-lingual a plus

Illuminate USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by law.         

Illuminate is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.