VP, External Manufacturing
About this role
ABOUT ADVANCED ENERGY:
Advanced Energy is a global leader in precision power conversion, measurement, and control solutions for mission-critical applications. The company enables customer innovation across semiconductor, industrial, medical, and data center markets through highly engineered products, a global manufacturing footprint, and a strong commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Vice President, External Manufacturing is a strategic and operational leader responsible for managing Advanced Energy's global outsourced manufacturing network across magnetics, cables, SMT boards, PCBA, and full turnkey system box build. The role drives end-to-end performance across external partners, ensuring best-in-class execution in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and responsiveness while enabling scalable growth and strong customer outcomes.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Lead strategy, governance, and execution of the global outsourced manufacturing network
- Build and develop a high-performing team with strong regional presence near key partners (China, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, US, Mexico)
- Drive operational excellence across all partners in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity
- Establish robust KPI systems, executive business reviews, and performance scorecards
- Ensure readiness for new product introduction (NPI), product transfers, and volume ramps
- Optimize manufacturing network footprint, capacity, and cost structure
- Drive supplier and partner continuous improvement, including yield, OEE, and cycle time improvements
- Partner closely with engineering, quality, sourcing, and supply chain to improve manufacturability and system performance
- Lead recovery and turnaround actions for underperforming partners through structured improvement plans
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Works in a standard office environment and uses office equipment (telephone, PC, copier, fax machine, etc.).
Travel required approximately 40% of time both domestic and international.
Extensive international travel and hands-on engagement at external manufacturing partner sites. The successful candidate is expected to maintain strong on-site presence to drive performance, build partnerships, and ensure operational alignment
SKILLS:
- Strong financial and business acumen, linking operational performance to margin and growth
- Expertise in KPI-driven management systems and standardized operating disciplines
- Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies
- Strong communication, leadership, and executive stakeholder management skills
- Ability to operate effectively in a global, matrixed organization
EXPERIENCE:
- 15+ years of manufacturing and operations leadership experience, including outsourced or contract manufacturing
- Deep expertise in electronics manufacturing including SMT, PCBA, magnetics, cable assemblies, and system integration
- Proven track record managing global EMS partners and complex supply chains in high-mix, high-reliability environments
- Demonstrated success in operational excellence transformation (quality, delivery, cost, productivity)
- Experience supporting NPI, product transfers, and scaling manufacturing operations across regions
- Strong leadership experience in Asia-based manufacturing environments preferred
EDUCATION:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field
- MBA preferred
Company at a glance
Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. is a global leader in the design and manufacturing of highly engineered, precision power conversion, measurement and control solutions for mission-critical applications and processes. Advanced Energy’s power solutions enable customer innovation in complex applications for a wide range of industries including semiconductor equipment, industrial production, medical and life sciences, data center computing, networking and telecommunications.
Why be a part of Advanced Energy?
At AE, we’re proud to be a global leader in precision power technology. Our products enable innovation in a wide range of industries including semiconductor equipment, industrial, medical, telecommunications, and data center computing.
For more than 40 years, we’ve been bringing together the smartest, most passionate minds to deliver cutting-edge solutions for our customers. What you do here makes an impact.
Our people are great at what they do, and even better at working together. Our culture thrives on collaboration and our core values are at the heart of everything we do.
We are a playground for new ideas. Come shape the future with us by pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
At AE, we are powering technology together.
For more information about our products, contact [email protected].
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