Vice President, External Manufacturing

About Advanced Energy

Advanced Energy is a worldwide leader specializing in precision power conversion, measurement, and control solutions essential for critical applications. The company supports innovation across semiconductor, industrial, medical, and data center sectors through technically advanced products, a global production network, and a dedication to operational excellence and ongoing improvements.

Role Overview

The Vice President of External Manufacturing serves as a strategic and operational executive overseeing Advanced Energy's international outsourced manufacturing network covering components such as magnetics, cables, SMT boards, PCBA, and complete turnkey system assemblies. This role ensures exceptional performance across partner sites in safety, quality, delivery, cost-effectiveness, and responsiveness, facilitating scalable growth and optimal customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the strategy, governance, and execution governing the global outsourced manufacturing network.
• Assemble and cultivate a high-performing team with significant regional representation near principal partners in China, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, United States, and Mexico.
• Promote operational excellence in all partner operations, emphasizing safety, quality, timely delivery, cost control, and productivity improvements.
• Develop and maintain strong KPI frameworks, conduct executive business reviews, and generate performance scorecards.
• Guarantee preparedness for new product introductions, transfer of products, and volume scalability.
• Optimize the manufacturing network’s location footprint, production capacity, and cost structure.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives with suppliers and partners, enhancing yield rates, overall equipment effectiveness, and cycle times.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, quality assurance, sourcing, and supply chain teams to enhance product manufacturability and system performance.
• Lead corrective and turnaround actions for underperforming partners through formalized improvement plans.

Work Environment and Travel

This position operates within a standard office setting utilizing typical office equipment like telephones, personal computers, copiers, and fax. The role requires approximately 40% domestic and international travel, with extensive hands-on presence at external manufacturing partner locations to nurture strong partnerships and ensure operational consistency.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Strong financial insight and business acumen linking operational outcomes to profitability and growth prospects.
• Proficiency in KPI-based management systems and standardized operational protocols.
• Experience applying Lean manufacturing principles, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement techniques.
• Excellent communication skills combined with effective leadership and executive stakeholder management abilities.
• Capability to function successfully in a global matrix organization structure.

Professional Experience

• Over 15 years in leadership roles related to manufacturing and operations, with a background in outsourced or contract manufacturing.
• Extensive knowledge of electronics manufacturing, covering SMT, PCBA, magnetics, cable assemblies, and integrated system manufacturing.
• Demonstrated success managing global electronics manufacturing services (EMS) partners and intricate supply chains in environments that demand high variability and reliability.
• Proven record of driving operational excellence transformations focusing on quality, delivery, cost efficiency, and productivity improvement.
• Experience supporting new product introductions, product transfer projects, and scaling production operations across multiple regions.
• Preference for leadership experience in manufacturing hubs located in Asia.

Educational Background

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or related disciplines.
• MBA qualification is preferred.