Lab Manager, Enabling Technologies

Novelis is one of the world leaders in aluminum recycling and rolling and a leading sustainable aluminum solutions provider. Driven by our purpose of shaping a sustainable world together, we work alongside our customers to provide innovative solutions to the aerospace, automotive, beverage packaging and specialty markets. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Novelis has approximately 13,000 employees in 32 operating facilities on 4 continents.

The Manager, Enabling Technologies is responsible for the complex operations of the laboratories within the Novelis North America Lab in Novi, MI. Using strong technical acumen across multiple scientific fields, this role will closely collaborate with Novelis North America automotive teams, R&D teams, NNA manufacturing facilities and some of Novelis’ most valuable automotive customers. This role supervises a team of specialized engineers, technologists and technicians who are experts of the equipment and technologies required by Novelis customers to implement new aluminum sheet automotive products, directly impacting strategic targets.

The incumbent must personally demonstrate and lead others with a safety-first mentality to support the goal of Vision Zero Injuries.

• Maintain safe workplace through active management of safety for all activities and personnel in the facility, and ensure a positive “safety first” culture is established and maintained at the facility.
• Manage workflow for labs (metallurgy, joining, formability, laser, and hot/cold stamping development cell) including resourcing, test scheduling, testing methodologies, developing solutions and testing proof of concepts for automotive customers.
• Directly manage or provide guidance to area leaders for project definition, project management, and gate review of enabling technology projects supporting automotive customers and Novelis automotive Lab initiatives, and provide technical leadership to the team to navigate complex situations requiring the team to adapt or develop new solutions through analytical, interpretative, creative and innovative thinking.
• Work with automotive R&D and Value Stream technical leadership to develop and maintain 5‑year strategic direction of the Novi facility, and use the diverse technical talent and budget to enhance lab competency, equipment, and employees to deliver on the strategic direction of Novelis and automotive customers.
• Develop annual budget (Operating cost and capital costs) to maintain and address needs of the facility supporting strategic direction of the Lab.
• Ensure proper data and laboratory records are maintained and all intellectual property protection methods are employed.
• Represent Novelis to key automotive customers and their personnel to show enabling technologies that will influence the implementation and specification of Novelis’ products into future vehicles.

• Bachelors in Engineering (Materials, Mechanical, Aerospace) or equivalent experience required. Masters or PhD preferred.
• More than 10 years experience in a technical engineering environment involving metal structures, preferably hands‑on, manufacturing, lab or production design in the transportation industry.
• Demonstrated understanding of material requirements, forming and joining requirements, structural performance requirements, and corrosion resistance requirements for Novelis products as applied by automotive customers, and the testing required to support and develop such applications.
• Working knowledge of auto body and/or closure design, testing standards, joining, formability.
• Experience working with aluminum and steel materials.
• Industrial lab management (equipment and personnel) experience preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with ability to work well with diverse work groups and cultures.
• High degree of proficiency in computer software applications with a systematic approach.
• Ability to address large groups for presentations and training as needed.

Please note that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for current…