Main Responsibilities Of A Deputy Director Of Battery Manufacturing At Gotion High Tech
Mohamad's role as Deputy Director of Battery Manufacturing at Gotion High Tech evolved from production management to encompass a wide range of responsibilities, including "politics," site selection for a "$1.2 billion project," hiring, construction management, and government relations, all while navigating community concerns and liaising with various governmental agencies. This experience, culminating in a newly added focus on technology implementation, showcases a unique career trajectory blending business acumen with significant political and logistical expertise.
Project Management, Government Relations, Manufacturing, Leadership, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mohamad Ali Zeitoun
Deputy Director of Battery Manufacturing
Currently Gotion High Tech. Previously Tesla Battery manufacturing
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
None
Business & Related, International Relations & Affairs
Energy & Utilities
Business Strategy
Immigrant
Video Highlights
1. Mohamad's role involved significant responsibilities in various areas, including production management, site selection, and government relations, showcasing the multifaceted nature of his position.
2. He played a crucial role in navigating political processes, such as rezoning and community engagement, highlighting the importance of political acumen in large-scale projects.
3. His current responsibilities encompass technology, equipment installation, and safety, demonstrating the broad skillset required in battery manufacturing and the potential for career progression within the field.
Transcript
What are your main responsibilities in your current role?
At my current company, there are multiple responsibilities. I started as a production manager, but while helping find a site, I became involved in politics.
This involved speaking with many politicians regarding site selection, rezoning, and construction companies. It's a $1.2 billion project, so every decision was difficult and required extensive teamwork. However, these teams and departments did not yet exist.
I was the first employee hired to get the factory operational. This meant I had to be a hiring manager, construction manager, and handle public and government relations. I was responsible for getting the rezoning approved in front of 500 citizens of Manino.
There were some naysayers asking why we were opening a company in their town, which is to be expected. Other responsibilities included manufacturing, but until recently, I was more involved in politics than I anticipated.
It seems politics and business must align for success. I was heavily involved in this, which has been useful. Even now, in my production and construction management roles, I work with politicians and local, state, and federal departments to launch projects or move them to the next phase. Knowing people at the government level has been very helpful.
Recently, I was given a new responsibility. Upon returning from China, I was informed of a new position. Now I am also responsible for the technology side.
This includes all incoming equipment, installation, commissioning, and debugging, which will fall under manufacturing, my department. Safety is also part of this. My responsibilities now include PR, government relations, hiring, manufacturing, safety, construction, utilities, and everything in between.