Program Manager - China Market Focus

Founded with the vision to electrify everything, Group14 is the leading commercial manufacturer of advanced silicon battery materials. Our breakthrough technology, SCC55®, is unlocking transformational performance for rechargeable batteries that power the world’s most critical innovations, from electric vehicles and AI-enabled electronics to eVTOLs and grid-scale energy storage. By enabling higher-density, faster-charging batteries, we are helping accelerate the global transition to an electrified future. Over the past year, Group14 reached major milestones that underscore our momentum. We closed a $463 million Series D round, bringing our total equity raised to more than $1 billion, and acquired full ownership of a battery materials factory in South Korea, strengthening global supply chains and scaling production to meet surging demand. Headquartered in Washington state with manufacturing operations worldwide, Group14 is backed by world-class investors and customers, including Porsche, ATL, Microsoft, and SK Inc. As we continue to grow, we are building a team united by passion for shaping the future of energy. We are seeking a highly resilient, strategically-minded **Program Manager (China Market Focus)** to lead product qualification, milestone execution, and day-to-day customer alignment with major battery cell manufacturers and OEMs in China. While our Business Development Managers lead commercial negotiations and contract execution, the Program Manager serves as the operational anchor—ensuring that signed programs are executed flawlessly on time, on budget, and to technical specification. You will serve as the primary bridging point between demanding Chinese accounts and Group14’s cross-functional teams (R&D, Global Operations, Quality, Finance), navigating complex customer dynamics and maintaining clear communication continuity. **WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING**: - **Program Execution & Milestone Delivery:** End-to-end management of qualification programs targeting major Chinese battery manufacturers and OEMs, driving cross-functional accountability from sampling gates (A/B/C samples) to scale-up. - **Customer Continuity & Relationship Management:** Act as the primary technical and operational interface for Chinese accounts, ensuring continuous, proactive communication to build long-term trust across technical and program management teams. - **Technical & Commercial Schedule Alignment:** Facilitate complex discussions regarding technical specifications, testing protocols, sample delivery timelines, and program milestones, ensuring customer expectations align with internal operational capacities. - **Resilient Issue Resolution & Escalation:** Swiftly assess technical bottlenecks, quality deviations, or program delays; exercise sound situational judgment to make critical decisions and communicate risk mitigations clearly to internal leadership and customer stakeholders. - **Cross-Functional Mobilization:** Partner closely with internal R&D, Quality, Operations in HQ/Korea, and Finance teams to mobilize resources, troubleshoot program risks, and fulfill APQP/PPAP requirements. - **Onsite Audits & Visits:** Plan, coordinate, and host onsite customer technical reviews, factory audits, and executive visits both in China and at global manufacturing facilities. **WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR**: - **Education:** Bachelor’s degree (B.S. / B.A.) in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Business, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience). - **Mandarin & English Fluency:** Native or business-fluent written and verbal proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and English is strictly required to lead technical exchanges and daily program alignment with Chinese partners. - **Resilience & Professional Courage:** Proven ability to thrive in high-pressure, fast-paced environments, maintain composure when managing high-stakes customer relationships, and assertively drive cross-functional accountability with demanding enterprise accounts. - **Exceptional Customer Communication:** Superior interpersonal, presentation, and stakeholder management skills. Demonstrated success in maintaining seamless communication continuity across multi-layered customer organizations. - **Sharp Situational Judgment:** Exceptional problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguous, complex situations, balance competing priorities, and execute swift resolution. - **Relevant Experience:** 5+ years of total professional experience in customer communication, technical, engineering, or project/program management environments, with at least 3+ years of direct experience in Program Management, Project Management, or Technical Account Management. - **Global Flexibility:** Ability to accommodate time zone differences between global HQ, Korea Operations, China-based partners, with willingness to travel internationally (~20–30%). **OTHER QUALITIES WE’D LOVE FOR YOU TO HAVE**: - **Industry Background:** Prior experience in the Battery Materials, Battery Cell, Automotive (OEM/Tier 1), or Advanced Materials/Chemical industries. - **Process Knowledge:** Understanding of industrial (battery, automotive, CE) qualification cycles, PPAP deliverables, and sample gate management. - **Cultural Acumen:** Deep understanding of Asia/Chinese enterprise organizational dynamics, decision-making hierarchies, and communication protocols. - **Systems & Tools:** Proficiency in PM tools(Asana), ERP systems (SAP), and modern project management software. Base Pay Range $110,000—$150,000 USD **GROUP14 OFFERS COMPELLING BENEFITS** - Medical, Dental, and Vision: 100% paid for by the company for employees (80% for dependents) with an HSA-eligible plan option for Medical - Employee Assistance Program - Long-Term and Short-Term Disability Insurance - Life Insurance and AD and D Insurance (100% Employer Paid) - Option to purchase additional Life and AD and D Insurance (with guaranteed issue) and Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Insurance coverages for you and dependents at affordable rates - Discounted rates on Pet Insurance - 401(k) with Pre-Tax and Roth options and Company Match - Paid Time Off and Floating Holidays - Stock Options GROUP14 IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER We love creating opportunities for others by connecting people from widely diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and geographies. Being a diverse and inclusive company isn’t just something we strive for, it's who we are and part of what we do each and every single day. We want to ensure that as an employee, you belong and that Group14 is the kind of workplace where you feel safe, included, and that you have the opportunity to thrive in your career. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. *If you need any assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please email: . This information will be treated as confidential and used only for the purpose of determining an appropriate accommodation for the application and/or interview process.* Group14 is committed to a safe and productive work environment. As part of our hiring process, we conduct pre-employment drug screenings for substances in accordance with state and federal regulations. Please note that our pre-employment drug screening process does not include testing for THC. **Please note: We are not able to accommodate candidates in need of work sponsorship at this time.** NOTICE TO STAFFING AGENCIES AND SEARCH FIRMS Group14 does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submittals from staffing agencies and search firms. Any resumes or candidate submittals sent to our careers site (directly or via job boards) or directly to Group14 employees will not be eligible for any placement fee, and the resume/candidate will be added to our database for direct recruitment. Group14 only assigns positions to staffing agencies and search firms who are pre-approved by HR and that we have a current agreement with. Not all positions are eligible for a placement fee.