Lead of ARC Operations
Warren, OH - USA
Job Summary
Job Description
At General Motors our product teams are redefining mobility. Through a human-centered design process we create vehicles and experiences that are designed not just to be seen but to be felt. Were turning todays impossible into tomorrows standard from breakthrough hardware and battery systems to intuitive design intelligent software and next-generation safety and entertainment features.
Every day our products move millions of peopleas we aim to makedriving safer smarter and more connected shaping the future of transportation on a global scale.
The Role
The Autonomous Robotics Center (ARC) is a multidisciplinary organization developing the next generation of intelligent highly automated manufacturing systems for General Motors. The Lead of ARC Operations is responsible for the day-to-day operations safety security facilities and support services for ARC buildings and labs with primary focus on two core facilities in the Detroit area (Warren and Pontiac).
This role ensures that ARC buildings labs and support infrastructure are safe compliant secure and fit-for-purpose for current and future robotics development and validation work. As an operations leader the Lead of ARC Operations oversees a multidisciplinary team of safety operations staff project engineers and technicians to ensure ARC facilities labs and support services are structured staffed and enabled to meet the growing demand from Manufacturing Engineering and Research & Development while maintaining high utilization of ARC assets strong risk management and high-velocity experimentation.
What Youll Do
Safety & Compliance
Own implementation of GM safety policies standards and procedures across ARC buildings and labs.
Ensure regulatory compliance (environmental health safety fire electrical etc.) in partnership with GM EH&S and corporate functions.
Lead and maintain safety programs (training permits audits incident reporting corrective actions) tailored to robotics labs and test environments.
Coordinate and document Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures and safe work instructions for robotics and automation installations.
Drive a proactive safety culture within ARC facilities through regular walkthroughs safety meetings and visible ownership of issues to closure.
Building & Lab Operations
Oversee day-to-day building and lab operations for ARC facilities in Warren and Pontiac including common areas labs test cells and shop spaces.
Plan schedule and coordinate facility upgrades renovations and reconfigurations to meet evolving robotics and automation needs.
Manage building services (utilities HVAC compressed air power distribution network readiness waste handling) in collaboration with GM Facilities and IT.
Maintain clear lab operating procedures (access control hours of operation housekeeping standards material and equipment staging).
Ensure all labs and test areas are fit-for-purpose for current and future workloads including power network safety systems and structural capacity.
Security & Access Control
Partner with GM Security to ensure physical security of ARC buildings including badging visitor management and contractor access.
Define and administer access policies for labs test cells and restricted areas balancing safety security and agility.
Establish and monitor processes for key/credential management after-hours access and incident response.
Asset Tracking Installation & Maintenance
Own asset visibility and tracking for major ARC capital equipment (robots automation cells tooling test equipment infrastructure).
Implement and maintain asset management systems (tags inventory location tracking maintenance records) to support utilization and lifecycle planning.
Coordinate installation and commissioning of new robotics cells test stands and major equipment in partnership with technical teams vendors Facilities and IT.
Develop and oversee preventive maintenance plans for critical lab and test assets to minimize downtime and safety risk.
Ensure appropriate documentation and change control for moves additions and changes (MAC) to lab infrastructure and equipment layouts.
Support Services & Vendor Management
Manage core support services for ARC buildings (shipping/receiving material handling storage waste streams office moves lab services).
Coordinate external vendors and contractors performing work in ARC facilities ensuring adherence to GM safety security and quality expectations.
Define and continuously improve standard work for recurring operational processes (e.g. equipment requests space moves new lab setups).
Partner with procurement and finance on service contracts maintenance agreements and operational budgets related to facilities and building operations.
Planning Upgrades & Capacity Management
Develop and maintain a multi-year facilities and infrastructure roadmap aligned with ARC and enterprise robotics strategy.
Assess and communicate space power and infrastructure capacity against incoming project and program demands.
Plan lab layouts equipment clusters and test areas to support efficient workflows and safe operation.
Identify and prioritize infrastructure upgrades (power networks safety systems utilities) needed to support new robotics platforms test methods and volumes.
Cross-Functional Alignment & Communication
Act as a central coordination point between ARC operations technical teams Manufacturing Engineering R&D Facilities EH&S Security IT and other corporate partners.
Translate technical and program needs into clear facilities safety and operational requirements.
Provide regular updates and reporting on building readiness safety metrics asset status and key operational risks.
Support emergency response planning and drills in coordination with site and corporate teams.
Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)
Bachelors degree in engineering facilities management operations or a related field or equivalent practical experience.
7 years of experience in facilities operations plant/lab operations EH&S or technical operations management in a complex industrial R&D or manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience implementing safety programs and policies and working with EH&S Facilities and Security organizations.
Experience coordinating building projects upgrades or lab build-outs including planning scheduling and contractor management.
Proven ability to manage multiple operational workstreams simultaneously in a dynamic high-velocity technical environment.
What Will Give you a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)
Experience with robotics automation manufacturing systems or test labs and the environments required to develop and validate them.
Familiarity with GM or large enterprise safety policies standards and compliance frameworks.
Hands-on experience with asset tracking systems CMMS or similar tools for equipment and facilities management.
Background in industrial mechanical electrical or controls engineering supporting lab or plant operations.
Prior experience leading operations facilities or lab management for multi-building or multi-site organizations.
Skills & Competencies
Safety-first mindset with strong understanding of industrial and lab safety practices.
Operational excellence: able to design and run reliable repeatable processes for building and lab operations.
Organizational & planning skills: structured approach to prioritization scheduling and coordination across teams and vendors.
Technical literacy: comfortable working around robotics automation equipment and industrial infrastructure; able to understand basic technical constraints and risks.
Communication & collaboration: clear written and verbal communication; able to align diverse stakeholders and drive closure on issues.
Problem-solving & bias for action: proactive in identifying risks gaps and opportunities; takes ownership to resolve them.
Detail orientation & follow-through: strong focus on documentation tracking and closing actions to completion.
Reporting & Location
Reports to: Head Robotics Technology Development (Autonomous Robotics Center).
Primary locations: GM Global Technical Center Warren MI and ARC facilities in Pontiac MI.
On-site expectation: This is a primarily on-site role due to the nature of building lab and operations responsibilities.
Travel: Occasional travel to other GM sites (plants test facilities partner locations) as required.
About GM
Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better safer and more equitable for all.
Why Join Us
We believe we all must make a choice every day individually and collectively to drive meaningful change through our words our deeds and our culture. Every day we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
Benefits Overview
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We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required where applicable to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more visit How we Hire.
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About Company
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