Originally appeared in The News-Enterprise | August 1, 2023
The largest economic development in Kentucky’s history creating 5,000 new jobs is starting to hire for some of them.
BlueOval SK is hiring production operators and maintenance technicians at its battery park in Glendale.
Pay for the jobs starts at $21 an hour and can go up to $29 per hour for starting wages, depending on the position, according to a news release from the company.
“People are the most important part of BlueOval SK,” BlueOval SK Human Resources Director Neva Burke said in the release. “We want our employees to build their careers with us and make a good salary so they can live comfortably with their families.”
Workers will build advanced batteries for future Ford and Lincoln electric vehicles at the Glendale plants and in Stanton, Tennessee, which also has started the hiring process.
Working with third-party consultants, BlueOval SK conducted wage and benchmarking studies to determine employee pay and benefits, the release said.
Employees can expect two pay raises each year plus low-cost medical premiums, 401(k) matching, Ford vehicle discount benefits, vision and dental insurance.
In addition, operators might receive bonuses up to $2,300 annually and technicians might receive bonuses up to $2,500 annually based on performance, the release said.
“Our wages and benefits are competitive with the market,” BlueOval SK CEO Dr. Robert Rhee said in the release.
“We offer high quality jobs in a comfortable climate-controlled working environment that is safe, bright and clean.”
BlueOval SK will begin onboarding maintenance technicians and production operators later this year.
Hiring will begin first in Kentucky and expand to Tennessee later this year.
BlueOval SK’s manufacturing team is still evaluating the formal shift schedule for the plants, but the first hires will work a standard 40-hour work week while they receive training and learn the battery manufacturing process.
A formal shift begins sometime in 2024 once employees are able to partially occupy the plants, the release said.
Applications are being accepted at blueovalsk.com.
Click on the banner at the top of the home page or go to the careers page to submit information.
Applications will be reviewed and acted on in the order they are received.
Construction is on schedule at BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale and at the BlueOval SK battery plant at BlueOval City with production scheduled to begin in 2025, the release said.