Oshkosh Defense is ready to manufacture a new fleet of electric vehicle mail delivery trucks for the U.S. Postal Service at their new facility in South Carolina, with a little help from readySC.

The Oshkosh Defense Spartanburg Assembly plant will manufacture both zero emission battery electric vehicles (BEV) and fuel-efficient low-emission internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE), upgrading the USPS fleet to be increasingly sustainable.

EDGE talked to Kristin Pick, Oshkosh Vice President of Human Resources, about the new Spartanburg Assembly plant and how Oshkosh is partnering with readySC to recruit and train its workforce.

 

EDGE: Could you tell us a little bit about your company?

PICK: Headquartered in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Oshkosh Defense, an Oshkosh Corporation company, is a global leader in the design, production, and sustainment of best-in-class military vehicles, technology solutions, and mobility systems.  Since 1917, we’ve delivered more than 190,000 tactical wheeled vehicles to our customers in more than 20 countries.

Oshkosh Defense announced its plan to build between 50,000-165,000 Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDV) for the United States Postal Service (USPS) in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in June 2021. Oshkosh won the competitively bid NGDV contract in February 2021.

Currently, we have 30 team members in South Carolina, with plans to hire more than 1,100 full-time team members by the end of 2024. 

EDGE: What kinds of skills does your workforce need?

PICK: Our workforce consists of more than 3,500 team members worldwide. Because each position has different requirements and objectives, skills vary.

At our Spartanburg Assembly facility, our advanced and highly skilled positions may require previous hands-on experience and familiarity with hand tools or automation. 

Some positions also require the completion of industry standard trainings or certifications.  Oshkosh provides a robust training program to help team members develop or enhance the skills necessary to build the NGDV. 

EDGE: What are some of the benefits that your company has received from readySC’s training and recruitment services?

PICK: We’ve experienced several benefits utilizing readySC’s training and recruitment services, including training support, training sites, recruitment campaigns, project management, and administrative support.

EDGE: Are there any unique challenges that readySC and the SC Technical College System have helped Oshkosh overcome?

PICK: readySC has helped us build relationships within the community through events and other engagement opportunities. This eased our transition into the community and allowed us to focus on establishing our facility and building our team.

“We highly recommend readySC. The project team is professional and resourceful, and they are devoted to building success within your organization and becoming part of the team.”
— Kristin Pick, Oshkosh Vice President of Human Resources

EDGE: What has the top positive outcome of readySC’s program been for your company?

PICK: readySC provides excellent training support.  Today we are utilizing their professional instructors and industry standard training while customizing the curriculum based on our requirements. 

This support allows us to invest in developing our team members, processes, and facilities, which helps us attract and retain top talent.

EDGE: What word or phrase would you say best describes readySC?

PICK: ‘Matchmaker’ – readySC is devoted to pairing job applicants with an organization that is the right fit for both parties. 

EDGE: Would you recommend readySC to other companies?

PICK: We highly recommend readySC.  The project team is professional and resourceful, and they are devoted to building success within your organization and becoming part of the team.

EDGE: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

PICK: We want to thank readySC for supporting organizations (such as Oshkosh Defense) and job applicants in South Carolina.

They’ve been a true partner since we expanded into the area, exceeding our expectations. We are excited to continue our partnership and bring new jobs to South Carolina.

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