Required Travel: 25% of the time
Position Overview: You will lead a 110+ person manufacturing team operating a state-of-the-art optical laboratory that produces approximately 450,000 eyeglass orders annually. In this operational leadership role, you will oversee a 24/7, five-day-per-week manufacturing facility, manage five direct reports, and drive performance across quality, turnaround time, cost management, and member satisfaction metrics.
Core Responsibilities:
Leadership & Team Development:
- Manage and develop a team of 110+ full-time employees and 5 direct reports.
- Create developmental opportunities and foster collaborative, cross-functional relationships.
- Hire, train, and develop talent; conduct succession planning and performance management.
- Motivate teams to meet business objectives and resolve escalated issues.
- Foster open dialogue and promote collaboration within and across teams.
Operational Management:
- Translate business plans into tactical action items and oversee completion of work assignments.
- Identify and implement improvements to increase productivity and efficiency.
- Align team efforts and build accountability for achieving operational results.
- Ensure all policies, procedures, and company principles are followed.
- Lead in a Labor Management Partnership environment.
Quality & Member Service:
- Define and maintain standards for quality eyewear production and timely delivery.
- Investigate and resolve member complaints, production issues, and service inquiries.
- Develop measurement tools to capture and monitor quality, turnaround time, and member satisfaction.
- Enforce optical quality standards and promote consistency in workmanship across all lab areas.
- Champion member satisfaction and drive continuous service improvement.
Safety & Compliance:
- Direct operations to ensure compliance with federal laws, regulatory requirements, and safety policies.
- Develop and implement comprehensive safety programs and inspection procedures.
- Monitor and ensure compliance with OSHA requirements, FDA regulations, and quality standards (ANSI, ISO).
- Maintain a safe work environment and address identified risks and hazards.
- Ensure staff understanding of approved policies, lab management systems, and compliance requirements.
Budget & Financial Management:
- Drive strategic financial planning and budget management for the optical laboratory.
- Design and execute comprehensive budgeting strategies.
- Identify and recommend opportunities to minimize expenses while maintaining service quality.
- Assume responsibility for operational and financial performance of the laboratory.
- Promote financial stewardship and establish a cost-conscious culture.
Asset & Inventory Management:
- Develop strategic vision and direction for asset and inventory management.
- Establish comprehensive policies and procedures for optimal accountability and industry standards adherence.
- Lead strategies for developing, monitoring, and maintaining all optical lab equipment.
- Create business cases for equipment procurement and analyze laboratory needs for updated equipment.
- Optimize inventory control, purchasing, receiving, storing, and distribution processes.
Training & Education:
- Design and present ongoing training programs on work methods for all staff roles.
- Maintain advanced, contemporary knowledge of optical manufacturing techniques.
- Ensure staff understand approved policies, lab management systems, and OSHA requirements.
Required Qualifications:
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Business Administration, or STEM field; OR minimum 11 years in an optical lab environment or directly related field.
- Minimum 8 years of experience in an optical lab environment or directly related manufacturing field.
- Minimum 7 years in a leadership role with direct reports.
- Minimum 5 years in optical manufacturing, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), eyewear fabrication, or directly related manufacturing.
- Minimum 1 year managing operational or project budgets.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Business acumen and financial acumen.
- Budget planning, financial analysis, and accounting practices.
- Human resources practices, recruitment, and labor management.
- Operational compliance and safety regulations (OSHA, FDA, HIPAA).
- Optical knowledge and optometric knowledge.
- Optical equipment operation and eyewear manufacturing processes.
- Inventory control and supply chain management.
- Computer literacy with advanced Microsoft Excel proficiency.
- Instrumentation and laboratory equipment operation.
- Applied data analysis and reporting.
- Written and interpersonal communication skills.
- Time management and project management.
- Innovative mindset and problem-solving ability.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Optician Certification from the American Board of Opticianry.
- Six Sigma Green Belt Certification.
- Prior experience in a union environment.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Salary: $150,000 $177,000 annually.
- Bonus: Up to 15% annual performance bonus.