Chief Operating Officer (Must reside in Northeast US)
About the position The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will be a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This role involves strategic operational planning and execution, alongside day-to-day manufacturing oversight. As an operational partner to the CEO, the COO will lead the development and implementation of a platform-level operations strategy and roadmap, focusing on supply chain integration, procurement, and divisional improvements across key performance indicators (KPIs). The ideal candidate is a results-driven leader with expertise in manufacturing processes, lean methodologies, and technology integration, bringing best practices in Lean, 5S, and advanced technologies to position us as a production leader. Responsibilities include coordinating Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S), Production, Manufacturing, Equipment, and Facilities Management across divisions, while managing and developing site leaders. This hands-on, collaborative role requires 50-75% domestic travel between sites and offers significant growth opportunities in a dynamic environment. Responsibilities • Partner with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to design and implement business strategies, plans, and procedures aligned with company goals for profitable growth. • Develop and execute a platform-wide Operations Roadmap addressing capacity, capabilities, efficiency, productivity, and profitability across production facilities. • Translate strategic vision into actionable short- and long-term plans, cascading the roadmap to all divisions and owning execution of operational priorities. • Oversee all production operations, including planning, maintenance, and efficiency in manufacturing optical components. • Champion lean manufacturing principles to reduce waste, improve on-time delivery, increase throughput, and enhance profitability; drive continuous improvement and scalable standard work. • Establish and achieve site- and platform-level KPIs. • Collaborate with the Chief Technology Officer and Engineering team for seamless new product handoffs from design to production; identify and implement new technologies per the Operations Roadmap. • Optimize the end-to-end supply chain, including logistics, inventory control, and vendor management. • Own (through Site Leaders) the monthly Supply, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) process, including revenue forecasts, inventory, and backlog management. • Support contract negotiations with key suppliers for high-quality raw materials; build resilient supply chains (e.g., dual sourcing) and lead tariff risk management. • Ensure products meet internal quality benchmarks and industry standards; maintain compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. • Manage rigorous quality control systems from raw materials to final testing; explore a unified Quality Management System (QMS) for platform integration. • Conduct internal audits and collaborate with Finance/Quality for ISO and industry standard compliance. • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performance Operations team, fostering accountability, continuous improvement, and a bias for action. • Promote communication and collaboration between Operations, Engineering, and Sales for alignment on goals and actions. • Partner with the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Leadership Team on budgets, operating plans, expense monitoring, and capital investments; provide accurate quality, delivery, cost, and working capital data. • Implement cost-control measures and analyze data for improvement opportunities. • Assess risks and develop comprehensive risk management plans. • Collaborate on major platform integration initiatives and implement programs as needed. Requirements • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or a related field; MBA preferred. • 10+ years of management/executive-level operations experience in multi-site, low-to-moderate volume/high-mix lean manufacturing environments. • Exemplary executive presence with strong verbal and written communication skills. • Excellent interpersonal and team leadership/development skills; ability to set and enforce high performance standards. • "Can-do" attitude as a cross-functional partner thriving in dynamic, entrepreneurial, high-growth, multi-site settings. • Mastery in business transformation using lean principles. • Proven ability to implement and integrate technology platforms; working knowledge of modern ERP systems (preferably Global Shop Solutions) and CRM systems (preferably HubSpot). • Proficiency in manufacturing planning, yield analysis, Kaizen events, structured problem-solving, root cause analysis, and statistical process control. • Skill in managing complexity through influence. • Track record of profitably scaling capital-intensive businesses. • ERP System User (e.g., Global Shop Solutions) • CRM System User (e.g., HubSpot) • Industrial Statistics Software User • Microsoft Office Suite • The role requires sitting, walking, standing, talking, and hearing. Occasional lifting/moving up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities include close vision and focus adjustment. Reasonable accommodations available. Nice-to-haves • Experience in optics/photonics fabrication, thin film coating, and private equity is preferred. • Prior platform integration experience. Apply tot his job