Operations Manager

IDEX•Boulder, CO

About The Position

Advanced Thin Films (ATF) develops and manufactures high-performance optical components for advanced laser applications. The Lasercom Operations Manager is a senior member of the leadership team and provides strategic, forward-looking operational leadership across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and inventory performance. The role builds scalable processes and organizational capability to meet changing customer and market demands and support ATF’s strategic objectives and growth. The Lasercom business line is entering a period of significant growth, and this position will help scale manufacturing lines and teams to meet increased demand. The manager leads cross-functional teams and production supervisors and supply chain specialists, drives continuous improvement, and develops operational maturity. The role coordinates with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, shipping and receiving, and site leadership. It also involves production forecasting and capacity planning, customer engagement, workforce development, and integration of new products and processes into full-scale production. Work takes place in office and manufacturing environments, including production areas and cleanrooms. The position requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, and moving throughout the facility, occasional bending, stooping, reaching, and lifting or carrying items up to 25 pounds. The role includes exposure to manufacturing equipment, machinery, noise, and typical industrial conditions, with applicable PPE such as safety glasses and cleanroom attire. Occasional schedule flexibility may be needed to support production needs or operational issues outside normal business hours. Applicants for positions involving access to controlled goods or technologies may need to qualify as a U.S. Person under applicable regulations. The compensation range is $124,000–$186,000, depending on experience. The position may be eligible for a performance-based bonus plan. U.S. benefits include health benefits, a 401(k) retirement savings program with company match, PTO, and more.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Operations, or a related technical field, or equivalent experience.
At least 5 years in manufacturing or process engineering.
At least 5 years leading operational or technical teams, including direct leadership responsibility.
Experience in high-volume production environments and scaling production lines to achieve step-functional production targets.
Experience supporting high-volume or precision manufacturing operations.
Strong background in process development, industrialization, and continuous improvement or Lean manufacturing.
Experience working cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Engineering.
Expertise with ERP systems and data-driven operational management.
Proven leadership experience managing diverse technical teams.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
Ability to operate in fast-paced, highly technical manufacturing environments; self-motivated, team-oriented, and able to influence across organizational levels.
Applicants for certain positions involving controlled goods and technologies may need to be U.S. Persons under ITAR or EAR definitions.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with optical manufacturing, coatings, or other precision-engineering processes is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary safety advocate for the Lasercom business line; establish proactive safety programs and lead sitewide safety improvement initiatives aligned with corporate and regulatory requirements.
Create and execute a strategic quality vision, build sustainable quality processes and organizational structures, own customer quality scorecards, and oversee quality control systems, audits, and adherence to standards.
Develop and execute production strategies aligned with business objectives, customer demand, and capacity.
Coordinate Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and shipping and receiving.
Lead and mentor production supervisors and supply chain specialists.
Integrate new products and processes into full-scale production.
Establish operational KPIs and use data to support decision-making.
Build a pipeline of productivity and operational excellence initiatives.
Partner with the Site Leader and Finance Leader on monthly and quarterly production forecasting.
Analyze demand signals and operational constraints to adjust capacity and support reliable delivery.
Lead process improvement strategies and capability-building initiatives across manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and engineering interfaces.
Drive cost reduction, efficiency improvements, and throughput enhancements.
Develop strategic relationships with key Lasercom customers; address customer needs, concerns, and feedback, and represent operations in customer reviews, audits, and program discussions.
Assess workforce capabilities, identify skill gaps, and promote targeted development programs in partnership with the training manager and production supervisors.
Foster accountability, empowerment, and continuous learning.
Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the Site Leader or designee.