Operations Manager

Edmund Optics•Oldsmar, FL

20d•$120,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Manager is responsible for managing the daily operations of the Florida Manufacturing location (EOFL) — reviewing financial statements and other performance data to measure productivity and goal achievement, and to determine areas needing cost reduction and program improvement. This role sits at the intersection of Manufacturing, Sales, Supply Chain, and Quality, and requires proven, demonstrated experience building trust and alignment across those groups — this is not a developmental role for someone building cross-functional or strategic skills for the first time. The position will collaborate strongly with Sales and Business Lines on opportunities that result in products made in Florida, with the subsequent production planning, and will support the VP of Operations with near and long-term capacity planning.

Requirements

Effective leadership skills, with proven ability to build trust and alignment across departments in a matrixed manufacturing environment — not reliant on formal authority alone.
Excellent communication, organization, and interpersonal skills, including demonstrated comfort operating at all levels — shop floor, executive planning, and customer-facing settings.
Demonstrated, hands-on experience translating operational and financial data into strategic recommendations; candidates should already have this track record rather than be seeking to build it in this role.
Change-management experience — introducing new processes or systems in ways that earn genuine adoption.
Knowledge of Military Specifications is desired.
Working knowledge of Six Sigma, Lean Principles and other statistical analysis Quality Tools.
Experience in ISO-9001 Certification in a Manufacturing Environment.
Experience in problem solving and quality improvement processes and teams (e.g., 8D, A3, DMAIC).
Knowledge of testing and inspection methods/equipment desired.
Strong skills in Microsoft Office applications and experience with statistical software (e.g., Minitab, JMP).
Experience with ERP/MES systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Epicor, or similar) preferred.
Comfort using data-visualization/reporting tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) to communicate KPIs to varied audiences.
Demonstrated commitment to safety culture and regulatory compliance (OSHA).
Bachelor of Science degree in Optics, Engineering or technical discipline or equivalent experience
10+ years technical experience in an Industrial or Manufacturing Environment with preference given to optical coatings of fabrication experience
Lean 6σ Green Belt certification required within 18 months of employment
Ability to lift up to 30 pounds and operate office equipment such as a copier; ability to see details at a close range; ability to sit at desk or PC for long periods of time; ability to travel.
U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency is required. This facility manufactures products subject to U.S. export-control regulations (ITAR/EAR), and this role requires access to export-controlled technical data

Nice To Haves

preference given to optical coatings of fabrication experience

Responsibilities

Accountable for all operational areas: Staffing and management, Employee development, training and conflict resolution, Inventory levels, turnaround time and On-Time Delivery, Department budgets, Equipment and supply purchases, Product quality
Support the VP of Operations, drawing on prior experience in long-range capacity planning, forecasts, and annual plans, and in evaluating and reporting progress on plans and KPI's — candidates should bring a demonstrated record in this area
Establish and implement factory policies, goals (KPI’s), objectives and procedures
Collaborate with other factories on scheduling prioritization, best practices and cross-site processes
Develop leadership and managerial skills of managers/supervisors through active coaching and structured development
Work with Sales and Business Lines to properly identify customer requirements and capability enhancements, serving as a credible, trusted partner to both functions.
Lead engagements with key customers regarding high level quality related topics
Accountable for Continuous Improvement (CI) program within factory and coordinating those initiatives with corporate CI Team
Accountable for 6S program within factory
Analyze data and trends using appropriate statistical analysis tools
Work with Supply Chain in qualifying and auditing suppliers new to EOFL
Interface with department heads throughout the organization
Comply with federal, state, and company policies, procedures, and regulations