Senior Manager Quality – Garnet

Coherent•Easton, PA

About The Position

The Senior Manager Quality – Garnet will build and lead the Garnet Quality function, establishing the department while directly supporting manufacturing quality operations in Easton, Pennsylvania, and Hillsborough, New Jersey. The role will create the quality systems, standards, inspection and testing controls, metrics, prevention culture, continual-improvement activities, and corrective-action processes required to support Garnet’s growth. It also focuses on cost reduction, profit improvement, waste elimination, faster execution, employee satisfaction, and customer satisfaction. As the organization develops, the role may expand to lead the full Garnet Quality Department. The position will define the quality organization, staffing plan, responsibilities, procedures, training requirements, and implementation roadmap. It will develop and maintain practical QMS processes, document control, record retention, and metrics, and achieve ISO 9001:2026 certification for Garnet operations. Manufacturing quality responsibilities include establishing inspection standards, control and sampling plans, acceptance criteria, hold/release practices, and product-release controls across both sites. The role will use data and direct manufacturing observations to improve process capability and product consistency, lead root-cause and corrective-action work, and support customer and supplier quality matters. The Senior Manager will establish common Garnet quality standards and best practices across Easton and Hillsborough, aligned with Coherent Global Quality Manuals, Procedures, and Processes. The ideal candidate is a hands-on builder who can move between strategic work and the manufacturing floor, directly observe or perform inspections, review data, and work through defects with operators and engineers. The role requires sound judgment in balancing containment and delivery needs, the confidence to challenge decisions when quality is at risk, and the leadership to build a sustainable department rather than remain the sole quality resource. The position should report to the Senior Director of the Garnet Business and will work cross-functionally with Engineering, Fabrication, LPE Growth, Supply Chain, Facilities, EH&S, and Global Quality. Employees are required to follow site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards. Depending on location, the position may be responsible for executing and maintaining applicable ISO 9000, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, or other standards within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System. The role is expected to adhere to the company’s ICARE values: Integrity, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Enthusiasm.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, quality, science, manufacturing, mathematics, statistics, or a related technical field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
Typically 10 or more years of progressive quality, manufacturing, or operations experience, including leadership of quality systems and problem-solving activities.
Demonstrated experience building or materially improving a quality organization, QMS, inspection system, or manufacturing quality process.
Hands-on experience with root-cause analysis, 8D corrective action, nonconformance control, audit preparation, SPC, process capability, and continuous improvement.
Experience working directly with production personnel and operating effectively in a developing, technically complex manufacturing environment.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, test data, process requirements, and customer quality requirements.
Strong communication, organization, judgment, and follow-through, with the ability to make timely quality decisions in a growing operation.
Ability to balance financial and quality objectives.
Willingness to work between strategic responsibilities and the manufacturing floor, including performing or directly observing inspections and working through defects with operators and engineers.
Ability to challenge decisions when quality is at risk and use judgment to balance containment with delivery needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience in semiconductor, optical, crystal growth, thin-film, ceramics, precision fabrication, or other high-precision manufacturing.
Experience supporting multiple manufacturing sites or standardizing quality practices across a manufacturing network.
Working knowledge of ISO 9001, customer audits, supplier quality, and formal quality-management systems.
Experience with Oracle, ERP/MES systems, electronic quality records, or manufacturing data systems.
Lean, Six Sigma, ASQ, CQE, or similar quality certification or formal training.

Responsibilities

Build the Garnet Quality function, including defining its organization, staffing plan, responsibilities, procedures, training requirements, and implementation roadmap.
Develop and maintain practical QMS processes, document control, record retention, and quality metrics.
Achieve ISO 9001:2026 certification for Garnet operations.
Establish inspection standards, control plans, sampling plans, acceptance criteria, hold/release practices, and product-release controls for Easton and Hillsborough.
Improve process repeatability and product consistency using SPC, data analysis, capability studies, yield analysis, defect Pareto analysis, and Gemba observations.
Lead or facilitate root-cause analysis, containment, corrective and preventive actions, effectiveness checks, and escalation of significant quality issues.
Lead customer complaints, RMAs, supplier quality issues, corrective actions, quality documentation, and communication of quality requirements.
Create common Garnet quality standards and best practices across Easton and Hillsborough, aligned with Coherent Global Quality Manuals, Procedures, and Processes.
Support cost reduction, profit improvement, waste elimination, faster execution, employee satisfaction, and customer satisfaction.
Work directly with production personnel and, as needed, perform or observe inspections, review data, and work through defects with operators and engineers.
Follow site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.
Depending on location, execute and maintain applicable quality and environmental management standards.
Adhere to Coherent Corp.’s ICARE values in all aspects of the role.