VAD Senior Manager

VAD Senior Manager

LIGHTERA has one of the longest and most respectable corporate lineages in American business, which goes back to Alexander Graham Bell and the invention of the telephone more than a century ago.  We have a proven track record of being first in the industry with application-specific fibers, optical connectors, ribbon cables, erbium doped fibers, Raman fiber lasers, fiber gratings, and more. 

Our mission is to provide leading optical innovations and solutions by designing, manufacturing, and supplying the best optical fibers, fiber cable, and components and devices for our customers, with exceptional service that creates value for our shareholders, customers, and employees. To do so, we must continue shaping the future of communications by applying the best minds to the challenges our customers will continually face.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Leads the factory supply of single-mode core materials.  Manage a multi-discipline team to provide safe, quality, and efficient operations in the Vapor Axial Deposition (VAD) processing area to meet KPI and financial targets.  Implement continuous process improvements and support the development/implementation of new products.  Provide technical leadership with key RAW materials and equipment suppliers for world-class efficiencies and performance.

MINIMUM BACKGROUND REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Operations
• 5 years of management experience in a manufacturing environment with a highly technical product

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: (Preferred qualifications)

• Operations and Engineering leadership experience
• Graduate degree in a related engineering field or MBA
• Manufacturing experience in a 24/7 labor union environment

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Promote a safety-first philosophy in the VAD operations area
• Direct global supply of single-mode core materials
• Manage 24/7 operations team in a union environment
• Manage multi-disciplinary engineering team
• Ensure safe, quality-driven driven and efficient operations to meet customer expectations
• Meet production requirements for KPI and financial targets
• Ensure supply of high-quality core material to meet fiber specifications
• Maintain and troubleshoot VAD process equipment and process to ensure business continuity
• Implement continuous process improvements to drive cost reductions with enhanced quality
• Provide VAD core making capacity planning
• Maintain adequate core inventory control
• Ensure the VAD team provides cross-functional engineering and technical support for the entire manufacturing process (core-to-preform-to-fiber)
• Ensure the VAD team provides external technical leadership with key external raw material suppliers and equipment providers
• Support different parts of the organization, including R&D, Sales, and Marketing
• Work with R&D to ensure capabilities meet shifting demand for product mix
• Work cooperatively with other areas of the factory as a member of the factory senior leadership team

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Strong management and leadership skills for leading multi-disciplinary engineering and operations team
• Experience with mechanical, electrical, and chemical systems in industrial applications
• Hands-on manufacturing experience
• Sound statistical background in data analysis
• Strong project management skills
• Knowledge to apply a multi-disciplinary approach in process development and problem solving
• Proven capability of leading large-scale, complex, cross-functional technical projects
• Proven capability of collaborating within different parts of the organization, including R&D, Sales, and Marketing
• Proven ability to work with external suppliers to drive product improvements and address technical issues
• Additional duties as assigned.

Note: Only those candidates selected for the interview process will be contacted. 

Working at LIGHTERA means having the opportunity to realize ideas, experience innovation, and discover new solutions for the future.  In addition to our dynamic work environment, we offer competitive salaries and generous benefits programs, including medical, dental, tuition reimbursement, and a matching 401(k) plan.