Director of Manufacturing & Operations

Director of Manufacturing & Operations

Tucson, Arizona Area  |  Full-Time  |  On-SiteThe Opportunity

A growing optics manufacturer in the Tucson, Arizona area is seeking a Director of Manufacturing & Operations to lead the day-to-day manufacturing and operational performance of its U.S. operation. This is a key leadership role with clear ownership of the manufacturing floor and responsibility for building a disciplined, high-performing operation capable of supporting continued growth and increasing production scale.

The Director will own production execution, planning and scheduling, people leadership, equipment reliability, maintenance, cleanroom operations, facilities and overall operational performance. The role will work closely with Engineering through NPI and production readiness, creating a clear handoff that allows technical and engineering leadership to remain focused on product development, optical technology and engineering execution while Operations owns manufacturing delivery.

The company designs and manufactures precision optics and optical assemblies for technically demanding applications, supported by innovative and flexible manufacturing processes and a strong engineering-driven culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all production, cleanroom, maintenance and facilities activities across the manufacturing operation.
• Own day-to-day manufacturing floor performance, including safety, quality, delivery, productivity and cost.
• Lead production planning, scheduling and execution to meet customer delivery commitments and business priorities.
• Build, lead, motivate and develop production and operations teams, establishing a high-performance culture based on ownership and accountability.
• Establish clear accountability, visual management and disciplined daily SQDCP (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People) routines.
• Ensure products entering manufacture have successfully completed the required NPI and stage-gate review process.
• Partner closely with Engineering to ensure products and processes are proven, manufacturable, documented and production-ready before release to manufacturing.
• Provide a clear operational interface between Engineering and Production, allowing engineering leadership to focus on technical development while Operations owns manufacturing execution.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, yield, productivity, throughput and cost performance.
• Own equipment reliability, preventative maintenance programs, manufacturing capability and operational readiness.
• Manage facilities, cleanroom infrastructure and the site environment to support safe, compliant and efficient manufacturing operations.
• Develop and monitor meaningful operating metrics and use data to identify constraints, improve performance and support capacity planning.
• Support the scaling of manufacturing processes, staffing, equipment and infrastructure as the business grows.
• Collaborate with broader organizational leadership to deploy best practices, standardize operational disciplines and strengthen the capability and self-sufficiency of the local manufacturing operation.
• Collaborate effectively with Engineering, Quality, Commercial and leadership stakeholders to align manufacturing priorities with customer and business requirements.
• Maintain a strong commitment to Health & Safety, regulatory compliance and disciplined manufacturing governance.

What We're Looking For

• Significant leadership experience within a manufacturing, engineering or operations environment.
• Proven track record of improving productivity, delivery, quality and cost performance.
• Experience directly managing production teams and owning manufacturing operational performance.
• Strong understanding of NPI, stage-gate processes, production readiness and manufacturing governance.
• Experience driving continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and work effectively with Engineering, Quality, Commercial and leadership stakeholders.
• Experience establishing performance metrics, operating rhythms and accountability systems.
• Strong Health & Safety awareness and commitment to compliance.
• Excellent communication, leadership and organizational skills.
• Ability to combine strategic thinking with hands-on operational leadership in a growing organization.

Preferred Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management or a related discipline.
• Experience within precision manufacturing, optics, photonics, semiconductor, aerospace/defense, medical device or cleanroom environments.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or equivalent operational excellence qualifications.
• Experience scaling manufacturing operations within a growing business.
• Experience supporting defense-related or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading site-wide operational transformation, manufacturing transfer or capacity expansion projects.
• Experience working within an international organization or collaborating with geographically dispersed manufacturing and engineering teams

Leadership Profile

• High levels of ownership and accountability.
• Strong leadership capability with the ability to motivate, coach and develop teams.
• A structured and disciplined approach to governance, process control and operational management.
• Excellent communication across manufacturing, engineering and leadership teams.
• A proactive, practical and solutions-focused mindset.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Flexibility and adaptability within a growing organization.
• Comfort balancing strategic thinking with a visible, hands-on presence on the manufacturing floor.

Benefits

401(k), dental insurance, health insurance, paid time off and vision insurance

Additional Information

This position requires a regular on-site presence across manufacturing, cleanroom and operational areas. The successful candidate must be able to perform the essential duties of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation. Applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the United States. Some domestic and international travel may be required to support collaboration, training, customer engagements and other business activities.

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping and scaling a technically advanced U.S. manufacturing operation. Candidates motivated by building high-performing teams, creating disciplined manufacturing operations, driving operational excellence and delivering measurable results are encouraged to apply.

Gregg Carroll Recruiting Services, LLC is an independent executive search firm serving customers throughout the United States.