Senior Manager, Optical Laboratory - Manufacturing - Richmond, California

MissionHires is partnering with a well-established health organization to hire a Senior Manager for its high-volume Optical Manufacturing Lab in Richmond, CA. This leader will oversee end-to-end lab operations across a 24/5 schedule, managing a large, unionized workforce to drive productivity, quality, safety, cost optimization, and employee engagement while aligning operations with organizational strategy.

• Oversee all optical lab operations, including production, quality assurance, asset management, and safety compliance
• Directly manage 5 leaders and 100+ indirect reports across 24/5 operations in a unionized environment
• Drive productivity improvements, reduce turnaround time, and maintain consistent product quality
• Champion employee engagement, coaching, and leadership development across teams
• Ensure adherence to safety standards, industry regulations, and organizational protocols
• Develop and manage operational budgets and identify cost-saving and process optimization opportunities
• Plan and execute equipment maintenance, upgrades, and procurement strategies
• Design and implement training programs for technical staff and managers to support skill growth and compliance
• Translate business strategy into tactical plans and actions aligned with organizational goals
• Analyze performance metrics, lead root cause investigations, and implement corrective actions to improve satisfaction and output
• Collaborate cross-functionally with quality, supply chain, HR, and finance to achieve operational targets

• Bachelor's degree in Business, STEM, or related field; or 11+ years of related experience
• 8+ years of experience in an optical lab or manufacturing environment
• 7+ years in a leadership role with direct staff oversight
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in optical manufacturing, CAM, or related production fields
• 1+ year of experience managing budgets
• Strong knowledge of safety compliance, financial planning, HR practices in a union environment, and optical production equipment
• Proven experience improving productivity, quality, and turnaround time in a high-volume operation
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and data-driven continuous improvement
• Excellent communication, coaching, and stakeholder management skills
• Preferred: ABO Optician Certification
• Preferred: Six Sigma Green Belt
• Preferred: Experience in supply chain management or continuous improvement methodologies

Bonus: Up to 15% Annual Bonus

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