Senior Manager, Optical Laboratory - Manufacturing

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

MissionHires is the AI hiring partner of top talent teams. Our platform helps recruiters, agencies, and top companies source, engage with, and evaluate top talent 10 times faster than job boards.

To bridge the gap between companies and passionate talent.