Senior Manufacturing Manager

ABOUT US

G&H is a world leader in optical designing, testing and manufacturing. As experts in the technology of light, G&H works with customers to provide optical systems, assemblies, and components for demanding applications.

Headquartered in Ilminster Somerset, UK with primary operations in the USA and Europe, G&H is recognized for the breadth of their acousto-optic, electro-optic, crystal-optic, fiber optic, and precision optic products. G&H is recognized as the preferred source for OEMs in the life sciences, industrial, and aerospace and defense industries, with a history of quality and excellence that dates back over seventy-five years.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As the Senior Manufacturing Manager – Fabrication & Bonding, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for complex optical fabrication and bonding operations within a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment. You will lead teams responsible for the safe, efficient, and repeatable production of precision optical components while partnering closely with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Program Management teams to support new product introductions, technology transfers, and continuous improvement initiatives.

This role is ideal for a leader who thrives in a technically challenging environment and is passionate about developing people, optimizing manufacturing performance, and successfully implementing new technologies and processes to support business growth.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

Manufacturing Operations Leadership

• Provide day-to-day leadership for fabrication and bonding manufacturing operations, ensuring the safe, efficient, and on-time production of high-quality products that meet customer and business requirements.
• Establish operational objectives, staffing plans, and performance expectations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity targets.
• Monitor key operational metrics including yield, throughput, cycle time, on-time delivery, scrap, and labor utilization, implementing corrective actions as needed to achieve business objectives.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, engineers, technicians, and manufacturing personnel to build a high-performing and engaged organization.
• Drive workforce capability through training, succession planning, cross-training, and employee development initiatives.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence while promoting employee engagement and inclusion.

Manufacturing Readiness & Implementation Support

• Partner with Engineering and NPI teams to support the implementation of new products, technologies, equipment, and manufacturing processes into production.
• Lead manufacturing readiness activities for new product introductions, technology transfers, and production ramp initiatives, ensuring personnel, documentation, tooling, and processes are fully prepared for successful launch.
• Drive implementation of process improvements, automation solutions, and manufacturing technologies that improve capacity, yield, quality, and operational efficiency.

Process Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives to improve manufacturing performance, reduce waste, and enhance process capability.
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering and Quality teams to resolve complex technical issues, conduct root cause investigations, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
• Drive process standardization, manufacturing discipline, and best practice deployment across fabrication and bonding operations.

Cross-Functional Business Leadership

• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, and Site Leadership to align manufacturing priorities with customer commitments and business objectives.
• Support capacity planning, capital equipment planning, budgeting, and resource allocation activities to meet current and future business demands.
• Communicate operational performance, risks, and improvement initiatives to senior leadership while ensuring compliance with quality, regulatory, environmental, and safety requirements.

WHAT YOU BRING

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience within photonics, optics, semiconductor, aerospace, medical device, or other precision manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading fabrication, bonding, assembly, or other complex manufacturing operations in a high-mix, low-volume environment.
• Proven experience supporting new product introductions, technology transfers, and implementation of new manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Strong knowledge of optical fabrication, precision manufacturing, bonding processes, or related advanced manufacturing technologies preferred.
• Experience leading Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives with demonstrated measurable results.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing metrics, capacity planning, production scheduling, and operational performance management.
• Experience working within regulated manufacturing environments such as AS9100, ISO 9001, ISO 13485, or similar quality systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary teams while driving accountability and employee engagement.
• Excellent communication, project management, and cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to influence at all organizational levels.

Notes

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive in every respect, but rather to clearly define the fundamental purpose, responsibilities, and dimensions for the role. Therefore, this job description does not describe any individual role holder. In addition to the contents of this job description, employees are expected to undertake all other reasonable and related tasks allocated by their line manager.

The Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunity or practices on the grounds of gender, race, religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by national laws under which the Company operates.

Please note that this position will involve having access to items and technical data that may be controlled under U.S. export laws and regulations, including but not limited to the Export Administration Regulations and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. To comply with U.S. Export Control Laws, G&H must assess whether candidates are U.S. persons as defined under the EAR and ITAR. Certain questions asked during the application process are intended to assess this and will be used for compliance purposes only.