Melting Manager

About us

SCHOTT Advanced Optics is a valuable partner for developing products and customized solutions for applications in optics, astronomy, opto-electronics, augmented reality, life sciences, and research. With a portfolio of over 120 glasses, we master the value chain, from development to finishing and metrology.

Your Contribution

• Lead and supervise all raw glass manufacturing operations, including melting, annealing, batch house, and etching processes, while serving as the technical authority for glass melting technologies
• Manage and develop employees through hiring, training, performance management, coaching, employee relations, recognition, corrective action, and succession planning
• Foster a positive, accountable, and high-performing work environment while maintaining effective labor relations and collaborative union partnerships
• Plan and optimize workforce utilization, equipment capacity, production workflows, and facility layouts to improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and lead times
• Troubleshoot manufacturing challenges, establish process standards, and drive technical solutions that improve operational performance and product quality
• Coordinate production activities with Supply Chain, Procurement, Maintenance, Quality, and other functions to ensure customer requirements and production objectives are achieved
• Prepare and manage cost estimates, quotations, budgets, staffing plans, capital requests, and production forecasts to support business goals
• Establish, monitor, communicate, and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost
• Champion Lean Manufacturing principles by ensuring compliance with SCHOTT Lean standards, delivering employee training, and leading continuous improvement initiatives
• Ensure compliance with all Environmental, Health, Safety, and Security requirements by promoting a strong safety culture, overseeing hazardous waste management activities, maintaining regulatory compliance, and developing qualified personnel
• Peform other duties as assigned

Your Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline required
• Minimum of 5-10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience in a process-driven production environment
• Demonstrated experience leading technical manufacturing operations, including process control, continuous improvement, and production optimization
• Proven ability to lead, coach, develop, and engage teams while fostering accountability, collaboration, and high performance
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with the ability to evaluate complex manufacturing processes and implement effective solutions
• Experience with workforce planning, capacity analysis, budgeting, cost control, and operational performance management
• Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles, continuous improvement methodologies, and KPI-driven decision making
• Strong project management skills with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to effectively interact with employees, leadership, customers, vendors, and union representatives
• Proficiency with computer systems, data analysis tools, and manufacturing-related software applications
• Experience in glass manufacturing, materials processing, thermal processing, or similar industrial manufacturing environments preferred.MBA, advanced technical degree, or professional project management certification considered a strong asset
• Fluent English communication skills, both written and verbal

Your Benefits

• Excellent healthcare benefits including medical, dental and vision
• Short and long term disability
• Tuition reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Pet insurance
• Other supplemental benefits available upon election

Please feel free to contact us

You can expect interesting tasks and challenging projects, as well as motivated and friendly teams in fields that influence our future. Do you want to be successful with us? Then, please send us your application: SCHOTT North America, Inc., Human Resources, Kurt Johnson,

*At SCHOTT, it’s your personality that counts – not your gender, your identity, or origin.