Senior Director of Operations, Optical Systems (US)

ABOUT US  

Join a Global Photonics Leader Engineering Solutions from the Deep Ocean to Outer Space!

G&H is a world leader in photonics technology, delivering advanced optical systems, components, and solutions that support mission-critical applications across aerospace, defense, life sciences, industrial manufacturing, medical technology, and research markets. 

Through a commitment to technical excellence, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction, G&H provides employees with the opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies while collaborating with highly skilled engineering and manufacturing professionals in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment.

THE OPPORTUNITY
We are seeking an accomplished Senior Director of Operations, Optical Systems (US) to provide strategic and operational leadership across our Tampa, Florida, and Keene, New Hampshire manufacturing facilities within the Optical Systems US Business Unit. This leader will be responsible for driving operational excellence, strengthening manufacturing capabilities, and delivering consistent performance across both locations in support of our business growth objectives.

As a senior member of the operations leadership team, this individual will have accountability for manufacturing execution, operational performance, resource optimization, and continuous improvement. Working closely with Business Unit leadership and cross-functional partners, the Senior Director will establish disciplined operating processes, strengthen performance management, and ensure alignment between manufacturing capabilities, customer requirements, and financial objectives. The successful candidate will bring extensive experience leading complex, highly engineered manufacturing operations, strong financial and commercial acumen, and a demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams, lead operational transformation, and deliver sustainable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.

This role will require extensive travel to our Keene, New Hampshire and Tampa, FL locations.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

Strategic Operations Leadership & Execution

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across the Tampa and Keene manufacturing facilities, ensuring alignment with Business Unit priorities, customer commitments, and long-term growth objectives.
• Develop and execute operational strategies that strengthen manufacturing capabilities, optimize capacity and resources, and improve efficiency, scalability, and overall business performance.
• Establish clear operating priorities, performance expectations, and accountability across both sites, ensuring consistent execution against safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity objectives.

Manufacturing Excellence & Operational Transformation

• Lead operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and other methodologies to improve throughput, reduce waste, and enhance manufacturing performance.
• Establish standardized operating processes, performance management routines, and operational KPIs that drive consistency, transparency, and disciplined execution across both facilities.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and commercial leadership to strengthen manufacturing readiness, support new product introductions, resolve operational challenges, and improve customer delivery performance.

Financial Performance & Business Growth

• Drive operational financial performance, including manufacturing costs, labor efficiency, productivity, inventory, capital expenditures, and execution against approved budgets and business targets.
• Lead capacity planning, resource optimization, and capital investment recommendations, developing robust business cases that support profitable growth and operational scalability.
• Partner with Finance and Business Unit leadership to evaluate operational performance, identify risks and improvement opportunities, and implement corrective actions that strengthen margins, cost competitiveness, and financial predictability.

People Leadership, Safety & Organizational Capability

• Lead, coach, and develop site operations leadership teams, building organizational capability, succession readiness, and a culture of ownership, accountability, and high performance.
• Champion a proactive safety and quality culture, ensuring compliance with applicable environmental, health, safety, and regulatory requirements while reinforcing operational discipline and continuous improvement.
• Foster effective collaboration across sites and functions, driving employee engagement, organizational effectiveness, and G&H's core values of Customer Focus, Integrity, Action, Unity, and Precision.

WHAT YOU BRING

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related discipline required; MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.
• 15+ years progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including significant responsibility for multisite operations within complex, highly engineered manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated success leading operations within aerospace, defense, photonics, precision optics, or similarly sophisticated manufacturing industries.
• Proven ability to develop and execute operational strategies that deliver measurable improvements in profitability, productivity, quality, delivery, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Strong expertise in Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, operational excellence, and continuous improvement methodologies, with a track record of leading transformational initiatives.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including experience managing manufacturing budgets, capital investments, cost structures, and operational performance against financial targets.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing operational KPIs, performance dashboards, and structured accountability frameworks across multiple manufacturing locations.
• Comprehensive understanding of production planning, capacity management, supply chain integration, manufacturing systems, and quality management requirements.
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and influence high-performing teams across geographically dispersed operations, including through organizational change and business growth.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, problem-solving, and executive-level influencing skills, with the ability to balance long-term operational priorities with hands-on execution.

If you're ready to make a meaningful impact in a world-class photonics environment and help advance next-generation optical technologies, we'd love to hear from you.

Notes: This job description is not intended to be exhaustive in every respect, but rather to clearly define the fundamental purpose, responsibilities, and dimensions of the role. Employees are expected to undertake all other reasonable and related tasks allocated by their manager. 

US Applicants: In the instance that the position will involve having access to items and technical data that may be controlled under U.S. export laws and regulations ("U.S. Export Control Laws"), including but not limited to the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR") and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations ("ITAR"). To comply with the U.S. Export Control Laws, G&H must assess whether candidates are "U.S. persons" as defined under applicable regulations. Certain questions asked during the application process are intended to assess this and will be used for evaluation purposes only. Failure to provide the necessary information may result in our inability to consider you further for this position. 

The Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunities 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 applicable law.