Team Lead, Optical Fabrication – Bonding/Contact/Etch/Litho/Laser – Compressed Work Week Back End Nights

Job Mission

You will effectively lead the Compressed Work Week Back End Night ( Thursday–Saturday, alternate Wednesday 6pm-6am) Optics manufacturing for Bonding, Contacting, Etch, Lithography, and Laser operations. You will have managerial responsibilities for 14+ optical technicians. You will ensure safe, on-time delivery of high quality product to your customers while leading improvements in process and operational effectivity and efficiency. You will continuously seek out, foster, and spearhead improvements to all aspects of your operational area. You will engage in adoption and industrialization of new products and new processes through a strong partnership with Production and Development Engineers. You love being a team player that enjoys the success of team members as much as you enjoy personal success. 

Job Description

As an Optical Fabrication Shift Team Leader, you will be responsible for:

• Maintaining alignment of individual, team, and area goals to department and Company objectives.
• Creating employee annual performance goals and coaching and mentoring your team of technicians for daily success. Partnering with employees to create professional development action plans.
• Developing competencies within the team that focus on technical skills, continuous improvement, teambuilding, and cross-training.
• With minimal supervision, leading a team of technicians to deliver precision optics while meeting or exceeding department and product Key Performance Indicators. These include, but are not limited to: 5S safety; product first pass yield; on-time delivery; production lead time reduction; labor efficiency and labor hour accuracy; and workforce development and upskilling.
• Planning: Set up a detailed production schedule, within the constraints of the Manufacturing Plan and available resources. Ensure progress and output at minimal cost. Solve problems, provide recovery plans, and inform relevant parties on deviations. 
• Output: Realize the planned output of all deliverables of Volume Production. Ensure the availability and usefulness of the means of production, in cooperation with Production Engineering.  Ensure that the level of know-how and the training of the team members is sufficient to be able to realize all plans.
• Transparently highlighting any product or performance issues and escalating requests for help as needed.
• Facilitating identification and implementation of continuous improvement initiatives within your area.
• Partnering with Production Engineering to systematically improve processes for increased efficiency and product quality.
• Displaying structured systematic problem solving, innovative problem resolution, and encouraging new ideas and methods that are applied with rigorous experimentation and change control.
• Leading by example, encourage personal motivation in an effort to achieve world class quality and performance.
• Working effectively with peers across shifts to meet goals and maintain production continuity.
• Communicating effectively to gain buy-in from technicians and influence department leaders.
• Administrative duties including time and attendance record-keeping and performance/merit reviews.
• Administering and enforcing company policies and procedures in a direct and consistent manner.
• Working with Human Resources on disciplinary issues and hiring decisions.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor degree desired (in a science or engineering field preferred). Minimum of high school diploma required.
• At least 5 years of supervisory / leadership experience in manufacturing, military or related field OR 5 years of direct optics fabrication experience desired.
• Strong manufacturing operation acumen.
• Strong LEAN manufacturing and Continuous Improvement experience – you can demonstrate a history of operational improvement through effective collaboration with your employees and across your partner organizations.
• Computer proficiency with MS Outlook 365 applications, with knowledge of SAP or comparable ERP system.
• Familiar with ISO9001 and ISO14001. Direct working experience in a ISO certified environment desirable.
• Prior optical fabrication experience a plus, but not required.

Personal skills

• Strong ability to observe and respond to people and situations while monitoring and developing your team and their performance
• Strong ability to learn and apply new information or skills. 
• Must be able to read and interpret data, information, and documents.
• Strong customer focus and commitment to customer satisfaction through prioritization, quality, efficiency and professionalism.
• Ability to complete assignments with attention to detail and high degree of accuracy. 
• Proven