Site General Manager, Cleveland

Description

Gooch & Housego (G&H) is a leading global manufacturer of critical photonic components and systems. Our expertise spans across acousto-optics, electro-optics, fiber optics, and precision optics, serving markets that include aerospace, defense, life sciences, and industrial applications. At the heart of our innovation is a commitment to people, quality, precision, and customer satisfaction. We specialize in the development and production of high-performance crystal growth and Pockels cells technologies that are essential in the photonics industry.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced General Manager to join our team. This role is pivotal in driving and optimizing all departmental processes to ensure exceptional levels of customer satisfaction, with a specific focus on quality, delivery, employee engagement, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will be a seasoned manufacturing professional with a familiarity with crystal growth within the photonics industry, capable of leading cross-functional teams and managing complex production environments.

The role will have direct line responsibility for Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering, and Facilities; will work closely with Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Quality, and R&D, Sales & Marketing. 6 Direct reports, ~50 total employees at site. Leadership of the site and overall accountability for performance to Safety, Delivery and Financial commitments.

• Own and take accountability for site P&L, budgeting and performance against financial and operational targets and reports on site. 
• Ensures the organization is prepared with capital budget planning, people development and organizational capacity planning to deliver against plans.
• Ensure order coverage for fiscal year to support resource planning and revenue forecasting and reporting
• Utilizes appropriate KPI’s to identify performance trends and drive continuous improvements.
• Continuously strives to improve site performance in respect of people, materials, quality levels and financial commitments.
• Creates a culture of customer focus, ensuring that commitments are met in the markets served.
• Conduct pricing and cost analysis for commercial quotes, supplying necessary information to client account specialists for quotes and customer inquiries.
• Provide day-to-day technical assistance for on-the-floor manufacturing issues, focusing on assembly builds, quality, ERP, and inventory discrepancies.
• Optimize Business Performance through cross functional leadership of Engineering, and Operations.
• Drive the development of new product offerings in line with company corporate strategy and global market trends. 
• Build a performance culture, ensuring that all employees are accountable, have clear goals & objectives and that employee performance is regularly reviewed and managed. 
• Complies to and promotes the site/Company’s Safety and Quality Systems and ISO/AS standards.
• Follows and promotes the Company’s procedures, strategies and plans.
• Ensures Company’s values and brand are protected at all times.
• Travel includes ~10% domestic/international travel to other sites and customers.

Requirements

  EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Lead the team by listening, hearing and engaging with direct reports and others within the organization.
• High degree of business acumen, and proven track record of delivering exemplary financial results.
• 2 years of specific experience in high-temperature crystal growth (Czochralski growth experience strongly preferred).
• 3 years’ experience leading site operations, 10 years’ experience in manufacturing businesses preferably within the photonics industry. 
• Has held P&L responsibility within a manufacturing business and understands the link between operational KPI’s and financial performance.
• Capable of being the face of the company with domestic and international organizations.
• Ability to interface with group functions in a matrix organization i.e. Global Quality, Information Technology, Global Supply Chain, Global Human Resources, Sales, etc.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels in a matrixed organization structure.
• Excellent motivation and team building skills with demonstrable success in change leadership.
• US Citizen and must be a passport holder.
• Knowledge of ISO & AS Quality standards, DFARS, ITAR and other Defense experience a plus

EDUCATION:
Bachelor’s Degree, MBA or Masters level qualification in a technical discipline (Physics / Material Science / Chemistry / Engineering) or significant experience in a highly technical organization. 

Salary : $150,000 - $200,000