Manufacturing Department Manager

Location: West Henrietta

Title

Manufacturing Department Manager

Department

Precision Glass Molding (PGM)

Reports to

Director of Operations

SEE YOUR CAREER THROUGH A NEW LENS WITH RPO!
RPO is a global leader in precision optics, optical components, and optical assemblies. We specialize in a full spectrum of products & services including - Design and Engineering, Systems Integration, Lens Assembly, Visible and Infrared Components, Glass and Plastic Molded Aspheres, and Thin Film Coating. As one of the fastest growing companies in Rochester, RPO offers exciting career paths and work on market-leading programs.

See below one of many career opportunities to join the RPO team!

Job Summary:
RPO is seeking a tenured and quality-focused manufacturing department manager who will be responsible for the overall operating performance of our Precision Glass Molding (PGM) group. PGM is a unique, proprietary technology that is rarely found among other optical companies. This role demands a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced, precision-driven environment and is passionate about building high-performing teams, optimizing production workflows, and delivering exceptional results.

As a key member of the operations management team, you will be responsible for aligning daily operations with strategic business goals, ensuring consistent quality and on-time delivery, and fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. This is an excellent opportunity for an energetic, forward-thinking individual to work in a stimulating, fast-paced environment.

You will:

Lead and manage all operational aspects of the Glass Molding Department, ensuring resources, equipment, materials, and personnel are aligned to consistently meet or exceed production schedules and quality expectations.

Develop a deep understanding of equipment capabilities, staffing levels, and product flow across upstream and downstream departments.

Lead the department in achieving or surpassing schedule commitments; identify risks early and communicate them clearly to the Director of Operations with recommended solutions.

Manage departmental production capacity, evaluate staffing needs, and coordinate hiring or transfers with the Director of Operations.

Identify tooling, fixturing, material, or consumable needs and coordinate proactively with Operations, Purchasing, and Planning to ensure timely availability.

Review and approve Department personnel timesheets and time-off requests by required deadlines and adjust where necessary. Work with Operations Manager to set and monitor approved overtime.

Provide consistent daily and weekly feedback to the Glass Molding team and Director of Operations through verbal updates, written reports, status boards, and scheduled reviews.

Establish and maintain clear communication channels to share team performance, concerns, achievements, and operational updates.

Actively participate in week-to-week and month-to-month scheduling, working closely with Planning.

Provide timely, detailed feedback on new and recurring job quotes, including resource requirements, risks, and process considerations.

Collaborate with internal departments-including Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, R&D, and Business Development-to support ongoing production and new product development.

Partner with Quality Assurance to define quality requirements and ensure the team consistently meets them through training, monitoring, and corrective action.

Ensure real time, accurate data entry for all production activities; work with the PGM team to resolve job issues and communicate corrective actions to Operations.

Establish employee training plans, working closely with Floor Leads and Technicians. Regularly review and update training logs. Ensure that all new staff have an established training plan for their job requirements.

Develop and maintain comprehensive training plans for all employees, working closely with Floor Leads and Technicians.

Mentor and develop supervisors, leads, and team members to support the evolving needs of the business.

Regularly review and update training logs; ensure all new hires have structured onboarding and skill development plans.

Maintain written documentation of employee performance, including reviews, achievements, and areas for improvement.

Champion lean principles and continuous improvement initiatives, including process optimization, space utilization, and equipment integration.

Support the development, documentation, and maintenance of new and existing processes; ensure timely completion of documentation and retraining where required.

Research and recommend new equipment and technologies to improve quality, throughput, and cost efficiency.

You Have:

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Optics, Manufacturing, or a related technical field;
Master's degree preferred.

10+ years of experience in a fast paced production or manufacturing environment, ideally aligned with glass or plastic molding, precision machining, or optics manufacturing.

5-7 years of proven leadership…