Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer Company Overview

We are a leading manufacturer of precision optical filters, coatings, diffractive optics, infrared components, system integration, and services for mission-critical applications in life sciences, aerospace & defense, instrumentation, semiconductor, environmental, and industrial sensor markets. With over 85 years of experience, we provide expert optical design, manufacturing, coatings, and support for applications including PCR, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, spectroscopy, LiDAR, quantum computing, machine vision, satellite communications, and more.

Headquartered in Brattleboro, VT, we operate as a platform focused on scaling proprietary capabilities, engineering strength, and meeting global demand for high-precision optical coatings, components, and assemblies.

Our parent firm is a specialized private equity group dedicated to partnering with differentiated industrial technology companies that enable a healthier, safer, more connected, and equitable world through products in analytical instrumentation, advanced materials, sensors, optics and photonics, RF/microwave, medical devices, and robotics/automation. Since 2010, we have completed multiple platform investments and add-ons across funds, leveraging operational expertise to provide financial capital, management support, and strategic advice for growth.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will be a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This role involves strategic operational planning and execution, alongside day-to-day manufacturing oversight. As an operational partner to the CEO, the COO will lead the development and implementation of a platform-level operations strategy and roadmap, focusing on supply chain integration, procurement, and divisional improvements across key performance indicators (KPIs).

The ideal candidate is a results-driven leader with expertise in manufacturing processes, lean methodologies, and technology integration, bringing best practices in Lean, 5S, and advanced technologies to position us as a production leader. Responsibilities include coordinating Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S), Production, Manufacturing, Equipment, and Facilities Management across divisions, while managing and developing site leaders. This hands-on, collaborative role requires 50-75% domestic travel between sites and offers significant growth opportunities in a dynamic environment.

Location: Hybrid (Brattleboro, VT; Hopewell Junction, NY; Ithaca, NY; Jaffrey, NH; Ayer, MA)
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer Direct Reports: Site Leaders, EH&S, Quality, and Production Staff

• Partner with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to design and implement business strategies, plans, and procedures aligned with company goals for profitable growth.
• Develop and execute a platform-wide Operations Roadmap addressing capacity, capabilities, efficiency, productivity, and profitability across production facilities.
• Translate strategic vision into actionable short- and long-term plans, cascading the roadmap to all divisions and owning execution of operational priorities.

• Oversee all production operations, including planning, maintenance, and efficiency in manufacturing optical components.
• Champion lean manufacturing principles to reduce waste, improve on-time delivery, increase throughput, and enhance profitability; drive continuous improvement and scalable standard work.
• Establish and achieve site- and platform-level KPIs.
• Collaborate with the Chief Technology Officer and Engineering team for seamless new product handoffs from design to production; identify and implement new technologies per the Operations Roadmap.

• Optimize the end-to-end supply chain, including logistics, inventory control, and vendor management.
• Own (through Site Leaders) the monthly Supply, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) process, including revenue forecasts, inventory, and backlog management.
• Support contract negotiations with key suppliers for high-quality raw materials; build resilient supply chains (e.g., dual sourcing) and lead tariff risk management.
• Ensure products meet internal quality benchmarks and industry standards; maintain compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Manage rigorous quality control systems from raw materials to final testing; explore a unified Quality Management System (QMS) for platform integration.
• Conduct internal audits and collaborate with Finance/Quality for ISO and industry standard compliance.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performance Operations team, fostering accountability, continuous improvement, and a bias for action.
• Promote communication and collaboration between Operations, Engineering, and Sales for alignment on goals and actions.