Senior Manufacturing Operations Manager

VIAVI Solutions; Santa Rosa (CA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 207,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Job summary

VIAVI Solutions in Santa Rosa, CA seeks a Senior Manufacturing Manager to drive end-to-end production performance, KPIs, and continuous improvement across the manufacturing area. You will lead Production Supervisors, optimize labor and equipment use, and partner with maintenance and engineering to improve reliability and throughput.

The role requires 5+ years of leadership in manufacturing, strong analytical and communication skills, and a proven track record of KPI-driven results, with a focus

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of manufacturing leadership experience.
• Proven track record of driving manufacturing KPIs and improving production performance.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing metrics, daily management systems, and performance dashboards.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement frameworks.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Candidate must be a US Person as defined by USCIS (US Citizen, Green Card Holder, Approved Political Asylee).

Responsibilities

• Own and drive core manufacturing KPIs including Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Productivity, Scrap, and Yield.
• Establish daily, weekly, and monthly performance targets and ensure execution against goals.
• Analyze performance trends, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure accurate, timely reporting and communication of manufacturing metrics to leadership.
• Manage day-to-day operations of the production area to meet schedules and customer requirements.
• Balance labor, equipment, and materials to optimize throughput and minimize downtime.
• Lead Production Supervisors and drive a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Drive lean manufacturing and cost optimization initiatives with safety, quality, delivery in mind.

Skills

5+ years manufacturing leadership

Lean / Six Sigma

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering / Operations / Business

Tools

Performance dashboards

Lean manufacturing tools

Job description

Summary:

VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions for telecommunications, cloud, enterprises, first responders, military, aerospace, and railway. VIAVI is also a leader in light management technologies for 3D sensing, anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications.

We are the people behind the products that help keep the world connected at home, school, work, at play, and everywhere in between. VIAVI employees are passionate about supporting customer success and we welcome people who bring their best every day to the company – to question, to collaborate and to push for solutions that will delight our customers.

The Senior Manager, Manufacturing position is accountable for end-to-end performance of an entire production group, with a strong focus on driving manufacturing metrics and key performance indicators. This role leads Production Supervisors and ensures consistent achievement of safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity targets. The Senior Manufacturing Manager uses data-driven decision-making to improve operational performance, sustain results, and drive continuous improvement.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities :

Operational Performance & KPI Ownership

• Own and drive core manufacturing KPIs including Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Productivity, Scrap, and Yield.
• Establish daily, weekly, and monthly performance targets and ensure consistent execution against goals.
• Analyze performance trends, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions to improve results.
• Ensure accurate, timely reporting and communication of manufacturing metrics to leadership.

Production & Area Management

• Manage day-to-day operations of the entire production area to meet production schedules and customer requirements.
• Balance labor, equipment, and materials to optimize throughput and minimize downtime.
• Partner with Maintenance and Engineering to improve equipment reliability and equipment effectiveness.

Leadership & Supervisor Development

• Directly manage Production Supervisors with a strong emphasis on performance accountability and KPI ownership.
• Ensure supervisors effectively manage hourly teams, staffing plans, and production targets.
• Drive a culture of accountability, and continuous improvement across all levels of the production team.
• Audits and ensure corrective actions are closed on time and sustained.

Continuous Improvement & Cost Optimization

• Drive lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives tied directly to measurable KPI improvements.
• Reduce waste, scrap, rework, and inefficiencies through structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives while maintaining safety, quality, and delivery performance.

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage operational expenses and labor costs to meet budget and productivity targets.
• Use metrics and data to support fact-based operational and staffing decisions.

Pre-Requisites / Skills / Experience Requirements:

Qualifications :

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business or related field (or equivalent experience).

• 5+ years of manufacturing leadership experience.

• Proven track record of driving manufacturing KPIs and improving production performance.

• Strong understanding of manufacturing metrics, daily management systems, and performance dashboards.

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through change and sustain operational improvements.

• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement frameworks.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

• Candidate must be a US Person as defined by USCIC (US Citizen, Green Card Holder, Approved Political Asylee)

VIAVI Solutions is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer – minorities/females/veterans/persons with disabilities.

Job Posting Pay Range:

111,300

to

206,700

Exceptional qualifications, experience and location may impact salary. VIAVI offers a competitive benefits package that includes paid time off, health, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and a bonus program.