Job Overview
We are seeking an experienced General Manager to lead the next phase of growth for a precision manufacturing business. This is the senior on-site executive role with full P&L responsibility and oversight of Operations, Production, Engineering, Quality, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance coordination, HR coordination, and compliance.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on manufacturing executive who can translate ownership’s strategy into disciplined execution. This role requires a builder who can scale operations, strengthen leadership accountability, improve throughput and margin, modernize systems, and build a culture of quality, ownership, and continuous improvement.
Essential Responsibilities
- Own full P&L performance, including revenue, gross margin, EBITDA, working capital, and annual operating plan execution· Develop and execute budgets, forecasts, capital plans, workforce plans, and operating priorities
- Provide accurate financial, operational, and KPI reporting to ownership and the board· Translate strategic goals into clear departmental priorities, accountability, and measurable results
- Lead growth strategy across defense, aerospace, industrial, commercial, and other strategic markets
- Build and strengthen relationships with key customers, defense primes, OEMs, and strategic accounts
- Align Sales, Engineering, Operations, and Finance around customer opportunities, pricing, capacity, margin, and execution risk
- Evaluate new business opportunities based on profitability, technical fit, capacity, and long-term value
- Oversee manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, shipping/receiving, and business operations
- Improve on-time delivery, throughput, scheduling discipline, quoting accuracy, material readiness, scrap, yield, and capacity utilization
- Implement a structured operating rhythm using KPIs, scorecards, leadership meetings, departmental priorities, and escalation paths
- Lead equipment, facility, and capacity planning, including capital investment recommendations and ROI discipline
- Strengthen execution from quote through order entry, purchasing, production, inspection, shipment, invoicing support, and cash collection
- Lead ERP, reporting, and systems improvements to strengthen costing, scheduling, inventory control, production visibility, and decision-making
- Establish clear process ownership, documentation standards, and system accountability· Use data to identify bottlenecks, margin leakage, quality issues, labor constraints, and capacity risks
- Ensure compliance with ISO 9001:2015, ITAR, export control requirements, customer requirements, and applicable regulatory standards
- Maintain quality discipline across production, inspection, engineering, shipping, and customer-facing functions
- Ensure nonconformance, corrective action, traceability, documentation, and audit readiness are managed effectively
- Own facility safety, operational risk, and regulatory compliance· Build, develop, and hold accountable a high-performing leadership team
- Define organizational structure, reporting lines, role clarity, decision rights, and escalation paths
- Lead workforce planning, cross-training, succession planning, and supervisory development
- Address performance gaps, leadership issues, and organizational bottlenecks directly and professionally· Promote a culture of accountability, communication, safety, quality, and continuous improvement
Qualifications & Experience
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Manufacturing, or related field
- 15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience· 5+ years in a P&L-accountable General Manager, President, VP Operations, or senior manufacturing leadership role
- Proven success scaling a specialty manufacturing business through disciplined growth· Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, margin improvement, working capital, costing, and KPI management
- Hands-on understanding of manufacturing operations, production flow, quality systems, supply chain, and capacity planning
- Experience leading cross-functional teams across Operations, Production, Engineering, Quality, Sales, Supply Chain, and Finance
- Experience implementing Lean, EOS/Traction, continuous improvement, or similar accountability frameworks
- Ability to lead credibly from the shop floor to the boardroom
- Experience in ITAR-regulated, defense, aerospace, or high-precision manufacturing environments
Preferred
- Experience in precision optics, optical manufacturing, photonics, laser components, or high-tolerance precision manufacturing
- ERP implementation, ERP cleanup, or systems modernization experience
- Experience expanding capacity, adding shifts, improving facility utilization, or supporting capital equipment expansion
- MBA or advanced degree preferred
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
This is a full-time, on-site executive leadership role in a precision manufacturing environment. The position requires regular time in office, production, engineering, quality, shipping, warehouse, and customer-facing environments. The President / General Manager must be comfortable working directly with shop-floor employees, leadership teams, customers, vendors, ownership, and external advisors. The role requires regular use of business systems, reports, financial information, operational dashboards, and manufacturing documentation. The employee must follow all posted safety, PPE, quality, ITAR, export control, and facility requirements.
Compensation & Benefits
Compensation will be based on experience, qualifications, and business needs. Eligible employees may participate in company-sponsored benefit programs, which may include medical, dental, vision, paid time off, paid holidays, and other benefits, subject to applicable plan documents, eligibility requirements, company policies, and applicable law. The company reserves the right to modify, amend, or discontinue compensation and benefit programs at any time, subject to applicable law.
Standard Disclaimers
At-Will Employment: Employment is at-will. Either the employee or the company may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable law.
Equal Employment Opportunity: We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of any status protected by federal, state, or local law.
Reasonable Accommodation: The company provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.
Other Duties: This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of duties. Responsibilities may change based on business needs.
Export Control Compliance: This role may require access to information subject to U.S. export control laws, including ITAR. Employment is contingent upon the ability to comply with those requirements. Inspiring your team every day!
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Have you managed an annual operating budget, led gross margin expansion, and successfully scaled operational throughput?
- What operational framework or continuous improvement discipline (e.g., EOS/Traction, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma) have you successfully implemented?
- What is the largest direct report team and overall workforce size you have led across cross-functional departments (Operations, Engineering, Quality, Sales)?
- Do you have direct leadership experience within precision optics, optical manufacturing, laser components, photonics, or ultra-high tolerance manufacturing?
- Do you have experience managing business operations in an ISO 9001:2015 certified environment and ITAR Compliant?
- What enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms have you implemented, migrated, or optimized to improve manufacturing scheduling and costing accuracy?
Experience:
- General Manager: 5 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Sarasota, FL 34243 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Sarasota, FL 34243: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
