If you complement your production experience in the optical industry with proven leadership skills, including the ability to mentor and motivate others while also holding them accountable for their performance, the role of Production Manager offers you some compelling opportunities. You will: 

• Leverage your strong technical and leadership skills to make an impact on production operations at a fast-paced, high-growth lab.
• Enhance your skills and experience managing a multi-shift production team of leads and production associates.
• Enjoy the stability and resources of an established lab that's part of a growing global organization -- our recent combination with Luxottica has made us the world's largest player in the eyewear industry.
• Showcase your potential to take on additional responsibilities and advance your career with Empire Optical, here in North Hollywood, or at other Essilor locations across North America and around the world.
• Earn a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits in an upbeat, dynamic culture.
• Join an organization driven by a threefold mission: Improving lives by improving sight, Innovating for better vision, and Reaching the 2.7 billion underserved.

Empire Optical, an Essilor company,is dedicated to the independent eye care professional. We provide our customers with the best and latest lens designs available in the market today. For over 40 years, we have continued to thrive and grow through the support and loyalty of our customers.

Improving Lives By Improving Sight. Essilor of America, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of eyeglass lenses in the United States, employs more than 7,000 people and operates the largest and most comprehensive optical laboratory network in the U.S. Essilor of America, Inc. is a subsidiary of Paris-based Essilor International. Essilor manufactures optical lenses under the Varilux®, Crizal®, Transitions®, and other brands, and our products are worn by one billion people daily. Essilor has been on Forbes' list of the World's 100 Most Innovative Companies every year since 2010.

To meet the basic qualification for this role, you will have legal authorization to work permanently in the United States for any employer without requiring a visa transfer or visa sponsorship. To be a strong fit for the Production Manager opportunity, you will also have:

• 5+ years’ experience managing both exempt and hourly employees in fast-paced manufacturing environments required Quick question for you - click here
• Optical Industry production management experience required Quick question for you - click here
• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent work experience  Quick question for you - click here
• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience including the ability to:
  • Engage and motivate the team
  • Interact with the team on a technical level, leveraging optical production knowledge as needed
  • Earn credibility
  • Set clear and consistent expectations and hold individuals and teams accountable 
  • Ability to lead and thrive in a high-volume, multi-shift environment
• Excellent process control knowledge and a track record in reducing process variability and improving process yields
• Understanding of lean and/or six sigma methodologies; a continuous improvement mindset
• Solid computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Office programs (Excel and Word)
• Flexibility and adaptability to meet production demands and increased demands
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills; bilingual English / Spanish is highly preferred

Please note: As an essential business, we have strong protocols in place protecting our employees and safeguarding their health. 

Reporting to the General Manager, as Production Manager, you will be responsible for directing, coordinating and supervising all production processes in the Surfacing, Coating, Finishing and Maintenance departments. You will ensure the lab meets quality standards, required service levels, and standards associated with unit cost and productivity, by providing strong leadership, attention to key performance indicators, and ensuring accountability across all functions.

The lab runs two extended shifts, you will work a Monday - Friday day shift and build a presence across both shifts. The total production team has approximately 50 members, including five team leads reporting directly to you, and production associates reporting to the leads. The leads are strong and experienced, but in our high-growth, high-volume environment we're often adding staff and are always working to meet KPIs, so strong leadership is essential. Your specific responsibilities will include:

• Managing, through direct report exempt and hourly employees, all aspects of manufacturing and production in the lab for all shifts.
• Analyzing workflow, yields, manpower requirements, production restraints and quality issues. Identifying problems and developing solutions to continually improve operations.
• Communicating directly to other department managers and the General Manager on all department key performance indicators, achievements and challenges.
• Developing and maintaining standard operating procedures and ensuring strict adherence to lab and company processes and policies through employee accountability and development.
• Planning and scheduling staffing requirements needed in order to meet specific quality standards and production objectives.
• Providing continuous direction, support, and recognition to exempt and hourly employees to maintain a positive work environment.
• Ensuring that all production calibration activities are performed accurately and on schedule in support of the production quality goals.
• Providing routine reports to management on process and production variances along with action plans to continuously improve processes.
• Ensuring employees are trained according to department procedures and maintain required recurring training.
• Establishing performance expectations for staff, based on national, regional and lab goals, and preparing written performance evaluations for direct reports.
• Establishing and enforcing good housekeeping practices.
• Enforcing safety policies at all times.
• Flexing hours as needed to meet production demands, including adding Saturday shifts as required.

Note: This description is intended to give you a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities.

Premium Lab Optical Equipment
At Empire Optical, we believe in investing in the finest optical equipment available in the industry. Our finish department implements the latest edgers to accommodate a wide array of bevels and shapes. All of our equipment is integrated through Digital Vision Inc. (DVI) software, used by the finest ophthalmic laboratories. By investing in these technologies, we can ensure you quality and consistency for many years to come.

Premier Laboratory Team
At Empire, our team cares about our customers and strives to provide best-in-class service and attention. We work together as a team, in a friendly family atmosphere, and genuinely love what we do. Collectively, we possess over 200 years of optical experience in all aspects of the industry. We are experienced, focused, and completely committed to producing the finest ophthalmic products.

Great Environment
You will join a team that includes dedicated, smart and mutually supportive professionals. Our culture is entrepreneurial, and the company has been innovating both technologically and to solve problems for 170 years. You'll also learn the cultural nuances of working for a company based in another country, if that's new to you.

Truly Living Our Values
At Essilor, we believe everyone deserves to see life and all its detail with the best vision possible. That's why, in addition to designing, manufacturing and distributing quality vision care solutions worldwide, we invest in raising awareness of the importance of good vision, support eyecare professionals, invent new technologies and products, and support philanthropic initiatives. We also are committed to robust standards for environmental sustainability. These are just a couple of reasons we were one of the 52 companies named to Fortune magazine's 2019 Change the World list.

Excellent Compensation
In addition to competitive compensation, we offer an exceptional mix of first-rate benefits, including medical, dental and vision plans; a 401(k) plan with company match; tuition reimbursement; comprehensive training through Essilor University; lens and frame benefits for you and your family; an employee stock purchase plan with company match; and more.

Video: As part of the #DifferenceMakers campaign, Essilor chose four eyecare professionals and three Essilor employees to participate in a mission trip to Southeast Asia in March 2019.

This role offers a nice mix of challenge and opportunity that can be harnessed by a smart, engaging and insightful leader. Naturally, your optical production experience and knowledge will be critical, but just as important will be your ability to effectively lead and communicate with your team. Being able to speak the language of the business, create a presence across both shifts and earn credibility will be critical. Ours is a high-volume environment, and even in light of the speed, you'll ensure the team is consistently meeting demands and our high standards by leading with consistency, clear expectations, and follow-through on accountability.

In addition, to be an outstanding Production Manager, you will:

• Hold yourself accountable as you hold your team accountable
• Bring a commitment to safety to all that you do
• Take full ownership of your responsibilities
• Manage multiple activities and priorities effectively in our fast-paced, high-volume environment
• Maintain a continuous improvement mindset
• Combine analytical thinking with creativity in solving problems
• Achieve goals independently and also contribute as a strong member of the leadership team
• Bring a positive, upbeat approach and leadership skills to your interactions 

Pictured: Empire Optical lab North Hollywood is easily accessible by the 110, 405 or 101 freeways.