Program Manager, Operations in Colorado Springs, Colorado at OPTICAL ENGINES INC

Operations Program Manager

Department: Operations | Reports To: VP, Operations | Position Type: Full-Time

POSITION SUMMARY

The Operations Project Manager drives operational excellence, organizational effectiveness, process improvement, and execution discipline across the organization. This role leads cross-functional initiatives to establish standardized processes, improve accountability, strengthen documentation, and implement measurable performance improvements.

The primary objective is to develop a disciplined, efficient, and scalable operating environment capable of supporting both highly customized engineering and R&D activities and significantly increased manufacturing and production requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Operational Excellence and Process Improvement

• Evaluate organizational and manufacturing processes to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, resource constraints, and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using appropriate Lean, Six Sigma, and other operational methodologies.
• Develop standardized procedures, establish process ownership, and implement corrective actions.
• Promote a culture of accountability, ownership, measurable performance, and continuous improvement.

2. Process Mapping and Workflow Analysis

• Develop process maps documenting business and manufacturing workflows.
• Conduct workflow analysis and organizational gap assessments to identify delays, redundancies, communication breakdowns, and opportunities for greater efficiency.
• Implement improvements that strengthen departmental coordination and operational effectiveness.

3. Employee Training, Onboarding, and Organizational Development

• Develop and coordinate employee training programs, standardized work instructions, and training documentation.
• Identify departmental training requirements and employee competency gaps.
• Improve onboarding and offboarding processes, including HR documentation, benefits, payroll coordination, systems access, equipment, orientation, training, and knowledge transfer.
• Establish standardized checklists, responsibilities, and timelines to ensure consistent employee transitions.

4. Quality Management and Manufacturing Documentation

• Establish statistical quality tracking and reporting processes using appropriate metrics and tools, including Statistical Process Control (SPC).
• Monitor defect rates, scrap, rework, first-pass yield, and process variation; coordinate root-cause analysis and corrective/preventive actions.
• Evaluate and strengthen manufacturing procedures, work instructions, inspection records, and process specifications.
• Establish document ownership, revision control, approval processes, and change management practices.
• Work with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality to ensure processes are accurately documented, consistently executed, and scalable.

5. Cross-Functional Project Management and Execution

• Lead operational improvement projects involving Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Administration, and other departments.
• Establish project objectives, deliverables, milestones, timelines, resource requirements, and accountability.
• Coordinate departmental activities, identify risks, resolve execution challenges, and communicate project status to leadership.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable projects and drive initiatives through implementation and measurable results.

6. Operational Performance and Strategic Execution

• Develop and maintain operational dashboards, KPIs, and management reports.
• Monitor project execution, process efficiency, quality performance, training effectiveness, and improvement results.
• Work with executive leadership to identify operational capabilities and infrastructure required for organizational growth and manufacturing expansion.
• Establish measurable objectives and ensure operational decisions are increasingly supported by performance data.

7. Agile and Scrum Evaluation

• Evaluate opportunities to apply Agile and Scrum methodologies to engineering, R&D, manufacturing, and operational projects.
• Introduce appropriate practices such as project backlogs, sprint planning, progress meetings, reviews, and retrospectives.
• Provide employee guidance and establish practical project management routines that improve visibility, coordination, and execution without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)

Performance will be evaluated based on measurable results, including:

• Successful implementation of identified process improvements and increased workflow efficiency.
• Percentage of projects completed on schedule and within established objectives.
• Reduction in manufacturing defects, scrap, rework, and recurring quality issues.
• Implementation and consistent utilization of statistical quality reporting and dashboards.
• Completion, approval, and maintenance of critical manufacturing documentation.
• Improved employee onboarding, training completion, and competency development.
• Improved cross-functional coordination, accountability, and project visibility.
• Demonstrated financial, operational, and quality benefits from implemented initiatives.
• Effective adoption of appropriate Agile/Scrum practices, where applicable.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, Project Management, or a related discipline.
• 5–10 years of experience in operations, project management, manufacturing, process improvement, or organizational effectiveness.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional projects and implementing organizational change.
• Strong knowledge of process mapping, workflow analysis, continuous improvement, and statistical quality measurement.
• Experience with manufacturing documentation, standard operating procedures, work instructions, and document control.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and project management skills.
• Ability to influence and coordinate employees and managers across multiple departments without direct reporting authority.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma certification.
• PMP certification or equivalent project management experience.
• Agile or Scrum certification or practical implementation experience.
• Experience in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, optical, photonics, or technology-driven engineering environments.
• Experience scaling customized engineering operations into standardized, repeatable manufacturing processes.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

The successful candidate is a self-starter, analytical problem solver, effective communicator, and collaborative leader who demonstrates initiative, organization, adaptability, and attention to detail. The individual must be comfortable identifying operational weaknesses, influencing organizational change, establishing accountability, and driving projects to completion.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

The Operations Project Manager will help transform OEI into a coordinated, measurable, documented, and accountable operating organization. Success will be measured not by meetings conducted or recommendations made, but by improvements implemented, processes strengthened, and measurable operational results achieved.