VP, External Manufacturing & Supplier Assurance

Coherent is seeking a transformational executive to build and lead our global External Manufacturing & Supplier Assurance organization. This leader will have enterprise responsibility for contract manufacturer strategy and commercial governance supplier surveillance and capacity assurance and make/buy/where decision-making across Coherents global manufacturing network.

The Vice President will ensure that contract manufacturers and critical suppliers have the operational capability capacity materials labor tooling and production readiness required to meet Coherents orders forecasts delivery commitments quality requirements and growth objectives. The role combines executive commercial ownership of strategic contract manufacturers with a risk-based supplier surveillance program that provides on-site visibility into production status supply constraints shipment readiness and recovery execution.

This is a highly visible leadership role that partners directly with Business Group leaders and Engineering Manufacturing Operations Procurement Supply Chain Finance Quality Legal and Program Management. Reporting to the Chief Procurement Officer this executive will shape Coherents global manufacturing strategy reduce operational risk improve supplier performance and build the scalable external manufacturing capabilities required to support growth.

Expectations of the role

Lead the Enterprise External Manufacturing Strategy

Develop and execute the enterprise strategy and multi-year roadmap for external manufacturing and supplier assurance.

Build and lead a high-performing global organization responsible for contract manufacturer performance and commercial management supplier surveillance manufacturing readiness capacity assurance and external manufacturing governance.

Establish long-term partnerships with strategic contract manufacturers and critical suppliers that enable business growth technology roadmaps cost competitiveness supply resilience and operational excellence.

Drive manufacturing footprint optimization and align external manufacturing capabilities with enterprise and Business Group priorities.

Advise executive leadership on network strategy sourcing models performance risk investment and capacity.

Lead Supplier Surveillance Capacity Assurance & Delivery Readiness

Design build and lead a global risk-based supplier surveillance program covering critical suppliers contract manufacturers constrained components and revenue-critical programs.

Deploy qualified on-site resources and a standardized operating model for routine targeted and for-cause surveillance based on business risk supplier performance and customer requirements.

Validate supplier commitments against purchase orders forecasts backlog demonstrated capacity cycle times yields labor tooling raw materials sub-tier dependencies work-in-process finished goods and logistics readiness.

Confirm that commitments are supported by executable production and material plans and assess production readiness and shipment confidence by part program supplier and Business Group.

Identify shortages capacity constraints execution gaps and recovery risks before customer or revenue impact; establish escalation triggers accountable owners milestones and executive recovery governance.

Implement dashboards that provide visibility into commit accuracy capacity utilization production attainment material availability shipment readiness recovery execution and revenue at risk.

Partner with Quality and Engineering so surveillance complements supplier quality and audit responsibilities and use internal and qualified third-party resources to provide scalable global coverage.

Lead Contract Manufacturer Strategy & Commercial Management

Own executive relationships and enterprise governance with Coherents strategic contract manufacturers.

Lead commercial management of contract manufacturing relationships including pricing cost transparency productivity commitments payment terms capacity reservations capital recovery inventory liability flexibility warranty service levels and contract compliance.

Establish and lead Executive Business Reviews covering quality delivery cost capacity technology responsiveness risk and strategic alignment.

Develop long-term capacity technology investment and manufacturing footprint roadmaps with key contract manufacturing partners.

Translate contractual commitments into measurable operational obligations and monitor compliance through supplier assurance and surveillance processes.

Lead negotiations and resolution of major commercial operational capacity and performance issues; drive productivity working-capital optimization and total-cost improvement while maintaining rigorous accountability.

Lead / Make / Buy / Where & Manufacturing Footprint Decisions

Partner with executive leadership to define manufacturing strategies that support growth technology differentiation margin expansion and supply resilience.

Lead cross-functional evaluations of internal versus external manufacturing geographic footprint capital investment alternatives total cost of ownership capacity expansion technology and process capability risk diversification and supply continuity.

Create a repeatable enterprise governance process with clear decision rights financial models capability and risk assessments and implementation plans.

Provide executive recommendations supported by financial operational technical and strategic analysis.

Build a Best-in-Class Supplier Risk & Resilience Program

Develop enterprise-wide risk management capabilities that proactively monitor supply continuity capacity constraints financial health geopolitical exposure single-source dependencies quality performance regulatory compliance ESG performance cybersecurity exposure and business continuity risks.

Segment the external manufacturing network by criticality and apply differentiated surveillance assurance governance and mitigation requirements.

Implement executive dashboards early-warning mechanisms and governance processes that provide timely visibility into emerging risks.

Ensure mitigation plans are actionable owned and integrated into business continuity and customer recovery planning.

Partner Across the Enterprise

Collaborate closely with Business Group Leadership Engineering Manufacturing Operations Procurement Supply Chain Finance Quality Legal and Program Management.

Align internal stakeholders on external manufacturing strategy supplier requirements commercial positions investments recovery priorities and customer commitments.

Serve as the executive escalation point for major contract manufacturer and supplier issues while driving rapid fact-based decisions across functions and geographies.

Represent the company with senior supplier and contract manufacturer executives and build trusted relationships internally and externally.

Required Experience

Bachelors degree in Engineering Supply Chain Operations Business or a related discipline.

MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.

15 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing supply chain procurement operations or external manufacturing including substantial global and multi-site responsibility.

Significant experience leading global external manufacturing or contract manufacturing organizations and managing complex commercial relationships with multinational manufacturing partners.

Demonstrated success developing manufacturing strategies optimizing global supply networks and leading make/buy/where and manufacturing footprint decisions.

Demonstrated experience building or leading global supplier surveillance capacity assurance production readiness delivery validation and supplier recovery programs including on-site teams and third-party resources.

Experience negotiating and governing complex contract manufacturer agreements including pricing capacity commitments capital inventory liability productivity service levels and performance obligations.

Proven ability to build scale and develop high-performing global organizations.

Track record of leading large-scale operational transformation and change across complex matrixed organizations.

Strong financial and commercial acumen including contract manufacturing economics total cost of ownership capital investment analysis cost optimization working capital and contract governance.

Ability and willingness to travel globally based on business and supplier needs.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in one or more of the following industries: semiconductor optical components and photonics electronics manufacturing industrial technology medical devices aerospace and defense or other high-tech manufacturing environments.

Deep understanding of global manufacturing operations contract manufacturing models supplier performance management manufacturing capacity planning supplier quality and development and supply chain risk management.

Working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing Six Sigma structured problem solving quality management systems and supplier audit methodologies.

Experience with ERP and planning platforms preferably SAP as well as executive dashboards advanced analytics digital supplier collaboration and AI-enabled supply chain technologies.

Experience establishing external manufacturing and supplier surveillance governance supplier segmentation Executive Business Reviews commercial scorecards and performance management at enterprise scale.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

CultureCommitment

Ensure adherence to companys values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

Integrity Create an Environment of Trust

Collaboration Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

Accountability Own the Process and the Outcome

Respect Recognize the Value in Everyone

Enthusiasm Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex gender identity sexual orientation race color religion national origin disability protected Veteran status age or any other characteristic protected by law.