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 Coherent's 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 Coherent's 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 Coherent's 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 Coherent's 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
• Bachelor's 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, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.
Culture Commitment
Ensure adherence to company’s 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.
If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at talentacquisition@coherent.com.