Build a career powered by innovations that matter! At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing—improving productivity, enhancing people’s lives and redefining what’s possible. We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission-critical applications—from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing.
Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Looking for a great place to work? You have found it with a culture that embraces teamwork, collaboration and empowerment. Come explore Novanta.
Senior Manager, Operations
Bedford, MA
Precision Manufacturing
Role Summary:
The Senior Manager, Operations oversees Bedford’s production activities and ensures the teams deliver safe, reliable, and consistent manufacturing performance. The role focuses on meeting safety, quality, delivery, and cost expectations while maintaining a stable operating environment and preparing the production organization for future needs. The position provides clear visibility into performance trends, risks, and operational priorities to site and business leadership.
Primary Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
Leads the Precision Manufacturing production teams with accountability for output, schedule adherence, labor efficiency, quality performance, and cost.
Maintains steady operating routines, consistent standard work, and disciplined shop‑floor behaviors that support safety, quality, and stable execution.
Reviews and interprets key performance indicators, identifies performance shifts, and coordinates timely actions to stabilize or improve results.
Works closely with Manufacturing Engineering to support process reliability, evaluate production impacts, and ensure readiness for changes and improvements.
Partners with Supply Chain and Planning on SIOP alignment, material readiness, inventory accuracy, and risk mitigation.
Coordinates with Quality and EHS to address non‑conformances, support corrective actions, maintain safety expectations, and ensure audit and compliance requirements are met.
Facilitates daily and weekly cross‑functional operating rhythms to align priorities, escalate risks early, and coordinate recovery actions.
Contributes to longer‑range planning by informing capacity needs, staffing strategy, equipment requirements, and operational risks that may impact customer commitments.
Safety, Quality & Compliance
Champion a zero incident, safety-first culture across all levels of the organization.
Drive continuous improvement to enhance product reliability and customer satisfaction.
Identify cost-saving opportunities and lead initiatives to reduce waste.
People Leadership & Culture
Leads production supervisors and team leads, ensuring the teams have the skills, training, and operating routines needed for consistent performance.
Provides coaching and support to help supervisors build capability in decision‑making, communication, and problem solving.
Promotes open communication and encourages employees to raise issues promptly and participate in structured problem solving.
Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and internal functional leaders.
Represent the site in audits, customer visits, and business reviews.
Communicate performance, risks, and opportunities to stakeholders with clarity and regular cadence.
Required Experience, Education, Skills, Training and Competencies
BS degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management
8-12+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations.
Proven track record of managing or leading a manufacturing plan or major operational department.
Strong knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.
Demonstrated ability to lead change and build high performing teams.
Excellent communication, leadership, and decision-making skills.
Travel Requirements
Less than 20%
Physical Requirements
Ability to stand for long periods of time
The salary for this role will range from $150,000 to $215,000 annually based on full-time employment. Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including but not limited to location, relevant skills, training, experience, education, etc.
Certain roles may be eligible for performance-based incentive compensation and/or long-term incentives. Incentives could be discretionary or non-discretionary depending on the plan.
Novanta supports all aspects of your life’s needs. This position provides a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits to make your quality of life better.
Novanta is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by federal law or Novanta policy.
Please call +1 781-266-5700 if you need a disability accommodation for any part of the employment process.
Top Skills
What We Do
Novanta delivers innovations that matter for its medical and advanced industrial OEM customers. If you have a passion for solving complex technical problems that lead to breakthrough performance and that enhance people's lives, come join our growing team. Here is a sample of the many exciting applications we serve: • Innovations that ensure the safety of patients and efficient workflows in hospitals using our novel RFID technology • Innovations in additive manufacturing, also known as 3-D metal printing, using our lightning fast lasers and laser beam steering sub-systems • Innovations in minimally invasive surgery using our highly reliable insufflators, pumps and visualization systems • Innovations in robotics and automation using our precision motors, encoders and drives for superior accuracy • Innovations in smartphone production using our fast, accurate lasers and laser beam steering equipment along with our precision motion systems The driving force behind our growth is the team of talented professionals who share our commitment to our values, and our passion for innovation and for our customers’ success. Novanta has deep expertise in precision medicine and manufacturing, medical solutions, and robotics and automation: Precision Medicine and Manufacturing: • Continuous wave, ultrafast and CO2 lasers, along with laser beam steering components and sub-systems Brands: ARGES, Cambridge Technology, Laser Quantum, Synrad Medical Solutions: Minimally Invasive Surgery: • Insufflators, pumps and disposable tube sets; medical visualization systems, video processing and wireless imaging Brands: NDS, Med X Change, Reach Technology, WOM Detection & Analysis: • RFID readers, machine vision solutions, barcode scanning, light and color measurement Brands: JADAK Robotics and Automation: • Motors, encoders, servo drives, air bearing systems and integrated mechatronic solutions Brands: ATI, Celera Motion (inc. Applimotion, Ingenia, MicroE, Zettlex, Westwind)
