Operations Manager

At Alcon, we are driven by the meaningful work we do to help people see brilliantly. We innovate boldly, champion progress, and act with speed as the global leader in eye care. Here, you'll be recognised for your commitment and contributions and see your career like never before. Together, we go above and beyond to make an impact in the lives of our patients and customers. We foster an inclusive culture and are looking for diverse, talented people to join Alcon.

As a proud part of the Alcon group, Cylite's innovative product range is redefining how optometrists, ophthalmologists and researchers detect and treat eye disease with its patented technology. With customers across USA, Europe and Australia, we're looking to rapidly scale our product offering and production capabilities.

To support this growth, we are looking to add to our talented team of an Operations Manager at our Mulgrave (Melbourne) site.

About the Role

The Operations Manager leads the growing production team and associated support functions at Alcon's Mulgrave facility. They manage teams of diverse employees including supervisors, specialists, supervisors and engineers to manufacture next generation ophthalmic diagnostics devices. They will form close relationships with various departments across the site and globally, including Research and Development, Engineering, and Quality teams. Key responsibilities include:

Manufacturing operations

• Lead and manage the production team across multiple shifts to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets.
• Plan production activities to ensure that production targets are for instrument delivery are met, including monitoring of labour hours, team composition, and authorisation of overtime where relevant. Schedule and organise generation of Work Orders to maximise team utilisation and optimise build rates.
• Maintain established 5S and lead new 5S improvements across team work areas.
• Instil a culture of quality, safety and accountability, ensuring that products are manufactured in accordance with the site's QMS.

Production Engineering

• Lead and manage the Production Engineering team as they play a leading role in ensuring root cause for production quality issues and non-conformance issues are identified, and appropriate improvement actions are put in place. Support issue escalation as appropriate.
• Ensure that feedback from manufacturing on manufacturability, assembly yield improvements, quality control and inspection is incorporated for new design developments through the design review and engineering change process.
• Support Product Review work instructions and make change recommendations when processes can be improved.
• Coordinate cross-functionally with engineering and other process partners to improve product quality and reduce build times.
• Work with the manufacturing automation and systems team to develop and assure adequate machine maintenance schedules and critical spares availability

Warehousing and inventory management

• Lead and manage the warehouse team. Ensure that raw material and finished goods and received, handled, stored, picked, stocked, and shipped in an efficient manner.
• Work closely with Supply Chain and Quality teams to plan and facilitate material availability.
• Co-ordinate shipping and logistics of parts and finished goods with freight forwarding companies to ensure correct documentation and handling.

Facilities management

• Oversee the proper functioning, maintenance, and repair of critical building systems, including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems. Engage and manage contracts and contractors where required.
• As directed by senior leadership, plans, budget, and schedule facility modifications.

Manufacturing planning and strategy

• Assess headcount needs of the production team, and vet the appropriate skill sets needed for new hires to meet production ramp plans.
• Ensure capacity plans are maintained to identify and justify needs for new equipment and personnel against production targets.
• Assist to develop, initiate, coordinate, and enforce manufacturing and production systems, policies and procedures.
• Assist in monitoring material and labour costs, and identify areas for potential cost savings.

Experience/Qualifications

Essential

• A degree in Engineering, Physics, or related industry
• 10+ years of experience working in manufacturing industry, 5+ years of experience as either a production lead or in a production management role for manufacturing. Preferably from medical devices industry
• Experience leading a multi-disciplinary team of technicians, engineers in a production environment
• Ability to effectively communicate (verbally and written) with technicians, team leaders, engineers, and other production support departments
• Experience with setting targets and expectations, and then working with a team to reach these targets, and ability to track progress
• Strong leadership skills with proven results
• Safety and quality focused mindset
• Experience delivering positive and constructive feedback to individuals
• Able to adapt to constant changing work assignments in a fast-paced work environment.

Desirable

• Experience in ISO 13485 manufacturing or similar regulated industry
• Experience in 5S and/or lean manufacturing principles

Why Join Alcon?

•Full-Time Leadership Role

•Cutting-Edge Technology: Work with innovative medical imaging products that make a real impact.

•Exciting Work Environment: Be part of a fast-growing, award-winning company.

•Supportive Culture: Join a team built on integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Applicants must have the right to live and work in Australia.

Alcon Careers

See your impact at

ALCON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND PARTICIPATES IN E-VERIFY

Alcon takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment and our policies are not to discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Alcon is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to

and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.