Program Manager

Corning Incorporated; Hickory (NC); On-site; USD 137,472 - 189,024; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses & incentives

Pension plan

Health benefits

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Corning Incorporated is seeking a seasoned Program Manager to lead large, global engineering initiatives with a primary focus on Capacity Expansion. You will coordinate cross-functional teams across regions including the United States, Mexico, China, and Poland, translating strategic priorities into executable plans.

You will drive governance, secure capital funding, and communicate with the Division Executive Leadership Team, guiding decisions and tradeoffs to keep programs aligned with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field is required.
• 10+ years of experience in program management or related roles with cross-functional leadership.
• Experience leading capital projects above $10M and managing complex programs.
• 6+ years of experience with Automation, NPI, and/or Cost Reduction initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Manage global programs across United States, Mexico, China, and Poland; lead diverse initiatives including Automation, NPI, and Cost Reduction.
• Translate opportunities into clear program strategies, objectives, milestones, and execution plans across engineering, manufacturing, operations, and supply chain.
• Secure capital funds and manage program governance; prepare executive communications for leadership and steering teams.
• Establish governance with milestone reviews, risk management, change control, and performance metrics across the portfolio.
• Lead large, high-impact engineering programs (10+ team members) focused on Capacity Expansion.

Skills

Program management

Communication

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional leadership

Leadership

Education

Bachelors in Engineering

Job description

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Requisition Number: 76254

Purpose

The Program Manager will lead large, complex engineering initiatives that are critical to business execution and long-term growth. This role will initially primarily support major Capacity Expansion programs, but may also provide leadership across other strategic initiatives, including Automation, New Product Introduction, and Cost Reduction efforts. These responsibilities may evolve based on business priority changes.

This is a global role with responsibility for coordinating programs across key regions and sites, including the United States, Mexico, China, and Poland. The Program Manager will drive alignment across cross‑functional and cross‑regional teams, translate strategic priorities into executable plans, and lead disciplined execution across technical, operational, and capital‑related workstreams.

This role also plays a critical part in program governance at the divisional level. The Program Manager must be able to communicate high‑level program strategies, risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations to the Division Executive Leadership Team and lead effective decision‑making at the steering team level. Success in this role requires the ability to frame complex issues clearly, present strategic options, and help leaders make strong, timely decisions that keep programs aligned with business priorities.

Responsibilities

• Manage programs with global scope, coordinating teams, stakeholders, and execution activities across the United States, Mexico, China, and Poland; provide program leadership across a broad portfolio of strategic initiatives, including Automation, New Product Introduction, and Cost Reduction projects.
• Translate business and engineering opportunities and initiatives into clear program strategies, objectives, deliverables, milestones, and execution plans to drive alignment across engineering, manufacturing, operations, supply chain, and other cross‑functional teams.
• Lead efforts to secure necessary capital funds to execute large‑scale programs through effective use of Corning capital management tools, methods, and processes.
• Prepare executive‑level communications on program strategies, risks, tradeoffs, and key decision needs to the Division Executive Leadership Team, including recommendations that clearly outline options, business impacts, execution risks, and proposed paths forward for critical decisions.
• Establish strong program governance—including milestone reviews, decision forums, risk management, action tracking, scope change management, program performance metrics, and stakeholder communication—to promote standard best practices and continuous improvement across the portfolio.
• Lead large, high‑impact engineering programs and teams (10 + members) with a primary focus on Capacity Expansion initiatives.

Travel Requirements

• Up to 20–25% travel in the US, China, Mexico, or Poland depending on program requirements and timing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in program management, project management, engineering, manufacturing, or technical operations, including supervisory or managerial experience leading large, cross‑functional or cross‑regional programs and teams with multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and significant business impact.
• Experience leading programs involving capital projects above $10 M, manufacturing operations, technical implementation, or operational improvement; demonstrating ability to adapt across multiple project types based on business priorities and drive alignment and execution in a matrixed organization.
• 6+ years of experience with Automation, New Product Introduction, and/or Cost Reduction initiatives involving leadership or support of Capacity Expansion programs in an engineering or manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with demonstrated ability to engage technical teams, site leadership, and senior leadership to communicate strategic program direction, tradeoffs, and recommendations for executive and steering‑team decision‑making through clear analysis, structured communication, and sound judgment, and demonstrating ability to influence without direct authority.

Desired Skills, Abilities, and Experience

• Completion of formal project management training with further preference for Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Six Sigma Black Belt and/or Lean training, experience or certification.
• Early‑stage innovation training (LFM) for new product introductions (NPI).

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

Compensation

The range for this position is $137,472.00 – $189,024.00 assuming full‑time status. Starting pay for the successful applicant is dependent on a variety of job‑related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education.

Benefits

• Company‑wide bonuses and long‑term incentives align with key business results and ensure you are rewarded when the company performs well.
• We provide a 100% company‑paid pension benefit with fixed contributions that grow throughout your career. Combined with matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan, Corning’s total contributions to your retirement accounts can reach between 7% and 12% of your pay, depending on your age and years of service.
• Our health and well‑being benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, family building support, fitness, company‑paid life insurance, disability, disease‑management programs, paid time off, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your family.
• We offer a recognition program to celebrate successes and reward colleagues who make exceptional contributions.

We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

Corning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considers requests for reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or access other benefits and privileges of employment. To submit a request for reasonable accommodation related to disability or religion, please contact us at [e-mail].