Project Manager

Corning Incorporated; Newton (NC); On-site; USD 98,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses & incentives

Company-paid pension

Health benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Corning Incorporated in Newton, NC is seeking a Project Manager to provide leadership for capital projects across manufacturing. You will define scope, determine factory layouts, manage budgets and schedules, and lead cross‑functional teams.

The role requires strong communication with leadership, ability to work in a matrixed environment, and experience in deploying manufacturing equipment. Travel may be required up to 100% depending on project site.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in engineering; manufacturing equipment experience preferred.
• 4+ years managing complex manufacturing projects.
• Strong technical and leadership capabilities.
• English language fluency.

Responsibilities

• Communicates project safety practices and ensures compliance.
• Lead or support capacity and technology deployment projects.
• Develop budgets, issue purchase orders, track costs.
• Prepare appropriations requests and obtain approvals.
• Determine staffing requirements and interview candidates.
• Coordinate with leadership and plant teams.
• Schedule and lead project team meetings.
• Support vendor selection and key project decisions.
• Monitor progress and maintain schedule.
• Summarize progress to mid-level leadership.

Skills

Project leadership

Resource management

Stakeholder communication

Team leadership

Vendor coordination

Decision making

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

Project Manager

Date: Sep 17, 2026

Location: Newton, NC, US, 28658

Company: Corning

Requisition Number: 77962

**The company built on breakthroughs.**

**Join us.**

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.

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations- not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company,and the world, forward.

At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.

Come break through with us.

Our Optical Communications segment has recently evolved from being a manufacturer of optical fiber and cable, hardware and equipment to being a comprehensive provider of industry-leading optical solutions across the broader communications industry. This segment is classified into two main product groupings - carrier network and enterprise network. The carrier network product group consists primarily of products and solutions for optical-based communications infrastructure for services such as video, data and voice communications. The enterprise network product group consists primarily of optical-based communication networks sold to businesses, governments and individuals for their own use.

Scope of Position:

Provide overall project leadership and project support to capital project team resources of various disciplines. Specifically, this includes leading or supporting a project team to develop the scope of work, determine factory floor layout to support the project, design, budget, schedule, as well as obtaining skilled project team members. This individual will serve as team member or lead with some interface with the Corning Optical Fiber and Cable (OFC) Leadership, Division Engineering leadership, and the receiving plant leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

• Communicates Corning project safety practices and ensures all project personnel follow them.

• Lead or support fiber and cable related capacity and technology deployment projects.

• Support or lead budget development; write purchase orders; approve change orders and scope changes; track, control, and report project spending.

• Writes the appropriations request and obtains approval.

• Determine project staffing requirements and lead efforts to secure resources, including interviews and selection of internal and external candidates.

• Supports or leads project using the Corning Capital Process (Stage Gate) project guidelines.

• Participates or leads project team meetings.

• Schedule and support steering team meetings in coordination with the project team.

• Use structured decision-making tools to support vendor selection, design decisions, and other key project decisions.

• Provides supervision of project team members from various disciplines. This includes resolving conflicts and providing direction if needed.

• Support or develop the project schedule with team and scheduling resource input; monitor progress and take action to maintain schedule compliance.

• Support or lead project scope development, obtain required approvals, and enforce the scope change process.

• Summarize project progress and provide verbal and written updates to mid-level leadership.

Specific Requirements:

• General experience with manufacturing project management.

• Project oversight experience.

• Ability to clearly articulate project needs and provide strategic input to leadership and product line leaders.

• Engineering degree with project leadership experience; manufacturing experience preferred.

• English language fluency.

Required Skills:

• Project leadership experience with the ability to achieve results through a highly matrixed project team.

• Ability to identify and request additional technical support when needed by the team.

• Ability to effectively manage ambiguous situations and demonstrate leadership to provide clarity.

• Ability to interface with middle management and communicate clear, concise project strategies, resource needs, and status updates.

• Ability to effectively leverage and manage both internal and external resources. Individual must be capable of executing project assignments with minimal supervision.

• Experience in developing appropriations requests, scope documents, management of change documents, resource plans, capital budgets, and project schedules.

Desired Skills:

• Manufacturing experience in development, engineering, or operations.

• Project Management training.

• Technical or Manufacturing leadership experience.

• Manufacturing equipment design, development, or programming experience.

• Experience with supporting the development and implementation of manufacturing equipment or processes to support project objectives.

• Knowledge of manufacturing processes that are batch and/or continuous.

• Experience in managing direct reports and matrixed resources.

Hours of work/work schedule/flextime:

• Normal business hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday; however, the role may require extended hours, regularly exceeding 40 hours per week, to meet project objectives.

• Projects often require non-standard work weeks including weekends.

Travel Requirements:

• Travel is typically low during project planning and design phases, generally less than 25%.

• Travel may be up to 100% during project execution, depending on the employee's home location and project site.

• Project deployment is normally within North Carolina or elsewhere in the United States. International assignments may occur under special circumstances and will be discussed as needed.

Required Education and Experience:

• BS or MS in Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, or Project Engineering preferred. Other disciplines may be considered with project management experience in a manufacturing environment. A technical degree combined with relevant project management and manufacturing equipment experience may also be considered.

• 4+ years managing complex projects in the implementation of new or migration of manufacturing process equipment and/or automated systems.

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

The range for this position is $97,542.00 - $134,121.00 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.

**A job that shapes a life.**

**Corning offers you the total package.**

Your well-being is our priority. Our compensation and benefits package supports your health and wellness, financial aspirations, and career from day one.

• Company-wide bonuses and long-term incentives align with key business results and ensure you are rewarded when the company performs well. When Corning wins, we all win.

• As part of our commitment to your financial well-being, 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.

• Getting paid for our work is important, but feeling appreciated and recognized for those contributions motivates us much more. That’s why Corning offers 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.

Nearest Major Market: Hickory