Director – Advanced Optical Components

Requisition Number: 77936

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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:

•    Oversee innovation and product development of advanced passive optical components for hyperscale data center and optical computing networks.
•    Partner closely with Business Technology Directors, Commercial, Market Development, and Product Line Management to develop long-term and short-term roadmaps for new product introduction. 
•    Set the direction for technical capability enhancement and expansion to meet the business needs.
•    Provide technical leadership for Global Business Teams, Business Team portfolio prioritization
•    Directorate budget responsibility
•    Responsible for the overall leadership of a global organization of ~100 full time employees; located across EMEA, U.S., APAC, and Mexico

Responsibilities:

•    Deliver differentiated solutions to key programs addressing customer needs, providing cost and sustainability advantages, considering manufacturing scalability requirements to grow Corning’s competitive advantage.
•    Support early-stage product development in research and applied research and development (AR&D) with optical design and design for manufacturing expertise.
•    Drive new product introductions as project sponsor or a member of steering team from project launch to product release to manufacturing.
•    Accountable for delivering innovations on-budget and on-time and responsible for 
delivering against communicated and accepted financial objectives.
•    Collaborate with Commercial teams to identify early- stage opportunities and evaluate business cases.
•    Navigate complex stakeholder environments by balancing business priorities, technical requirements, customer expectations, and organizational dynamics with sound judgment and professionalism.
•    Work with the Business Technology Directors, Market development, PLM and Manufacturing to develop 5-year plan.
•    Engage in technical discussions with customers. Understand application requirements. Identify opportunities for competitive differentiation.
•    Build trusted relationships with demanding internal and external customers, constructively addressing concerns, resolving friction, and maintaining alignment around shared business outcomes.
•    Plan annual budget, manage directorate resources, leverage corporate capability and expertise 
•    Promote cross-functional collaboration and customer driven mindset 
•    Serve as a credible, steady leader in high-pressure situations, using influence, transparency, and fact-based decision-making to move work forward across organizational boundaries.
•    Continuously seek ways to improve operation effectiveness
•    Talent planning, supervising and mentoring
•    Provide periodical activity highlights and status reports 
•    Conduct Communication meetings
•    Participate in technical and execution reviews 
•    Invention Disclosure committee for Micro-optics products

Required Skills and Education:

•    Ph.D. or master’s degree in physics, Electrical Engineering, or other relevant and related STEM discipline.  
•    Extensive experience in the management of complex, cross-functional, culturally diverse teams containing both technical and non-technical roles.
•    Minimum of 10 years total of functional leadership and 5 years project/technical leadership experience.
•    Demonstrated personal initiative with a track record of completing challenging business objectives.
•    Demonstrated communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills at all levels of an organization (team, peer, and executive levels) with a demonstrated ability to build relationships in a heavily matrixed, team environment. Collaboration to achieve Corning goals.
•    Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority, manage competing stakeholder agendas, and resolve sensitive issues with discretion, diplomacy, and appropriate escalation when needed.
•    Ability to educate and guide the application of Corning’s innovation process.
•    Ability to solve difficult leadership tasks and implement executive decisions.
•    Supplier and customer contact experience with the ability to translate needs into relevant and actionable requirements.
•    Effective leadership, organization, and planning skills, with ability to handle ambiguity, changing priorities and changing requirements.
•    Proven executive presence and resilience in ambiguous, high-friction, or highly matrixed environments, with the ability to maintain productive relationships while driving accountability and results.
•    Change agent who continuously improves organizational practices and adapts to evolving business needs, structure, COC technology requirements.

Desired Skills:

•    Multiple-year work experience in at least two of the following areas: Commercial, Development, Manufacturing, or Engineering.
•    Knowledge and experience with optical communications manufacturing equipment processes and steps, materials processing within manufacturing, and optical communications applications.
•    Knowledge and experience with Co-Packaged Optics and Silicon Photonics. 
•    Innovation process experience.
•    Ability to guide teams to apply scientific methods to resolve complex technical issues
•    Completion of formal project management and leadership training.
•    Business and Financial acumen
•    Strategy and Intellectual Property creation experience

Soft Skills: {Communication/Team/Leadership}

•    Strong independent work ethic with the ability to inspire a team to meet/exceed objectives and timelines.
•    Attention to detail with superior organizational skills.
•    Proactive communication skills effectively adapted to topics and audiences.
•    Highly polished communicator who can tailor messages for technical, commercial, customer, and executive audiences while maintaining credibility and composure during difficult conversations.
•    Ability to lead and interactively across cross-functional teams with linkages to Research, Early-Stage Development, Manufacturing, Commercial, Finance, GSM, and others as required.
•    Strong political savvy and emotional intelligence; able to anticipate stakeholder concerns, de-escalate tension, and create forward momentum in complex business situations.

Hours of work/work schedule/flextime:

40 hours, position can be in Berlin (Germany), Hickory, NC, or Corning, NY

Travel Requirements:

Typically up to 30-40% some international to EMEA and APAC specifically

This position supports immigration sponsorship. 

The range for this position is $199,530.00 - $274,354.00 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. 

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A job that shapes a life.  

Corning offers you the total package.  

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 [email protected].