Director, Program Management Office (PMO)

Requisition Number: 74007

 

The company built on breakthroughs. ​  
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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.​   

 

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As a leading developer, manufacturer, and global supplier of scientific laboratory products for 100 years, Corning’s Life Sciences segment collaborates with researchers seeking new approaches to increase efficiencies, reduce costs and compress timelines in the drug discovery process. Using unique expertise in the fields of materials science, surface science, optics, biochemistry and biology, the segment provides innovative solutions that improve productivity and enable breakthrough discoveries.

Role Purpose

The Director of the Program Management Office (PMO) is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of the organization’s most critical, complex, and high‑impact initiatives. Reporting directly to the VP/General Manager, this role provides strategic direction, governance, and execution oversight across a portfolio of cross‑functional programs that are essential to business performance and growth.

The Director will lead and mature the PMO function, ensuring consistent project management excellence, disciplined execution, and alignment with business strategy. This leader will also be accountable for developing a strong bench of project and program management talent, building organizational capability, and serving as a trusted partner to senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities

•    Provide oversight for a portfolio of high stakes, cross functional programs with significant financial, operational, and strategic impact. 
•    Ensure programs are tightly aligned with business priorities, strategic objectives, and customer commitments. 
•    Establish and maintain effective governance, risk management, and escalation frameworks to support predictable, high quality delivery. 
•    Proactively identify, assess, and resolve program risks, interdependencies, and resource conflicts across the enterprise. 
•    Drive transparency through clear, concise executive reporting, dashboards, and communication of progress, risks, and outcomes. 
•    Serve as a strategic thought partner to the VP/General Manager and senior leadership team on execution strategy, prioritization, and trade off decisions. 
•    Collaborate closely with functional leaders across Operations, Engineering, Product, Finance, Commercial, IT, and other teams to align execution plans and ensure accountability. 
•    Influence outcomes across a matrixed organization without direct authority, navigating complex organizational dynamics effectively. 
•    Define, implement, and continuously improve the PMO operating model, methodologies, tools, and standards to support scalable and repeatable execution. 
•    Balance rigor and discipline with agility, ensuring governance enables speed and value rather than unnecessary bureaucracy. 
•    Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance delivery performance, predictability, and business impact. 
•    Lead, mentor, and develop a team of project and program managers, building strong leadership capability, technical excellence, and business acumen. 
•    Establish clear performance expectations, career paths, and development plans for PMO talent. 
•    Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, collaboration, and results orientation. 
•    Identify and develop high potential talent capable of taking on increasingly complex and visible leadership responsibilities.

Experiences/Education - Required

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred. 
• 10+ years of progressive experience in program, project, or portfolio management, including leadership of enterprise‑level, cro