Performance Excellence Site Leader

Job description

Requisition Number: 75741 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. Role Purpose This role provides leadership for both Quality and Performance Excellence (PEx) at the plant, ensuring products meet customer requirements while driving continuous improvement across manufacturing and business support functions. The position is responsible for maintaining an effective and capable quality system, translating customer needs into robust product and process requirements, and deploying standardized methods that improve safety, quality, delivery, efficiency, and overall business performance. This role also champions a culture of operational excellence through coaching, capability building, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration. Key Responsibilities Lead and maintain the plant quality system, including quality documentation, records retention, specifications, measurement protocols, and laboratory activities, to ensure compliance with customer and business requirements. Drive customer-focused quality performance by responding effectively to complaints, leading root cause and corrective action efforts, serving as the voice of the customer, and ensuring quality issues are resolved permanently. Lead Performance Excellence (PEx) deployment across the plant by coaching teams, driving sustainable improvement projects, and implementing standardized methods that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee efficiency. Develop, implement, and sustain the plant’s PEx roadmap and annual improvement plans in alignment with manufacturing strategies and key business objectives. Partner with plant, division, engineering, innovation, program management, and commercial teams to translate customer needs into meaningful product and process requirements, including APQP, control strategies, and launch readiness. Support the development of technical and continuous improvement capabilities across the organization through training, coaching, and mentoring in quality tools, Lean, Six Sigma, DMAIC, and related methodologies, including support for Green Belts and Black Belts. Provide statistical analysis, process capability evaluation, and data-driven insights to support decision-making, problem solving, risk reduction, and verification of financial impact. Lead or support audits, compliance activities, and corrective action processes, ensuring the plant is prepared for customer quality audits and internal quality reviews. Manage departmental priorities, budgets, and spending while continuously improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Quality and PEx functions. Act as a cross-functional liaison to ensure customer expectations are understood, communicated, and successfully incorporated into operations, product realization, and continuous improvement initiatives. Required Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field required. Minimum 4–5 years of experience in process, manufacturing, quality, or engineering roles, with at least 3 years of progressive responsibility in Performance Excellence, continuous improvement, quality, operations, or engineering leadership within a manufacturing environment. Demonstrated experience leading teams, projects, or departments to achieve continuous improvement goals, step-change performance gains, technical capability expansion, innovation, or organizational change. Experience using data collection, analysis, and problem-solving tools such as Excel, Minitab, PI, Access, or similar systems. Six Sigma certification - Green Belt Desired Qualifications Master’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Operations, or a related field. Six Sigma certification (Black Belt), PQA, ASQ/ASQC certification, Lean, or equivalent certifications are preferred. Experience in roles such as Quality Engineering, Applications Engineering, Supply Chain, Project Management, Operations, or Performance Excellence. Experience with process engineering, multiple manufacturing processes, APQP, PPAP, product quality architecture, and launch readiness activities. Experience with SPC systems and data analysis tools such as Minitab, JMP, Tableau, or similar platforms. This position does not support immigration sponsorship. The range for this position is $112,328.00 - $154,451.00 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 .