Project Manager

Project Manager

Date: Sep 17, 2026

Location: Newton, NC, US, 28658

Company: Corning

Requisition Number: 77980

**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 to capital project team resources of various disciplines. Specifically, this includes leading 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 the primary project 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 comply with them.

• Focuses on fiber and cable related capacity and technology delivery projects.

• Develops budgets, writes purchase orders, approves change orders and scope changes, and tracks and controls project spending.

• Writes the appropriations request and obtains approval.

• Determines the personnel requirements needed to implement the project and leads efforts to secure those resources, including interviews and internal or external candidate selection.

• Leads projects in accordance with the Corning Capital Process (Stage Gate) guidelines.

• Schedules and leads project team meetings.

• Works with the project team to schedule and lead steering team meetings.

• Use rational 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.

• Develops project schedule and timeline with support of the team leveraging scheduling resources. Continually monitors status and takes action to ensure compliance.

• Leads the development of the project scope. This includes obtaining signatures for approval and enforcement of the scope change process.

• Summarizes progress and provides verbal and written report-outs to leadership.

Specific Requirements:

• General experience with manufacturing project management.

• Experience overseeing project equipment and processes.

• Ability to articulate project needs and provide input to strategic considerations for leadership as well as the product line leaders.

• Engineering degree with experience in a project manufacturing environment.

• English language fluency.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated 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 senior management and provide clear, concise project strategies, resource needs, and project updates.

• Ability to effectively leverage and manage both internal and external resources. Individuals 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 – can be in development, engineering, or operations.

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred but not required.

• Technical or Manufacturing leadership experience.

• Experience 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 managing direct reports and matrixed resources.

Hours of work/work schedule/flex-time:

· 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. Other disciplines will be considered for candidates with project management experience in a manufacturing environment. A combination of a technical degree in design, electrical, mechanical, chemical, or industrial fields and additional relevant project management and manufacturing equipment experience may also be considered.

· 7+ 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 $145,578.00 - $200,170.00 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. **

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