Advanced Optics Technology Portfolio Manager and Chief of Staff

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. Our people break through limitations and expectations daily, helping move our company—and the world—forward. At Corning, you can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines, among other impactful work.

Today, Corning accelerates and transforms life sciences, mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, display, automotive, and solar markets with trusted products that:

• Accelerate drug discovery, development, and delivery to save lives
• Enhance devices with damage-resistant cover glass
• Carry information and ideas at the speed of light through optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions
• Deliver richer experiences via precision glass for advanced displays
• Drive cleaner, safer, and smarter transportation with auto glass and ceramics
• Enable low-cost solar energy solutions through solar polysilicon, wafers, and innovative photovoltaic modules

About the role

Corning is seeking an AO Development Portfolio Manager and Chief of Staff to support the Advanced Optics organization in Corning, NY. This role is expected to be primarily onsite and offers relocation assistance for eligible candidates. Occasional travel may be required based on project and business needs. It provides strong visibility and impact for materials, optics, engineering, and technical professionals looking to apply their background in a broader, business-facing role.

Within Corning’s Advanced Optics organization, this role serves as a strategic partner to the Business Technology Director (BTD), connecting development projects to business priorities, budget planning, staffing needs, and leadership decisions. Rather than owning a single program, this position brings together a broader portfolio view to help the organization prioritize effectively, stay aligned, and move important work forward.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic partner to the BTD, helping translate business and technology priorities into an effective operating rhythm across the Advanced Optics technology organization
• Partner closely with the BTD and administrative support to coordinate leadership cadence, calendar priorities, key meetings, and follow-up actions
• Establish and maintain a forward-looking cadence for staff meetings, portfolio reviews, business reviews, deep dives, and other leadership forums
• Prepare agendas, briefing materials, decision-support content, presentations, and follow-up communications for leadership discussions and reviews
• Review and analyze materials submitted for BTD review or decision-making, highlighting implications, tradeoffs, risks, and recommended actions
• Represent or support the BTD in selected internal and cross-functional engagements, as needed
• Develop, maintain, and communicate an integrated view of the AO Development portfolio aligned to near- and long-term business priorities
• Lead the portfolio operating cadence, including project intake, prioritization, portfolio review, decision capture, action tracking, and cross-functional follow-through
• Provide visibility to scope, status, milestones, dependencies, risks, resource needs, and budget alignment across the AO Development portfolio
• Build and maintain portfolio dashboards, analytics, scorecards, and planning tools that improve rigor, visibility, and repeatability
• Support development budget tracking, forecasting, and variance management in partnership with Finance, including visibility to investment levels, spending trends, forecast changes, and tradeoff implications
• Help connect portfolio priorities, resource allocation, and financial performance to business outcomes and strategic objectives
• Support the BTD in organizational planning and hiring strategy by helping assess capability needs, organizational gaps, and role prioritization
• Partner with leadership, HR, and Finance to support workforce planning, hiring prioritization, and sequencing of critical roles
• Work across Development, Engineering, Finance, HR, Operations, and other functions to support alignment, decision-making, and organizational follow-through
• Support executive communications and leadership materials by translating technical and portfolio topics into clear insights, recommendations, and action plans
• Lead or support special projects and process improvements that strengthen portfolio governance, planning discipline, decision quality, and organizational effectiveness

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, operations, finance, or a related field
• 10+ years of relevant experience in portfolio management, program leadership, strategy, operations, engineering, business planning, or chief of staff-related support in a complex organization
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and recurring operating cadences from planning through execution
• Technical fluency to understand development project deliverables, project interdependencies, and alignment to business and technology strategy
• Experience with budget tracking, forecasting, and variance management
• Ability to analyze technical and business information and turn it into clear recommendations, decisions, and next steps
• Clear written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with senior leaders and varied stakeholder groups
• Sound judgment, professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality in handling sensitive business, organizational, and financial information

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a technical field, business, or a related discipline
• Educational or professional background in materials, optics, physics, or another relevant technical area
• Experience in a high-tech, manufacturing, engineering, research, or other technology-driven environment
• Experience supporting portfolio governance, executive planning, and organizational coordination
• Experience with organizational planning, workforce planning, or hiring strategy
• Familiarity with Corning processes, systems, and cross-functional ways of working
• People management experience

Pay

The range for this position is $140,597.00 - $193,321.00 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.