Alcon Rotational Leadership Program (RADAR)

Program Structure

Duration: ~4–5 years
Rotations: 2 strategic enterprise rotations (~24 months each)
Placement: Roles are strategically selected and aligned to enterprise priorities, with increasing scope, complexity, and accountability.

Program Intent

Develop advanced enterprise leadership capability through strategically designed rotations across manufacturing operations, quality, and related functions
Expose participants to global operations, emerging technologies, and regulated environments to strengthen systems thinking and adaptability
Prepare top-performing talent for enterprise-wide impact by compounding technical depth and leadership scope across rotations
Drive innovation, risk management, and business continuity through strategic projects and a capstone initiative delivering measurable outcomes

What Success Looks Like

In Accelerated Radar
Rapidly assess, influence, and lead within complex, global, and highly regulated manufacturing and quality systems
Demonstrate learning agility by entering unfamiliar technical, functional, or organizational domains and building credibility quickly
Translate technical understanding (manufacturing, quality systems, automation, compliance, data) into business, risk, and performance outcomes
Lead cross-functional teams through ambiguity, competing priorities, and enterprise trade-offs (quality, cost, delivery, risk)
Build sustainable organizational capability through systems, governance, talent development, and continuous improvement
Progressively assume enterprise-level accountability in preparation for Senior Leadership roles in Manufacturing & Quality

Rotation Assignment Examples

• First Rotation – Enterprise Foundation Management roles within Automation, Manufacturing, Quality, Materials, Supply Chain, MS&T or Program Management
  Focus on enterprise exposure, systems understanding, and cross-functional leadership
• Second Rotation – Enterprise Impact Senior leadership roles within Manufacturing Operations, Quality Operations, Compliance, Materials Planning, MS&T, or Automation & Engineering
  Focus on end-to-end accountability, strategic decision making, and business critical outcomes

Program Support

• Steering Committee
  HR Program Managers
  Executive Mentor
  Local Mentors

Selection Process

• Nomination by senior leadership
  Behavioral and enterprise-focus interviews
  Scenario-based assessments emphasizing ambiguity, systems thinking, and technical trade-offs
  Strategic placement aligned to enterprise succession priorities

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent years of directly related experience (or high school +10 yrs; Assoc.+6 yrs; M.S.+0 yrs)
• 5+ years of strong leadership experience and performance
• Proven ability to lead change, drive innovation, and shape Alcon’s culture
• Demonstrated cycles of leadership success in a professional business environment.
• Data, automation, and digital/Al technical competence
• Strong problem solving, organizational, communication and analytical skills
• Self-starter attitude, strategic thinking and ability to navigate through ambiguity
• Global mindset and technology savvy
• Fluently read, write, understand and communicate in English

Preferred Experience and Qualifications

• Self-motivated, with strong analytical, strategic thinking and decision-making skills
• Proven leadership capability
• Experience in MTO/QRA, engineering, manufacturing, or quality
• Passionate about driving performance in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Execution of data, AI and automation into the business
• Project management, Lean/Six Sigma and regulatory compliance
• Internal Associates must have at least one (1) year tenure at Alcon (other criteria may be considered)
• Scientific education preferred
• Recognized as a high performer, with leadership skills