Product Line Manager

Role Purpose

Corning's Solar business is focused on supporting the growth of domestic solar manufacturing and strengthening the solar supply chain through innovative polysilicon and solar wafer solutions. As a Product Line Manager (PLM), you will be responsible for developing and executing a product line strategy that supports the achievement of desired product line sales growth and profitability for the Polysilicon and Solar Wafer businesses. This includes engaging in decisions on defining what products to develop and offer, building value propositions and selling tools, assisting with forecasting, and serving as a key collaborator with the Solar MAP Wafer commercial, finance, manufacturing, planning, product technology, and engineering organizations for day-to-day operations.

Success in this role will be measured through product line revenue growth, margin expansion, successful commercialization of new products, customer adoption, effective portfolio management, and achievement of strategic business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Works closely with, or leads, a cross-functional product team consisting of functional leads from Development, Product Engineering, Applications Engineering, Manufacturing, Marketing and/or Sales to:

• Develop value propositions that improve margins for HSC's and Corning's products and services and enable new and enhanced selling opportunities with customers.
  
• Develop and execute the product line planning process, including identification of critical projects to be undertaken during the year.
  
• Work with Product Technology to develop and launch new products, as appropriate.
  
• Develop product line strategy and manage the product line through all stages of innovation, from product concept through commercialization and lifecycle management, as appropriate depending on the stage of handoff from Program Management.
  
• Understand downstream market requirements and assess competitive threats and implications for the business.
  
• Monitor and manage profit and loss performance of the product line, including revenue growth, margin improvement, and profitability initiatives.
  
• Address new product and special requests by developing business cases, including P&L and balance sheet implications, to determine feasibility and pricing requirements.
  
• Optimize inventory management related to the product line by coordinating information flow among Forecasting, Sales, Manufacturing, Planning, and other stakeholders.
  
• Work with Manufacturing and Sales to identify opportunities to reduce complexity and drive cost reductions in manufacturing processes at Corning facilities and customer sites, as appropriate.
  
• Manage product obsolescence activities to maximize value through the end of the product lifecycle.
  
• Support development of product pricing strategies.
  
• Articulate product value propositions, product attributes, specifications, competitive differentiators, and product roadmaps; become the subject matter expert on downstream use of Corning products.
  
• Develop and maintain sales enablement tools including positioning statements, value proposition presentations, and related materials to support effective deployment of product line strategies.
  
• Work with Legal and Sales teams to define contractual terms and participate in supply agreement approval processes.
  
• Partner with Marketing Communications to support development of external communications, including product collateral, trade show and conference materials, press releases, public relations activities, web content, and social media communications as appropriate.

Required Skills

• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate data and analysis into actionable business insights.
  
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
  
• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across functional, organizational, and geographic boundaries.
  
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
  
• Ability to build and manage business relationships through data-driven analysis, strategic thinking, networking, and strong interpersonal skills.
  
• Ability to work independently, efficiently, and effectively in a fast-paced business environment.
  
• Ability to prioritize and make decisions in a dynamic and sometimes stressful environment.
  
• Well-organized, process-oriented, and systematic in problem-solving approaches.
  
• Self-starter capable of owning complex projects and business initiatives with limited supervision.
  
• Leadership presence and credibility across all levels of the organization.
  
• Demonstrated ability to communicate with and influence senior leaders and key stakeholders.
  
• Potential and desire to grow into future commercial leadership roles.

Education & Experience Required

• Bachelor's degree.
  
• 3+ years of experience in product management, product marketing, business strategy, commercial leadership, manufacturing business management, or related business functions.
  
• Experience working in cross-functional environments involving technical, operational, and commercial stakeholders.

Education & Experience Preferred

• MBA or equivalent advanced business experience.
  
• Experience leading or supporting product commercialization, portfolio management, pricing strategy, forecasting, and business case development.
  
• Experience in solar, semiconductor, advanced materials, electronics, specialty chemicals, industrial manufacturing, or related industries.
  
• Experience with P&L management, revenue growth initiatives, margin improvement programs, and/or strategic planning.

Travel Requirements

• Up to 20% of time both within US and internationally