AI Transformation & Portfolio Director

Corning•City of Corning, NY

6d•$194,764 - $267,801•Onsite

About The Position

AI is rapidly becoming a new layer of capability that augments how scientists, engineers, and developers work — through AI assistants, domain copilots, co-scientists, software agents, and increasingly autonomous learning loops. We are hiring a Director of AI Transformation & Portfolio to lead that shift across our Technology Community: deliberately, coherently, and at scale. This is a rare opportunity to lead an enterprise-wide AI transformation inside a global R&D organization with the scientific depth, industrial reach, and real-world problems that make AI meaningful. You will shape strategy, portfolio, foundations, partnerships, and talent — working with senior technology leaders, category leads across the Technology Community, IT Digital, and external partners across the AI ecosystem.

Requirements

Deep technical credibility in modern AI — generative AI, large language models, agentic systems, applied ML, and AI-enabled software engineering — combined with the judgment to make sound build / buy / partner decisions.
Proven experience leading complex, cross-functional technology portfolios in a matrixed R&D, engineering, or advanced technology environment.
Working understanding of scientific computing, AI infrastructure, and the trade-offs between cloud, on-prem, and specialized compute.
Ability to translate AI capabilities into measurable innovation and business impact in a scientific and industrial context.
Strong executive communication and stakeholder skills — able to earn trust with senior scientists, engineers, software leaders, IT architects, and business executives.
A leadership style that combines strategic clarity, technical depth, and the ability to move a large organization forward through influence rather than direct authority.
Minimum Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, applied mathematics, physics, materials science, data science, or a related technical field.
10+ years of leadership experience across AI, data, software, or advanced R&D environments, including 5+ years in senior technical or portfolio leadership roles.
Familiarity with scientific and engineering workflows, industrial R&D operations, or advanced manufacturing environments.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree highly preferred
Experience shaping and delivering enterprise AI strategy at scale, including partnerships with hyperscalers and AI platform providers.

Responsibilities

Lead Corning's Technology Community AI/Data transformation portfolio spanning materials discovery, product and process development, manufacturing intelligence, software productivity, knowledge access, decision support, data foundations, and workforce AI fluency.
Advance the horizontal capabilities that all AI depends on — data, software, and compute — including HPC, cloud, GPUs, model serving, and infrastructure for foundation models, digital twins, and agentic AI.
Shape Corning's Scientific AI strategy, including specialized scientific and domain models, hybrid physics/AI systems, AI co-scientists, and autonomous scientific workflows.
Federate a matrixed leadership team of AI category leaders and drive reusable, extensible AI solutions across the organization.
Grow AI talent capacity — data engineers, ML/DL specialists, GenAI engineers, and hybrid domain-AI practitioners — in partnership with HR and technology leadership.
Partner closely with IT Digital on AI platforms, model access, architecture, security, and enterprise guardrails.
Manage strategic partnerships with hyperscalers, AI platform companies, startups, academia, and open-source communities.
Provide senior leadership with a clear, credible view of Corning's AI direction, choices, and impact.