Division Supplier Quality Programs Manager

Corning•Village of Fairport, NY

55d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Supplier Quality Programs Manager is the division-level owner for building and deploying a standardized Supplier Quality Management (SQM) operating model across all Advanced Optics sites — covering incoming inspection, defect reaction, supplier notification and SCAR execution, supplier scorecards, and reporting and escalation. This role replaces site-by-site variability with a common framework that enables consistent data capture, cross-site visibility, supplier accountability, and leadership-ready performance reporting. The ideal candidate brings a combination of hands-on supplier quality experience, process discipline, and the credibility to drive sustained change across multiple sites and functions. Key outcomes include implementing a single, universal process from detection through containment, documentation, supplier corrective action, verification, and closure; establishing consistent internal and external communication protocols; and standing up supplier metrics and scorecards with clear consequences and escalation triggers.

Requirements

Supplier quality management experience — hands-on background with incoming quality controls, supplier scorecards, SCAR management, and supplier performance programs in a manufacturing environment
CAPA and root cause analysis discipline — strong working knowledge of CAPA/RCA depth, action quality, and effectiveness verification; ability to assess and challenge the rigor of supplier corrective action responses
KPI and scorecard development — demonstrated ability to define, implement, and sustain quality metrics, scorecards, and performance frameworks across a multi-site, multi-stakeholder environment
Data literacy and trend analysis — ability to analyze supplier performance trends, identify patterns, and present results clearly to both shop-floor teams and senior leadership audiences
Multi-site process implementation — demonstrated success implementing process changes across multiple sites, not just recommending improvements; comfort with variability, change management, and driving adoption through influence
Cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management — effective working partner across Quality, Sourcing, Engineering, and Manufacturing; skilled at navigating organizational complexity and building alignment without direct authority
Clear written and verbal communication — ability to develop controlled documents, reporting templates, and escalation communications; comfortable leading difficult quality conversations while maintaining productive supplier and internal relationships
Quality systems and audit readiness — working knowledge of quality management systems, standards, and audit readiness expectations in a precision manufacturing environment
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Supply Chain, a related technical or business field
5+ years of experience in supplier quality management
Prior program management or cross-functional leadership experience
Experience driving quality improvement across multiple manufacturing sites or business units

Nice To Haves

Lean / Six Sigma capability (Green Belt or Black Belt) — strongly preferred; the ability to apply structured problem-solving and variation reduction methodologies directly strengthens program development and supplier corrective action evaluation
Project management experience — familiarity with project charters, milestone timelines, stage gates, and disciplined follow-through across multi-function initiatives
Workflow and reporting modernization — experience developing standardized templates, controlled documents, dashboards, and lightweight automation tools to improve reporting consistency and operational efficiency

Responsibilities

Own the division-wide Supplier Quality Program and deploy standardized practices across all Advanced Optics sites, ensuring common execution across process, scorecard, and standards. Serve as the program architect and sustained owner of the AO SQM framework.
Develop and publish a standard defect process and RACI — covering detection → containment → documentation → supplier notification (SCAR) → corrective action review → verification → closure, with clear stage definitions and response expectations at each step
Standardize incoming inspection data collection — define required fields to enable aggregation, cross-site visibility, and comparable reporting including defect taxonomy, severity, disposition, cost impact, and root cause classification
Create and maintain a consistent supplier communication process — define notification templates, evidence expectations, and response tracking protocols used consistently when defects are identified at any AO site
Define and deploy a standard timeline of events — from incoming inspection through resolution and effectiveness verification, including clear stage gates and escalation triggers for timeline breaches
Develop, implement, and sustain supplier KPIs and scorecards — including weighted scoring models, defined performance tiers and status, and consequence structures linked to scorecard outcomes
Establish a reporting cadence — weekly site reporting, enterprise monthly reporting, and quarterly performance reviews to provide leadership-ready visibility across the division
Develop and run an escalation plan — coordinating Division Quality, Division GSM, and site teams to ensure rapid visibility and structured resolution for critical supplier issues
Support supplier audits as needed — including planning support, on-site participation, evidence review, and corrective action follow-up