Program Leader

Owens Corning

$100K — $130K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or related technical field
  • 3+ years of experience in an R&D laboratory, testing, or technical environment
  • Experience leading people and technical initiatives
  • Proven success in cross-functional collaboration for business outcomes
  • Strong understanding of experimental design and product testing systems

Responsibilities

  • Champions a safety-first culture in laboratory operations
  • Ensures laboratory accreditation and compliance with quality systems
  • Establishes governance for testing processes and performance metrics
  • Directs maintenance and operational strategies for laboratory equipment
  • Develops and implements a testing strategy aligned with R&D objectives
  • Fosters a high-performing team through engagement and talent development
  • Creates and sustains succession plans for key technical roles

Benefits

  • Opportunities for continuous learning and professional development
  • Engagement in an inclusive and collaborative work environment
  • Access to technical consulting capabilities
  • Participation in shaping industry standards and regulatory pathways
  • Support for career growth and talent development initiatives
Full Job Description
PURPOSE OF THE JOB

The Experimental Design and Product Testing Leader provides strategic technical and people leadership for the Experimental Design and Product Testing team within Insulation R&D. Through fit-for-purpose testing systems, methods, and management systems, the Experimental Design and Product Testing team supports the R&D organization in delivering customer-driven product innovation, technology readiness, and differentiated claims to protect and grow Owens Corning's competitive advantage. The leader is accountable for translating R&D strategy into an integrated testing operating model (people, process, data, and equipment); governing laboratory operations and accreditation systems; building deep technical and testing expertise; and developing a high-performing, inclusive organization.

The role partners closely with R&D, Technical Marketing, Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, and external standards organizations to deliver reliable data, scalable testing capabilities, and technical influence that support current execution and future growth of the Insulation portfolio.

Reports to: R&D Director - Global Fiber Products & Testing

Span of Control: Direct people leadership of Experimental Design & Product Testing lab leader and individual contributors, with broader cross-functional connection and influence across Insulation R&D, Marketing, and Operations teams.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Leads the Safety Standard of Owens Corning
  • Champions a culture of 'Safer Together' where safety is a visible, owned priority in all daily work.
  • Leads by example in applying and reinforcing Owens Corning safety standards, procedures, and expectations.
  • Conducts and reviews risk assessments, safety audits, and corrective actions, ensuring learning is shared and sustained.
  • Actively removes barriers to safe work and embeds safety into laboratory operations, experimentation, and continuous improvement.

Testing Operating Model, Governance & Operational Excellence
  • Owns laboratory accreditation and quality systems (ISO 9001, NVLAP 17025), ensuring audit readiness, disciplined training, calibration control, documentation and defensible data integrity.
  • Establishes governance for testing intake, prioritization, decision rights, capacity planning, and turnaround time; defines KPIs and visual management; drives accountability for service levels, compliance execution, risk mitigation, and value realization across the R&D portfolio.
  • Directs preventative maintenance, equipment lifecycle planning, and rebuild strategies to ensure long-term capability, reliability, and cost effectiveness.
  • Manages laboratory operating and capital budgets, monthly forecasting, and investment trade-offs aligned to the testing strategy and capability roadmap.
  • Delivers sustained operational improvements (throughput, cycle time, cost, quality), by applying continuous improvement, standard work, and problem-solving rigor.


Testing Strategy, Expertise, & Technical Influence
  • Sets the Experimental Design & Product Testing strategy and multi-year capability roadmap aligned to R&D portfolio and business priorities.
  • Continuously advances testing tools, infrastructure, digital data workflows, and capabilities to improve repeatability, speed-to-learning, and long-term competitive advantage.
  • Builds the team as recognized subject-matter experts in experimental design, test methods, material and performance fundamentals, and statistical interpretation.
  • Partners with Product Development, Technical Marketing, and Operations Center of Excellence teams to integrate testing strategy into cross-functional workflows and governance.
  • Oversees the development, validation, and scale-up of new test methods and capabilities to increase technology readiness, reduce development risk, and enable defensible claims.
  • Sponsors, coaches, and enables team leadership in external standards organizations to shape methods, standards, and regulatory pathways.
  • Builds and sustains technical consulting capabilities and testing specialties that support enterprise problem solving, customer-driven innovation, and response to manufacturing and quality needs.
  • Protects, generates, and leverages intellectual property arising from testing innovation and technical insight.


Leads and Develops High Performing Teams
  • Builds an inclusive, engaged, and high-performing team with clear goals, accountability, and alignment to business priorities.
  • Develops talent through coaching, mentoring, feedback, and intentional capability-building plans.
  • Creates and sustains succession pipelines for critical technical and leadership roles.
  • Fosters a culture of collaboration, curiosity, experimentation, and continuous learning.
  • Actively recruits, develops, and retains diverse talent aligned to current and future capability needs.


JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
  • Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or related technical field
  • Minimum of 3 years of experience in an R&D laboratory, testing, or technical environment.
  • Demonstrated experience leading people and technical initiatives
  • Proven success working cross-functionally to deliver business and innovation outcomes


TECHNICAL & LEADERSHIP SKILLS:
  • Strong understanding of experimental design, product testing, and material or manufacturing systems.
  • Strategic thinker capable of translating business and portfolio needs into effective testing strategies.
  • Demonstrated people leadership, coaching, and talent-development capability.
  • Experience in project and portfolio management, prioritization, and resource allocation.
  • Data-driven leader with experience defining KPIs, dashboards, and management systems.
  • Effective communicator with the ability to influence across levels and functions.
  • Familiarity with laboratory quality/accreditation systems (e.g. ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17025) and intellectual property practices


BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES:
  • Visible commitment to safety, integrity, and operational excellence.
  • Inclusive, collaborative leadership style that values diverse perspectives and ideas.
  • High accountability, resilience, and learning agility in a dynamic environment.
  • Curiosity-driven mindset with a strong orientation towards innovation and continuous improvement.


#LI-JP1

#LI-ONSITE

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Owens Corning

More Pharmaceuticals & Biotech Jobs

Find similar Program Leader jobs: