Director, Program Management

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Own the Program Management function and governance for the SiC LLC BU, including strategy, operating model, decision rights, standards and tools; establish a scalable, global PMO capability with consistent ways of working across sites and regions.
• Lead and optimize the global program portfolio, setting priorities, sequencing, and capacity plans; integrate strategy deployment with financial planning to ensure resources are allocated to the highest-value work across the end-to-end manufacturing value stream.
• Institutionalize enterprise-grade governance and controls (stage-gate, risk and issue management, change control, financial tracking, and benefits realization) to improve predictability, transparency, and accountability across all major programs.
• Drive investment governance and business case rigor by building/validating value cases, aligning scope to strategic priorities, and governing tradeoffs across competing initiatives; lead executive steering forums, escalate decisions with options, and ensure timely resolution of cross-functional conflicts.
• Hold project leaders accountable for delivery and value capture through disciplined management of scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risks; implement benefits realization and sustainment mechanisms, and ensure corrective actions are taken quickly when programs deviate from plan.
• Establish portfolio performance management and executive reporting using KPI/OKR frameworks, dashboards, and standardized operating reviews to enable transparent prioritization, rapid issue resolution, and informed leadership decisions.
• Serve as a senior advisor to Operations and functional leadership (Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, IT) on portfolio strategy, execution risk, and operating model maturity; influence operating reviews and drive alignment to enterprise standards.
• Align global stakeholders and the partner ecosystem across sites, regions, and external vendors/consultants; establish governance rhythms, escalation paths, and performance expectations to accelerate outcomes and improve delivery predictability.
• Proactively manage enterprise risks, dependencies, and continuity across the portfolio, including cross-program impacts, compliance considerations, supply chain constraints, and plant operational continuity; escalate critical issues with scenario-based options and clear recommendations.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Software Engineering, Business, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• PMP certification or equivalent strongly preferred.
• 12–18 years of progressive program/project and/or operations transformation experience, including leadership of large-scale, cross-functional initiatives in manufacturing environments.
• 7 years in people leadership roles, building and managing Program/Project Managers and/or PMO functions within global, matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrated experience governing a portfolio of complex, multi-million-dollar programs across multiple sites/regions, with executive-level visibility and measurable business outcomes.
• Experience in product development, NPI, and lifecycle management preferred.
• Background in process engineering, SiC industry, or related manufacturing domains is a strong plus.

Skills

• Strategic and financial acumen to translate BU strategy into a prioritized, capacity-based portfolio, with clear value cases, funding recommendations, and measurable outcomes tied to manufacturing performance (safety, quality, cost, delivery) and growth.
• Proven ability to build and scale PMO organizations, define operating models, and drive enterprise-wide adoption of governance standards.
• Executive communication and presence; able to lead steering committees, shape narratives, present tradeoffs, and secure decisions with senior leaders in ambiguous, high-visibility environments.
• Advanced expertise in portfolio and program management systems and reporting (e.g., MS Project, Power BI), including integrated schedules, dependency management, financial governance, and benefits realization dashboards.
• Demonstrated success leading through influence across global, matrixed organizations, including conflict resolution and alignment of senior stakeholders.
• Strong risk management and decision-making capabilities, including scenario planning, governance-based escalation, and sound judgment in complex, high-visibility situations.
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with operational execution, building durable systems and capabilities while delivering near-term results.
• Excellent people leadership skills, including coaching, mentoring, org effectiveness, and performance management; builds engaged teams and strong cross-functional partnerships.
• Commercial and vendor management capability, including contracting support, performance management, and governance of strategic partners and systems integrators.
• Executive presence and change leadership—able to align leaders around a common narrative, communicate tradeoffs, and sustain adoption across diverse global audiences.
• High adaptability and effectiveness in fast-paced, evolving business environments.

Working Conditions

• Work environment: various locations, occasional remote, and manufacturing floor settings.
• Domestic and international travel required (up to ~25%).
• Must be able to operate effectively across global time zones, including occasional off-hours engagement.
• Comfortable working in manufacturing environments, including exposure to machinery and chemicals.

Physical Requirements

• Long periods of sitting or standing (up to 4 hours at a time).

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust

Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome

Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.