Program Leader

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.

Join an organization that believes that every employee owns a piece of our bold growth goals and ultimate success. We are a market-leading innovator that has placed on the Fortune 500. Owens Corning is devoted to delivering sustainable solutions across our three business segments while striving to ensure our people and products make the world a better place. We take pride in having an inclusive and diverse workplace with employees around the globe. A holistic sense of community exists across our entire organization as our talent grows globally. We are a company that fully recognizes the importance of paving a path to a sustainable and safe enterprise through investing in our people. Our desire to make an impactful difference in the world flows from top down to all levels of the organization. By being a company that instills pride within every employee, we aspire to build market-leading businesses; global in scope - human in scale.

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.

About Owens Corning

Owens Corning is a branded building products leader with three complementary market-leading businesses providing roofing, insulation, and doors primarily for residential markets in North America and Europe. The company operates with an integrated go-to-market strategy and a unique set of OC Advantages - including its iconic brand, unparalleled commercial strength, leading technology, and winning cost position - to help customers win and grow in the market. Owens Corning is committed to helping build better and achieve more through winning partnerships, leading performance, and engaging people. Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Owens Corning is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: OC). For more information, visit www.owenscorning.com.

Owens Corning is an equal opportunity employer. Except in limited circumstances such as formal apprenticeship programs, Owens Corning does not employ anyone under the age of 18.