Accelerated RADAR (Rotational Assignments Developing Alcon Resources) is Alcon's highly selective, enterprise leadership development program designed to accelerate mid-career, high-performing leaders into senior leadership roles in Manufacturing and Quality. This program is structured to develop future senior leaders capable of leading complex, global, and regulated operations.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
- Duration: ~4–5 years
- Rotations: 2 strategic enterprise rotations (~24 months each)
- Placement: Roles are strategically selected and aligned to enterprise priorities, with increasing scope, complexity, and accountability.
Program Intent
- Develop advanced enterprise leadership capability through strategically designed rotations across manufacturing operations, quality, and related functions
- Expose participants to global operations, emerging technologies, and regulated environments to strengthen systems thinking and adaptability
- Prepare top-performing talent for enterprise-wide impact by compounding technical depth and leadership scope across rotations
- Drive innovation, risk management, and business continuity through strategic projects and a capstone initiative delivering measurable outcomes
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN ACCELERATED RADAR
- Rapidly assess, influence, and lead within complex, global, and highly regulated manufacturing and quality systems
- Demonstrate learning agility by entering unfamiliar technical, functional, or organizational domains and building credibility quickly
- Translate technical understanding (manufacturing, quality systems, automation, compliance, data) into business, risk, and performance outcomes
- Lead cross-functional teams through ambiguity, competing priorities, and enterprise trade-offs (quality, cost, delivery, risk)
- Build sustainable organizational capability through systems, governance, talent development, and continuous improvement
- Progressively assume enterprise-level accountability in preparation for Senior Leadership roles in Manufacturing & Quality
ROTATION ASSIGNMENT EXAMPLES (DEPENDING ON EXPERIENCE)
First Rotation – Enterprise Foundation
- Management roles within Automation, Manufacturing, Quality, Materials, Supply Chain, MS&T or Program Management
- Focus on enterprise exposure, systems understanding, and cross-functional leadership
Second Rotation – Enterprise Impact
- Senior leadership roles within Manufacturing Operations, Quality Operations, Compliance, Materials Planning, MS&T, or Automation & Engineering
- Focus on end-to-end accountability, strategic decision making, and business critical outcomes
Each rotation increases responsibility in preparation for a transition to senior leadership roles in Manufacturing or Quality.
This program is intended for individuals who explicitly aspire to senior leadership roles within operations and/or quality, and who are prepared to assume full-site or enterprise accountability over time.
PROGRAM SUPPORT
Includes Steering Committee, HR Program Managers, Executive Mentor, Local Mentors to build a valuable network of peers, managers, and leaders across the company.
KEY FEATURES OF PROGRAM
- Pairing with a mentor
- Cohort experience
- Opportunities to interact with senior leaders
- End of assignment and cohort presentations
- Participation in leadership development training, coaching & assessments
SELECTION PROCESS
- Nomination by senior leadership
- Behavioral and enterprise-focus interviews
- Scenario-based assessments emphasizing ambiguity, systems thinking, and technical trade-offs
- Strategic placement aligned to enterprise succession priorities
Internal Applicants: High performance records (4's/5's). Must be nominated by their Senior Leader. Please ensure you have aligned and have obtained the endorsement of your local HR Site Head, manager, General Manager and Quality Site Head prior to applying for the position.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent years of directly related experience (or high school +10 yrs; Assoc.+6 yrs; M.S.+0 yrs)
- 5+ years of strong leadership experience and performance
- Proven ability to lead change, drive innovation, and shape Alcon's culture
- Demonstrated cycles of leadership success in a professional business environment.
- Data, automation, and digital/Al technical competence
- Strong problem solving, organizational, communication and analytical skills
- Self-starter attitude, strategic thinking and ability to navigate through ambiguity
- Global mindset and technology savvy
- Fluently read, write, understand and communicate in English
- To be considered for the Alcon RADAR Program, you must be a citizen of the country of your current Alcon location.
- Full mobility during program inclusion (typically 4-5 years). Able to meet the requirements for relocation, travel and all other requirements for potential International Assignments during the program.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Who are the ideal Accelerated RADAR candidates?
We are looking for candidates who are self-motivated, with strong analytical, strategic thinking and decision-making skills.
- Proven leadership capability
- Experience in MTO/QRA, engineering, manufacturing, or quality
- Passionate about driving performance in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
- Execution of data, AI and automation into the business
- Project management, Lean/Six Sigma and regulatory compliance
- Internal Associates must have at least one (1) year tenure at Alcon (other criteria may be considered)
- Scientific education preferred
- Recognized as a high performer, with leadership skills
You are applying to be part of the Alcon Talent Pool. We are not currently recruiting for this role but we are building a pipeline for future opportunities. If you would like to be considered for a similar position in future, then please submit your CV or resume.
ALCON IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND PARTICIPATES IN E-VERIFY
Alcon takes pride in maintaining an inclusive environment that values different perspectives and our policies are non-discriminatory in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Alcon is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an email to alcon.recruitment@alcon.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
