Director of Business Development - North America

Job description

Position Summary Forge Nano is seeking a Director of Business Development, North America to lead semiconductor market expansion and customer development for its advanced thin film technology platform, including ALDˣ-enabled solutions. This role is responsible for identifying, developing, and closing strategic opportunities across semiconductor manufacturers, device makers, equipment companies, research organizations, and ecosystem partners throughout North America. This role reports to the Head of Business Operations. The ideal candidate is a commercially driven semiconductor leader who combines deep technical expertise, strong market knowledge, and a proven ability to build strategic customer relationships. This individual will serve as both a business builder and trusted advisor, helping customers leverage Forge Nano technologies to improve device performance, reliability, manufacturing yield, and overall cost of ownership. Responsibilities Business Development & Market Expansion Develop and execute North American business development strategies for semiconductor-related applications of Forge Nano thin film technologies. Build, manage, and expand a robust pipeline of semiconductor customer opportunities across North America. Identify and pursue new applications, target customers, and strategic market opportunities beyond currently established markets. Track semiconductor market trends, customer technology roadmaps, and competitive developments. Develop business cases, ROI analyses, and total cost of ownership models to support customer adoption. Utilize an extensive semiconductor industry network to gain access to new customers, decision-makers, and strategic collaborators. Customer Development & Strategic Account Management Develop relationships with semiconductor fabs, foundries, IDMs, OSATs, equipment manufacturers, research institutes, and ecosystem partners. Lead strategic account planning and customer engagement activities. Support customer evaluations, proof-of-concept programs, qualification efforts, pilot projects, and production deployments. Deliver executive presentations, technical briefings, and business reviews to customers and stakeholders. Navigate customer procurement requirements, channel relationships, and business practices throughout North America. Technical & Cross-Functional Leadership Apply expertise in semiconductor manufacturing and thin film deposition technologies, including PE-CVD, PVD, ALD, and related processes. Identify customer challenges related to film quality, contamination control, thermal stability, reliability, yield, throughput, and process integration. Partner with R&D, Engineering, Product, Operations, and Executive Leadership teams to prioritize new application opportunities. Translate customer requirements into actionable technical and commercial proposals. Support technical discovery efforts and help align customer needs with Forge Nano technology capabilities. Sales Leadership & Commercial Operations Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing business development and customer-facing team. Establish performance objectives and provide guidance on strategic opportunities. Drive disciplined pipeline management, forecasting, opportunity qualification, CRM utilization, and executive reporting. Support proposal development, contract negotiations, and commercial agreement execution. Represent Forge Nano at industry conferences, trade shows, customer meetings, and technical forums. Qualifications Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Semiconductor Technology, Business, or a related field; advanced technical or business degree preferred. 10+ years of semiconductor industry experience in equipment, materials, manufacturing, process technology, applications engineering, technical sales, product management, or business development. Direct experience with semiconductor manufacturing tools and thin film deposition technologies, including PE-CVD, PVD, ALD, and related workflows. Deep knowledge of semiconductor applications and devices where thin films are critical, including logic, memory, power, RF, photonics, MEMS, sensors, compound semiconductors, advanced packaging, and specialty devices. Strong understanding of semiconductor qualification, integration, reliability, yield improvement, and manufacturing adoption processes. Demonstrated ability to identify customer needs and position differentiated technical solutions. Strong business acumen with the ability to communicate ROI, risk reduction, manufacturability, strategic value, and total cost of ownership. Experience leading, coaching, and developing business development, sales, applications, product, or customer-facing teams. Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and negotiation skills. Preferred Qualifications Experience in semiconductor capital equipment, advanced materials, process technology, or advanced manufacturing markets. Existing relationships with North American semiconductor fabs, foundries, IDMs, OSATs, OEMs, research institutes, and technology organizations. Experience commercializing emerging semiconductor technologies from application discovery through production deployment. Experience with CRM systems, structured sales methodologies, forecasting, and account planning. Experience working across global teams and supporting multinational semiconductor customers. Supervisory Responsibilities This position provides leadership, coaching, and oversight to business development and customer-facing team members. The Director is responsible for establishing goals, supporting talent development, and ensuring successful execution of strategic commercial objectives. Work Environment This position operates in a dynamic business environment and requires regular interaction with semiconductor customers, technology partners, industry organizations, and internal stakeholders across North America. The role is performed primarily from Forge Nano's Thornton, Colorado corporate office when not traveling, with significant time spent visiting customer sites, industry conferences, partner facilities, and other Forge Nano locations. Success in this position requires the ability to work effectively across multiple organizations, technical disciplines, and business environments. Physical Requirements This position is primarily sedentary and requires extended periods of sitting, working on a computer, participating in virtual meetings, delivering presentations, and engaging in customer interactions. The employee must be able to occasionally move presentation materials, product samples, and other business-related items weighing up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Travel This position requires up to 70% travel throughout North America, including regular visits to customer facilities, partner locations, industry conferences, trade shows, and strategic business meetings. Occasional travel to other Forge Nano locations and international destinations may be required. The successful candidate must be comfortable managing a rigorous travel schedule and representing Forge Nano in a variety of technical, commercial, and executive-level settings. Compensation & Benefits Salary Range: $145,000-$195,000 annually depending on semiconductor industry depth, commercial leadership experience, network strength, and team management background. The salary range for this position will be based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and alignment with internal equity among current employees. Variable Compensation: Target annual incentive of 50%-70% of base salary tied to bookings, revenue, strategic account development, pipeline creation, customer milestones, and team performance. Benefits Offered: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Life and Disability Insurance LTD and STD Insurance FSA and HSA 401(k) Retirement Match Paid Time Off (PTO) & Floating Holidays Paid Holidays Paid Parental Leave Travel Support: Company-paid business travel, customer entertainment reimbursement consistent with policy, and appropriate tools to support a high-travel commercial leadership role. Forge Nano Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.