Coherent

Director of Corporate Development

Coherent • $160K — $200K *
Santa Clara, CA 95051In-Person
Enterprise Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in finance, Business, Engineering, Economics, or related field.
  • 10+ years of relevant experience in corporate development, investment banking, private equity, or strategy consulting.
  • Proven track record of leading complex M&A transactions and strategic investments.
  • Strong financial modeling and analytical skills.
  • Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
  • Excellent communication and executive presentation skills.
  • Ability to influence and collaborate across functions and organizational levels.

Responsibilities

  • Partner with executive leadership to evaluate and refine corporate growth strategies.
  • Identify, assess, and prioritize various strategic opportunities including acquisitions and partnerships.
  • Lead all phases of the M&A process from opportunity sourcing to execution.
  • Develop investment theses and business cases for potential transactions.
  • Build and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with business leaders to identify growth opportunities and technology gaps.
  • Support strategic planning, including market analysis and competitive benchmarking.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and wellness programs.
  • Retirement savings plan with company match.
  • Opportunities for professional development and training.
  • Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities
  • Partner with executive leadership to evaluate and refine Coherent's corporate growth strategy and strategic priorities.
  • Identify, assess, and prioritize acquisition, divestiture, partnership, licensing, and joint venture opportunities across Coherent's markets and technology platforms.
  • Lead all phases of the M&A process, including opportunity sourcing, strategic assessment, valuation, financial modeling, due diligence, negotiation, transaction structuring, and execution.
  • Develop investment theses and business cases for potential transactions, incorporating market analysis, competitive intelligence, financial returns, and strategic fit.
  • Build and maintain relationships with investment banks, private equity firms, venture capital organizations, technology companies, industry advisors, and other external stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with business unit leaders to identify growth opportunities, technology gaps, and portfolio optimization initiatives.
  • Support strategic planning activities, including market analysis, competitive benchmarking, and long-range growth initiatives.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies, adjacent markets, and new business opportunities that can enhance Coherent's competitive position.
  • Prepare presentations and recommendations for executive leadership, the CEO, and the Board of Directors.
  • Partner with functional teams, including Finance, Legal, HR, Operations, and Integration leaders, to ensure successful transaction execution and value realization.
  • Support post-acquisition integration planning and execution to achieve strategic and financial objectives.


Education & Experience
  • Bachelor's degree in finance, Business, Engineering, Economics, or related field.
  • 10+ years of relevant experience in corporate development, investment banking, private equity, strategy consulting, venture investing, or a related field.
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex M&A transactions, strategic investments, or partnership initiatives.
  • Strong financial modeling, valuation, and analytical capabilities.
  • Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent communication and executive presentation skills.
  • Proven ability to influence and collaborate across multiple functions and levels of the organization.
  • Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously.


Skills
  • Experience in semiconductor, photonics, lasers, optical communications, industrial technology, advanced manufacturing, electronics, or related technology sectors.
  • MBA or advanced degree.
  • Experience leading cross-border transactions and working in a global business environment.
  • Familiarity with technology portfolio management, market expansion strategies, and integration planning.


What Success Looks Like
  • Successfully identifies and executes strategic transactions that accelerate revenue growth, expand technology capabilities, and strengthen competitive positioning.
  • Serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on strategic and investment decisions.
  • Develops strong internal and external relationships that expand Coherent's access to strategic opportunities.
  • Drives data-driven recommendations that support long-term shareholder value creation.


Physical Requirements
  • Ability to work for extended periods at a computer, reviewing financial data, preparing presentations, and analyzing documents
  • Ability to participate in meetings, travel occasionally for business purposes, and communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders


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.

About Coherent

Coherent, Inc. is a global leader in providing laser-based solutions to a broad range of commercial and scientific research customers. The company designs, manufactures, and markets lasers, laser-based systems, precision optics, and related accessories for a diverse group of customers. Coherent's markets include scientific research, OEM components and instrumentation, microelectronics, materials processing, and life sciences. The company's products are used in a wide range of applications. Coherent was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Learn more about Coherent
Size
5,085 employees
Market Cap
$4.6 billion
Industry
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
-$419.7 million
Founded
1966
5 Year Trend
+27.8%
Revenue
$1.2 billion
NASDAQ
COHR
* Ladders Estimates

Similar Jobs

Ad banner background

Get Ready For Your
Next Interview

More Jobs at Coherent

More Enterprise Technology Jobs

Find similar Director of Corporate Development jobs:

NationwideSanta Clara, CA