Applied Materials, Inc

HR Director, SPG

Applied Materials, Inc • $172K — $237K *
Santa Clara, CA 95051In-Person
Enterprise Technology
11 - 15 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Organizational Psychology, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
  • 12+ years of progressive HR experience, especially as a strategic HR Business Partner in a complex organization.
  • Proven experience in shaping organization design and talent strategy in technology or semiconductor sectors.
  • Strong analytical skills with experience driving decisions through workforce data.
  • Ability to coach and influence senior leaders with candid feedback.
  • Experience balancing enterprise-wide priorities against regional interests.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a trusted member of the SPG leadership talent agenda, shaping business strategy through a people-focused lens.
  • Build credible relationships with SPG executives, ensuring HR is integral to business planning discussions.
  • Collaborate with general managers to align people strategies with growth priorities.
  • Leverage workforce and business data to identify risks and anticipate organizational issues.
  • Shape organizational design and succession strategies aligned with business goals.
  • Lead organizational change initiatives with rigor and discipline.
  • Provide direct coaching to senior leaders, influencing their approach to people decisions.

Benefits

  • Participation in a comprehensive benefits package.
  • Opportunities for bonus participation and stock award programs.
  • Potential for relocation support.
Full Job Description
Role

The HR Director Business Partner is a senior human resources leader supporting Applied Material's Semiconductor Products Group (SPG) business, based in Santa Clara, CA. This role sits at the center of the SPG HR leadership agenda, partnering directly with SPG business executives to shape organization design, talent strategy, and workforce decisions that enable current and future business performance.

This is an individual contributor HR leadership role requiring the ability to partner directly with general managers of businesses, influence senior stakeholders, and operate with credibility across a large, complex, and geographically distributed organization. The successful candidate will bring strength in strategic partnership, data-driven insight, organizational design, and enterprise influence, with the ability to translate business priorities into practical people and organization strategies.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Business Partnership
  • Serve as a core, trusted member of the SPG leadership team's talent agenda - proactively shaping business strategy through a people and organization lens rather than responding after decisions are made.
  • Build strong, credible relationships with SPG executives and functional leaders, positioning HR as an equal contributor to business planning discussions.
  • Partner directly with business general managers to understand growth priorities, pressure-test organization implications, and shape people strategies that advance business performance.
Data, Insight & Decision Support
  • Leverage enterprise-wide workforce and business data to generate insight, identify emerging risks, and anticipate organizational issues before they escalate.
  • Bring fact-based, data-supported recommendations to executive discussions on workforce planning, organizational health, and talent decisions.
Organization Design & Talent Strategy
  • Shape org design, global workforce planning, and succession strategy to ensure SPG has the structure, capacity, and capability to meet current and future business goals.
  • Partner with Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, and Talent Management COEs to build integrated talent strategies aligned to SPG's growth priorities.
  • Lead organizational change initiatives, including restructuring, integration, and workforce transitions, with rigor and discipline.
Leadership Coaching & Influence
  • Provide candid, direct coaching to senior leaders, shifting how they think about and act on people decisions.
  • Influence leadership behavior and decision-making without formal authority, building trust quickly across diverse stakeholders and adapting style to context, culture, and audience.
Execution
  • Convert HR and business strategy into disciplined execution plans with clear ownership, milestones, and measurable outcomes across a large, distributed organization.
  • Collaborate across the global HR organization, including regional HR partners and COEs, to align priorities, remove barriers, and deliver against business commitments with consistency and speed.
  • Remain effective and clear-headed as scope, ambiguity, and organizational complexity increase, adjusting approach as priorities shift.


Qualifications
Required
  • Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business, Organizational Psychology, or a related field; advanced degree (MBA or MS/MA in HR/OD) preferred.
  • 12+ years of progressive HR experience, including significant experience as a strategic HR Business Partner to senior executives in a large, global, matrixed organization.
  • Proven track record shaping organization design, workforce planning, and talent strategy in a technology, semiconductor, or advanced manufacturing environment.
  • Strong analytical capability, with experience using workforce and business data to drive executive-level decisions.
  • Demonstrated ability to coach and influence senior leaders, including experience delivering candid feedback that changes leader behavior.
  • Experience balancing enterprise-wide priorities against business unit or regional interests, with sound judgment on when and how to escalate tension.


Preferred
  • Prior HR leadership experience within a global semiconductor, capital equipment, or high-tech manufacturing company.
  • Experience supporting a business group through significant growth, restructuring, or M&A integration.
  • Experience operating within a shared-services or Center-of-Excellence HR model (e.g., partnering with Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, People Analytics COEs).


To succeed in this role requires a capacity for complexity and temperament that includes:
  • Manages multiple concurrent workstreams (org design, talent reviews, restructuring, executive coaching) without losing quality or follow-through.
  • Adjusts approach in real time as business priorities, org structure, or leadership shift, without becoming reactive or losing strategic focus.
  • Comfortable holding multiple, sometimes competing, stakeholder perspectives (SPG leadership, enterprise HR, regional teams) simultaneously and finding workable paths forward.
  • Stays composed and even-keeled under pressure, including during layoffs, escalations, or leadership conflict.
  • Brings candor without defensiveness - delivers difficult messages to executives directly, then moves forward constructively.
  • Shows patience with ambiguity and organizational pace, while maintaining urgency on outcomes that matter.


Additional Information

Time Type:
Full time

Employee Type:
Assignee / Regular

Travel:
Yes, 10% of the Time

Relocation Eligible:
Yes

The salary offered to a selected candidate will be based on multiple factors including location, hire grade, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and with consideration of internal equity of our current team members. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, candidates may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as participation in a bonus and a stock award program, as applicable.

For all sales roles, the posted salary range is the Target Total Cash (TTC) range for the role, which is the sum of base salary and target bonus amount at 100% goal achievement.

About Applied Materials, Inc

Applied Materials specialize in materials engineering solutions. They optimize equipment and fab operations through consulting, spare parts, services, and automation software. They also provide supply chain services from transactional spares through programs, rebuilds, and forecasted parts management. Their products and technologies include semiconductors, displays, roll web coating, solar, and automation software.

**Applied Materials, Inc. Careers**

Join the innovative world of Applied Materials, Inc., a leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. Our global team is driving innovation and growth in the industries we serve. This is where your expertise can make a true impact.

Work You’ll Do

At Applied Materials, Inc., you will be part of a company that prides itself on fostering a culture of innovation, diversity, and professional growth. As a member of our team, you will lead groundbreaking projects at the intersection of technology, leadership, and engineering excellence. We offer a variety of job opportunities that allow you to explore your potential and push the boundaries of what's possible.

Innovate and Lead

Join a team where innovation is at the heart of everything we do. You will work alongside the brightest minds in the industry, utilizing your skills to contribute to projects that are not only exciting but also crucial for technological advancements. Our leadership is committed to providing you with the guidance and support needed to achieve your career goals.

Career Growth and Opportunities

Whether you are looking for an internship, a full-time position, or leadership roles, Applied Materials, Inc. provides an array of career paths to help you achieve your professional aspirations. Our commitment to career growth is evident through extensive training programs and opportunities for advancement.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Applied Materials, Inc., we believe that diversity fuels innovation. We are dedicated to building a diverse team that reflects the global communities we serve. Our diversity training programs are designed to enhance collaboration and foster an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive.

Benefits and Culture

Our employees enjoy a range of benefits that support both their professional and personal lives. From health and wellness programs to competitive retirement plans, we ensure that our team is taken care of. The culture at Applied Materials, Inc. is built on collaboration, respect, and a commitment to excellence.

Join Our Team

Explore the job opportunities at Applied Materials, Inc. and find the position that matches your skills and passions. We are continuously hiring and looking for individuals who are curious, creative, and ready to drive innovation in a dynamic industry.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest company news, career tips, and industry insights by joining our network. Engage with us on professional networking platforms and stay ahead in your career journey.

Apply Now

Ready to take the next step in your career? Submit your resume, prepare for your interview, and join a team that’s dedicated to materializing the technologies of tomorrow. Discover the impact you can make at Applied Materials, Inc. and help us shape the future.

SEARCH APPLIED MATERIALS JOBS

--- This page for Applied Materials, Inc. Careers incorporates all the requested elements, maintaining the "Company Content Style" with a focus on innovation, career growth, and the dynamic team environment.
Learn more about Applied Materials, Inc
Size
27,000 employees
Market Cap
$80.7 billion
Industry
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
$3.8 billion
Founded
1967
5 Year Trend
+11.9%
Revenue
$18.2 billion
NASDAQ
AMAT
* Ladders Estimates

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