Coherent

Senior Director, Commercial Transactions, Legal

Coherent • $180K — $220K *
Santa Clara, CA 95051In-Person
Legal & Accounting
11 - 15 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
  • Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
  • 15+ years of legal experience with 5+ years in-house in commercial transactions.
  • Experience in electronics/semiconductor manufacturing industries.
  • Proven track record in leading global legal teams and managing complex commercial agreements.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and develop a global team of commercial transaction attorneys.
  • Serve as a strategic legal advisor to executive leadership for major initiatives.
  • Draft and negotiate complex commercial agreements across various sectors.
  • Collaborate with multiple departments including Sales, Procurement, and Operations.
  • Develop scalable contracting processes to improve efficiency.
  • Leverage AI tools to enhance legal operations and productivity.
  • Mentor and coach legal professionals globally.

Benefits

  • Collaborative work environment supporting virtual teamwork across global teams.
  • Opportunities for professional development and mentorship.
  • Exposure to innovative AI technologies in legal practice.
  • Flexibility to manage work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities
  • Lead and develop a global team of commercial transactions attorneys and legal professionals.
  • Serve as a strategic legal advisor to executive leadership and business management on significant commercial initiatives.
  • Draft, negotiate, and advise on highly complex commercial agreements, including:
    • Supply and purchase agreements
    • Sales agreements
    • Manufacturing and contract manufacturing agreements
    • Capacity reservation agreements
    • Strategic sourcing arrangements
    • Distribution and channel agreements
    • Confidentiality, services, and other strategic commercial contracts
  • Partner closely with Sales, Procurement, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Executive Leadership.
  • Provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice balancing commercial objectives with appropriate legal risk management.
  • Develop and implement scalable contracting processes, templates, and playbooks that improve efficiency and consistency across the organization.
  • Leverage artificial intelligence tools and emerging technologies to improve legal operations, increase productivity, and enhance the quality and speed of legal services.
  • Mentor, coach, and develop attorneys and legal professionals across multiple regions.
  • Collaborate effectively across global teams, cultures, and time zones.


Education & Experience
  • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
  • Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
  • Minimum of 15 years of legal experience.
  • Minimum of 5 years of in-house experience in a commercial transaction's legal role.
  • In-house legal experience must have been gained within the electronics and/or semiconductor manufacturing industries.
  • Demonstrated experience leading and supervising global legal teams.
  • Extensive experience negotiating and drafting highly sophisticated commercial agreements involving complex products, strategic customers, and international transactions.
  • Exceptional contract drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
  • Strong executive presence and ability to influence senior business leaders.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex matters simultaneously while consistently delivering high-quality work under demanding timelines.
  • Deep understanding of:
    • Electronics and semiconductor manufacturing supply chains
    • Contract manufacturing and outsourced manufacturing models
    • Product qualification and change management requirements
    • Global sourcing and procurement
    • Manufacturing operations and commercial practices
  • Strong business judgment and practical, solution-oriented approach to legal counseling.
  • Willingness and ability to travel occasionally, including international travel.


AI-First Mindset
  • At Coherent, we believe that artificial intelligence is transforming how legal work is performed. We are seeking candidates who embrace this transformation.
  • The successful candidate must demonstrate an AI-first approach to legal practice, including thoughtfully incorporating AI tools into legal drafting, contract review, negotiation preparation, knowledge management, workflow automation, and legal operations. Candidates should be enthusiastic adopters of emerging technologies, continuously seek opportunities to improve efficiency through responsible AI use, and be comfortable leading teams through the evolution of modern legal practice.


Skills
  • Experience supporting a global public company.
  • Experience negotiating with S&P 500 or multinational OEM customers and suppliers
  • Experience leading commercial contracting transformation initiatives.
  • Experience supporting manufacturing operations across Asia, Europe, and North America.
  • Collaborative and team-oriented.
  • Decisive and commercially pragmatic.
  • Exceptionally organized.
  • Comfortable operating with urgency and competing priorities.
  • Resilient under pressure.
  • Shows up with executive presence and can confidently build trust across leadership teams when tensions are high.
  • Curious, innovative, and continuously learning.
  • A trusted advisor who earns credibility through sound judgment and practical solutions.
  • Passionate about leveraging technology and AI to deliver exceptional legal support.


Working Conditions
  • Primarily works in a professional office environment, with flexibility to collaborate virtually across global teams and time zones.
  • Operates in a fast-paced setting requiring management of multiple high-priority and confidential legal matters under tight deadlines.
  • Occasional domestic and international travel may be required to support business operations, negotiations, and team collaboration.


Physical Requirements
  • Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through virtual meeting platforms.
  • Ability to travel occasionally and move through office, manufacturing, and customer locations as needed.


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

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