Applied Materials, Inc

Senior Director HR, SPG Central Functions

Applied Materials, Inc • $200K — $275K *
Santa Clara, CA 95051In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
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.
  • 15+ years progressive HR experience, particularly as a strategic HR Business Partner in large, global environments.
  • Proven capability to lead and develop a global HR team, including managerial experience with Director-level HRBPs.
  • Experience in organization design and workforce planning across diverse functions such as Engineering and Strategy in technology domains.
  • Strong analytical skills to leverage workforce and business data for executive decision-making.
  • Ability to coach and influence senior leaders effectively, providing impactful feedback.
  • Skill in balancing enterprise priorities with functional needs in complex organizational settings.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a trusted member of Central Functions' leadership, proactively shaping talent strategy.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with senior executives to position HR as a key business partner.
  • Align function-specific HR priorities with broader enterprise strategy across multiple central functions.
  • Leverage data to uncover workforce issues and support decisions on organizational health.
  • Develop integrated talent strategies tailored to the needs of each function.
  • Lead organizational change initiatives with focus and discipline across functions.
  • Translate HR and business strategy into actionable plans for implementation across diverse teams.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package offered to all employees.
  • Opportunities for professional development and career growth within the organization.
  • Eligibility for participation in bonus and stock award programs.
  • Relocation assistance for candidates who qualify.
Full Job Description
Role

The Senior Director, HR Business Partner leads the HR partnership for SPG's Central Functions - Engineering, Operations, Strategy, and Corporate Quality - based in Santa Clara, CA. This role sits at the center of the SPG HR leadership agenda, partnering directly with senior executives across multiple central functions to shape organization design, talent strategy, and workforce decisions that enable current and future enterprise performance.

Given the breadth of functions supported, this role requires the ability to flex across distinct functional cultures - engineering, operations, strategy, and corporate quality - while maintaining a single, coherent enterprise-wide HR strategy. This is a senior level role requiring the leadership of a global team of HR Business Partners and HR professionals, including management of Director-level HRBPs, and the ability to operate with credibility and influence at the most senior levels of the organization

Key Responsibilities
Strategic Business Partnership
  • Serve as a core, trusted member of the Central Functions 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 senior executives across Engineering, Operations, Strategy, and Corporate Quality, positioning HR as an equal contributor to business and functional planning discussions.
  • Represent an enterprise-wide HR perspective across multiple central functions, aligning function-specific priorities with broader SPG and enterprise HR strategy.
  • Act as the connective layer across otherwise distinct functions, ensuring consistent HR strategy and standards even as functional priorities and cultures differ.


Data, Insight & Decision Support
  • Leverage enterprise-wide workforce and business data to generate insight, identify emerging risks, and anticipate organizational issues across multiple functions before they escalate.
  • Bring fact-based, data-supported recommendations to executive discussions on workforce planning, organizational health, and talent decisions spanning Engineering, Operations, Strategy, and Corporate Quality.
  • Synthesize cross-functional workforce trends into a coherent narrative for senior HR and business leadership.

Organization Design & Talent Strategy
  • Shape org design, global workforce planning, and succession strategy to ensure Central Functions have 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 the distinct needs of Engineering, Operations, Strategy, and Corporate Quality.
  • Lead organizational change initiatives, including restructuring, integration, and workforce transitions, across multiple central functions with rigor and discipline.
  • Ensure critical engineering, operations, and quality capability needs are reflected in enterprise workforce and succession planning.

Leadership Coaching & Influence
  • Influence leadership behavior and decision-making without formal authority, building trust quickly across diverse stakeholders and adapting style to context, culture, and audience - including highly technical and quality-driven functional cultures.
  • Serve as a thought partner to the most senior leaders in Central Functions on organizational and talent risk.

Execution & Team Leadership
  • Convert HR and business strategy into disciplined execution plans with clear ownership, milestones, and measurable outcomes across a large, distributed, multi-function organization.
  • Lead, develop, and hold accountable a global team of HR Business Partners and HR professionals - including Director-level HRBPs - supporting the Central Functions population, ensuring clear direction, strong bench strength, and consistent standards of execution.
  • Remain effective and clear-headed as scope, ambiguity, and organizational complexity increase across multiple functions with differing priorities and operating rhythms.

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.
  • 15+ years of progressive HR experience, including substantial experience as a strategic HR Business Partner to senior executives in a large, global, matrixed organization, with a track record of increasing scope and seniority.
  • Demonstrated experience leading and developing a global team of HR Business Partners and HR professionals, including managing Director-level HRBPs, with accountability for results across a large, multi-function employee population.
  • Proven track record shaping organization design, workforce planning, and talent strategy across multiple functions (e.g., Engineering, Operations, Strategy, Quality) in a technology, semiconductor, or advanced manufacturing environment.
  • Strong analytical capability, with experience using workforce and business data to drive executive-level decisions across a multi-function organization.
  • Demonstrated ability to coach and influence senior executives, including experience delivering candid feedback that changes leader behavior at the most senior levels.
  • Experience balancing enterprise-wide priorities against function-specific or regional interests, with sound judgment on when and how to escalate tension.
  • Demonstrated ability to adapt style and approach across distinct functional cultures, including highly technical (Engineering), operationally driven (Operations), analytically-oriented (Strategy), and compliance-driven (Corporate Quality) environments.

Preferred
  • Prior HR leadership experience within a global semiconductor, capital equipment, or high-tech manufacturing company.
  • Experience supporting engineering, operations, or quality/compliance-oriented functions 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).
  • Experience supporting corporate strategy or quality functions, with an understanding of the distinct workforce and regulatory considerations each brings.


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, 20% 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.

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--- 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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