Coherent

VP of Strategy and Markets Development

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

Qualifications

  • MS or PhD in Engineering, Business, Economics or related field required
  • 15+ years of leadership experience in technology sectors like telecommunications and optical networking
  • Proven background in strategy, business planning, and market intelligence
  • Deep understanding of communications markets and industry dynamics
  • Experience engaging with global customers and technology ecosystems

Responsibilities

  • Lead development and execution of business strategies for Communications BG
  • Drive annual strategic planning processes and market assessments
  • Deliver actionable market insights to inform strategic decisions
  • Lead portfolio management reviews to optimize investments
  • Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships for market growth

Benefits

  • Hybrid work model offering flexibility
  • Up to 30% travel opportunities for global engagement
  • Professional development within a leading-edge technology sector
  • Opportunity to influence executive-level decisions and company strategy
  • Engagement with top-tier technology partners and customers
Full Job Description
Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities
  1. Strategic Planning & Business Growth
  • Lead the development and execution of the Communications BG's short-, mid-, and long-term business strategies.
  • Drive annual strategic planning processes, including market assessments, growth scenarios, and investment prioritization.
  • Identify and evaluate new market opportunities, adjacent business segments, and emerging technologies.
  • Develop strategic recommendations to accelerate revenue growth, market share gains, and profitability.
  • Partner with Business Unit leaders to align product, technology, and commercial strategies with market opportunities.
  1. Market Intelligence & Insights
  • Establish a world-class market intelligence capability covering:
    • AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure
    • Data Center Networking
    • Optical Transport Networks
    • Coherent Optical Communications
    • Cloud and Hyperscale Markets
    • Telecom and Service Provider Networks
    • Emerging Optical Connectivity Solutions
  • Monitor industry trends, customer investment patterns, and technology roadmaps.
  • Deliver actionable market insights to guide strategic decisions and product investments.
  • Develop market forecasts, TAM/SAM/SOM analyses, and business outlooks.
  1. Portfolio & Investment Strategy
  • Lead portfolio management reviews to optimize product and technology investments.
  • Evaluate build, buy, partner, or acquire opportunities.
  • Assess strategic fit and business cases for new product platforms and growth initiatives.
  • Recommend resource allocation across growth priorities and strategic programs.
  • Partner with Finance to support investment decisions and capital allocation.
  1. Competitive Strategy
  • Lead competitive intelligence efforts across communications markets.
  • Analyze competitors' strategies, product roadmaps, market positioning, and investment trends.
  • Develop competitive response strategies and executive-level recommendations.
  • Support sales and product teams with market positioning and differentiation strategies.
  1. Business Development & Strategic Partnerships
  • Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships that enhance market access and growth.
  • Support strategic customer engagements with hyperscalers, telecom operators, system vendors, and ecosystem partners.
  • Lead strategic evaluations of alliances, joint ventures, and technology partnerships.
  • Support mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investment assessments.
  1. Executive Leadership & Business Performance
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to the EVP and Communications BG Leadership Team.
  • Facilitate strategic reviews and business planning sessions.
  • Drive cross-functional initiatives involving Product Management, R&D, Sales, Operations, and Finance.
  • Present strategic recommendations and market insights to executive leadership and the Board when required.
  • Establish key strategic metrics and monitor execution against growth objectives.

Education & Experience
  • MS or PhD degree in Engineering, Business, Economics, or related field required.
  • MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.
  • 15+ years of leadership experience in telecommunications, optical networking, datacenter infrastructure, semiconductors, photonics, or related technology sectors.
  • Proven experience in strategy, business planning, corporate development, market intelligence, or general management roles.
  • Deep understanding of communications markets and industry dynamics.
  • Experience working with global customers and technology ecosystems.
  • Demonstrated success influencing executive-level business decisions.

Knowledge & Expertise
  • Strong knowledge of:
    • Optical communications technologies
    • Coherent optics and pluggable modules
    • AI networking infrastructure
    • Datacenter architectures
    • Cloud and hyperscale ecosystems
    • Telecom networking markets
  • Strong financial and business acumen.
  • Experience with strategic planning frameworks and portfolio management.

Key Competencies
  • Strategic Thinking
  • Executive Presence
  • Market Insight
  • Business Acumen
  • Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Change Leadership
  • Influencing and Stakeholder Management
  • Data-Driven Decision Making
  • Innovation Mindset
  • Global Perspective

Working Conditions
  • Office Environment: This position primarily operates in a professional office environment. The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.
  • Hybrid Work: As per company policy, this role may involve a hybrid work model, requiring the ability to effectively manage remote teams and utilize digital collaboration platforms.
  • Work Schedule: Standard business hours, though the nature of a global executive role requires flexibility to attend early morning or late evening meetings to coordinate with international teams (US, EMEA/APAC).
  • Up to 30% travel may be required to visit global offices, customers, manufacturing sites, and key stakeholders, etc.

Physical Requirements
  • May work in prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer or standing in front of a classroom to facilitate.

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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