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Director of Corporate Development

COHERENT

Santa Clara, CAFull-time$169–289K/yrSeen 3 days agoSeen in employer's feed 3 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$169–289K/yr
Location
Santa Clara, CA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Bachelor's degree

Job overview

The Director of Corporate Development shapes and executes Coherent’s growth strategy by identifying, evaluating, and executing transactions and strategic initiatives. Reporting to senior leadership, the role partners with executives and business units to assess opportunities, develop recommendations, and lead transactions from initial evaluation through execution and integration planning. It also supports strategic planning, evaluates emerging technologies and markets, and advises executive leadership on investment decisions.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Financial ModelingValuationAnalytical CapabilitiesStrategic ThinkingProblem-SolvingCommunicationExecutive PresentationsInfluencingCross-Functional CollaborationProject ManagementSemiconductorPhotonicsLasersOptical CommunicationsIndustrial TechnologyAdvanced ManufacturingElectronicsCross-Border TransactionsGlobal BusinessTechnology Portfolio ManagementMarket Expansion StrategiesIntegration Planning

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Finance, Business, Engineering, Economics or Related10+ Years Relevant ExperienceM&a Transaction LeadershipStrategic Investment ExperiencePartnership Initiative ExperienceMBA or Advanced Degree

Full job description

The Director of Corporate Development plays a critical role in shaping and executing Coherent's growth strategy. Reporting to senior leadership, this position is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and executing mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and other strategic initiatives that support the company's long-term objectives.

This highly visible role partners closely with executive leaders across business units and corporate functions to assess market opportunities, develop strategic recommendations, and lead transactions from initial evaluation through execution and integration planning.

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.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

I ntegrity – Create an Environment of Trust

C ollaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

A ccountability – Own the Process and the Outcome

R espect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

E nthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected] .

ABOUT US

Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard-work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity and growth. Come Join Us!

Note to recruiters and employment agencies: We will not pay for unsolicited resumes from recruiters and employment agencies unless we have a signed agreement and have required assistance, in writing, for a specific opening.

Job Identification: 2015730

Degree Level: Bachelor's Degree

Job Schedule: Full time

Pay Scale: $168875 - $289125 per [Annual]

LinkedIn: #LI-JB1

How this job compares

Set against the 669 open Corporate Development jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 3, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$169–289K/yr
  • California median$169–249K/yr97 salary ranges
  • US median$120–172K/yr578 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $229K, is 9% above the California median midpoint ($210K) — in the middle half of Corporate Development salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 109 open Corporate Development jobs in California and 669 across the US. 11% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 10 years of experience — more than three in four Corporate Development postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 619 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 241 of the 669 open Corporate Development jobs (36%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 3, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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