Director of Business Development - North America

Position Summary

Forge Nano is seeking a Director of Business Development, North America to lead semiconductor market expansion and customer development for its advanced thin film technology platform, i.e. ALDx-enabled solutions. This role is responsible for identifying, developing and closing strategic opportunities across semiconductor manufacturers, device makers, equipment companies, research organizations and ecosystem partners. The Director will combine deep semiconductor domain expertise, commercial leadership and strong technical fluency to position Forge Nano solutions for high-value applications where thin films improve device performance, reliability, yield and total cost of ownership.

Reporting Relationship and Location

• Reports to the Head of Business Operations.
• Primary work location is Forge Nano’s Thornton, Colorado corporate office when not traveling.
• Expected travel is up to 70% across North America and, as needed, to strategic customer, partner, industry and Forge Nano locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute North American business development strategy for semiconductor-related applications of Forge Nano thin film technology, with emphasis on ALDx and adjacent deposition-enabled solutions.

• Build, manage and expand a pipeline of semiconductor customer opportunities across front-end and back-end of line that are beyond currently identified markets.
• Leverage deep knowledge of semiconductor manufacturing workflows, including PE-CVD, PVD, ALD and other thin film deposition processes, to understand customer needs and position Forge Nano’s value proposition.
• Identify customer pain points related to film quality, conformity, interface engineering, contamination control, thermal stability, reliability, yield, throughput, integration and cost, then translate those needs into actionable customer proposals.
• Partner cross-functionally with R&D, Engineering, Operations, Product and Executive leadership to brainstorm, prioritize and advance new semiconductor applications for Forge Nano thin film platforms.
• Support key sales opportunities directly, including account strategy, executive engagement, technical discovery, proposal development, negotiations and deal progression.
• Lead, manage and coach a high-performing business development and customer-facing team; establish clear goals, develop talent and provide hands-on support for strategic opportunities.
• Deliver compelling customer presentations, conference talks, technical briefings and executive-level business reviews that communicate Forge Nano’s technology, application fit, commercial value and differentiation.
• Use a broad semiconductor industry network to gain access to new customers, decision-makers, channel partners, technical influencers and strategic collaborators.
• Develop business cases, total cost of ownership models and return on investment narratives that help customer evaluators quantify the value of Forge Nano solutions.
• Track market trends, competitive technologies, customer roadmaps and emerging semiconductor applications to identify opportunities not currently developed or prioritized by Forge Nano.
• Maintain disciplined commercial processes, including pipeline management, forecasting, opportunity qualification, CRM hygiene and executive reporting.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive semiconductor industry expertise, preferably demonstrated through 10+ years in semiconductor equipment, process technology, device manufacturing, materials, applications engineering, technical sales, product management, or business development.
• Direct experience with semiconductor manufacturing tools and thin film deposition technologies, including PE-CVD, PVD, ALD and related front end of line workflows.
• Deep knowledge of semiconductor applications and devices where thin films are critical, including logic, memory, power, RF, photonics, MEMS, sensors, compound semiconductors, advanced packaging and specialty devices.
• Strong understanding of customer evaluation processes for semiconductor materials, equipment, process integration, qualification, yield improvement, reliability and manufacturing adoption.
• Demonstrated ability to identify unmet customer needs, frame technical challenges and position differentiated solutions in both established and undeveloped markets.
• Solid business acumen, including ability to convey total cost of ownership, return on investment, manufacturability, risk reduction and strategic value to technical and commercial evaluators.
• Experience managing, coaching and developing teams in business development, sales, applications, product, or technical customer-facing roles.
• Excellent executive presence and communication skills, including comfort presenting to customers, industry conferences, technical forums and targeted organizations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, Physics, Semiconductor Technology, Business, or a related field; advanced technical or business degree preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior sales, strategic account management, or business development experience in semiconductor capital equipment, materials, process technology, or advanced manufacturing.
• Existing relationships with North American semiconductor fabs, IDMs, foundries, OSATs, equipment OEMs, research institutes and key ecosystem partners.
• Experience commercializing new semiconductor technologies from early application discovery through proof of concept, qualification, pilot adoption and production deployment.
• Familiarity with CRM systems, structured sales processes, account planning, proposal development and commercial forecasting.
• Experience working across global teams and supporting customers with complex technical, operational and procurement requirements.

Success Profile

The successful candidate will be a semiconductor industry connector, technical translator and commercial leader who can open doors, build trust with sophisticated customers and turn technical possibilities into revenue-generating opportunities. This person will be equally comfortable discussing thin film process integration with technologists, coaching a team through complex opportunities and explaining Forge Nano’s business impact to executive decision-makers.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range: $145,000–$195,000 annually, depending on semiconductor industry depth, commercial leadership experience, network strength and team management background.
• Variable compensation: Target annual incentive of 50%–70% of base salary tied to bookings, revenue, strategic account development, pipeline creation, customer milestones and team performance.
• Benefits: Comprehensive health, dental and vision coverage; 401(k) plan; paid time off; holidays; life and disability insurance; and other standard company benefits.
• Travel support: Company-paid business travel, customer entertainment reimbursement consistent with policy and appropriate tools to support a high-travel commercial leadership role.