Senior Director, Segment Business Counsel (M7)

Who We Are

Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build and service cutting-edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips – the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world – like AI and IoT. If you want to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering to create next generation technology, join us to deliver material innovation that changes the world. 

What We Offer

Salary:

$231,000.00 - $317,500.00

Location:

Austin,TX, Santa Clara,CA

You’ll benefit from a supportive work culture that encourages you to learn, develop, and grow your career as you take on challenges and drive innovative solutions for our customers. We empower our team to push the boundaries of what is possible—while learning every day in a supportive leading global company. Visit our Careers website to learn more. 

At Applied Materials, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees. We’re committed to providing programs and support that encourage personal and professional growth and care for you at work, at home, or wherever you may go. Learn more about our benefits. 

Role Overview

This role serves as the senior legal leader for Global Supply Chain, providing legal and strategic counsel across Applied Materials’ most complex, fast‑moving, and operationally critical business activities. The position operates at the center of direct supply chain, manufacturing, supplier strategy, logistics, and ramp readiness, and requires exceptional judgment, speed, and the ability to navigate ambiguity at scale.

This is not a traditional advisory role. The Lead Counsel is expected to be embedded with executive leadership, delivering clear, actionable guidance in high‑stakes situations where decisions must be made quickly and with incomplete information.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides senior‑level business and legal counsel to Global Supply Chain leadership, including executives, on tactical and strategic objectives.

• Serves as the primary legal escalation point for complex, novel, or high‑risk issues affecting supplier continuity, manufacturing readiness, and operational execution.

• Develops, reviews, drafts, and negotiates high‑impact commercial agreements, including strategic supplier agreements, capacity arrangements, logistics frameworks, and ramp‑critical transactions.

• Operates with urgency in ramp and execution‑intensive environments, where small legal delays can create outsized business impact.

• Translates legal complexity into clear, decisive recommendations that enable the business to move forward with confidence.

• Partners directly with senior executives (SVP/VP/GM level), influencing outcomes on sensitive, business‑critical matters.

• Applies advanced problem‑solving skills to evaluate competing risks, trade‑offs, and priorities in real time.

• Leverages AI and modern legal tools to improve speed, consistency, issue‑spotting, and scalability of legal support.

• Structures transactions and designs legal frameworks that anticipate operational realities, not just contractual theory.

• Ensures compliance with legal, regulatory, company, and operational requirements while maintaining a strong bias toward execution.

• Collaborates cross‑functionally with manufacturing, procurement, logistics, finance, and operations teams to enable end‑to‑end performance.

• Performs these functions individually or through direct reports, as applicable.

• May serve as a member of segment or functional executive leadership teams.

Functional Knowledge

• Demonstrates a deep and practical understanding of complex global operations, supply chain dynamics, and rapidly changing business environments.

• Quickly absorbs new fact patterns and connects legal, operational, and strategic dots.

Business Expertise

• Applies in‑depth understanding of Global Supply Chain, manufacturing, and procurement operations to deliver differentiated, business‑enabling legal solutions.

• Recognized for sound judgment in ambiguous, high‑pressure situations.

Leadership

• Acts as a trusted legal leader to senior management.

• May lead a function, sub‑function, or complex area of responsibility with broad latitude and limited precedent.

• Sets direction through influence, clarity, and credibility rather than process alone.

Problem Solving

• Evaluates high‑complexity, high‑impact business challenges involving multiple stakeholders and competing constraints.

• Develops creative, practical solutions where standard approaches are insufficient.

Impact

• Guided by company strategy and business priorities, materially impacts supply chain continuity, ramp success, and operational execution.

• Recognized internally as an accelerant, not a bottleneck.

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

• Exceptional communicator, capable of distilling complex legal and commercial issues into concise executive‑level guidance.

• Influences and negotiates at the highest levels of the organization, with significant discretion over outcomes.

• Presents and defends sensitive or delicate matters with confidence, clarity, and professionalism.

Additional Expectations

• Demonstrates high ethical standards and full compliance with Applied Materials’ Standards of Business Conduct.

• Comfortable working globally and across time zones; limited travel (~10%).

Additional Information

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Type:

Assignee / Regular

Travel:

Yes, 10% 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.

Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

In addition, Applied endeavors to make our careers site accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us via e-mail at Accommodations_Program@amat.com, or by calling our HR Direct Help Line at 877-612-7547, option 1, and following the prompts to speak to an HR Advisor. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.