Director of IT, Trade Applications

Who We Are

Applied Materials is the 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 work beyond the cutting-edge, continuously pushing the boundaries of science and engineering to make possible the next generations of technology, join us to Make Possible® a Better Future. 

What We Offer

Salary:

$189,000.00 - $260,000.00

Location:

Santa Clara,CA

At Applied, we prioritize the well-being of you and your family and encourage you to bring your best self to work. Your happiness, health, and resiliency are at the core of our benefits and wellness programs. Our robust total rewards package makes it easier to take care of your whole self and your whole family. 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. 

You’ll also 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 about careers at Applied.

Key responsibilities:

• Serve as the strategic interface  with business unit or GIS  Sales, Operations, Engineering, Service and Finance domains for the purpose of Business Intelligence, big data and AI/ML  technology strategy development, solution discovery, service management, and project portfolio management .  Manage personnel serving as business unit or function sub-group interfaces.
• Develop and maintain relationships with strategic solution providers to keep abreast of industry technology trends and developments. Collaborate with  strategic partners, to identify, evaluate and recommend new business process  and business application solutions to address emerging business needs, and develop product and project road maps. Serves as subject matter eסpert and manages personnel  performing the build, test and deployment of complex business application solutions. Ensures these solutions are technically sound, cost effective and adhere to accepted industry best practices. 
• Directs personnel responsible for the development and execution of application service strategy and life cycle road map. Accountable for ensuring adherence to service management processes and procedures, and for meeting performance, availability, and customer service level agreement targets. Drives continuous improvements of services leveraging data, metrics and technology tools. Responsible for defining and managing the service cost structure and life cycle .
• Plans and manages personnel to deliver project and support service in area of responsibility within allocated budget. Develops project, service and cost center budgets. Drive development of service area cost model optimization and implementation of optimization initiatives. Ensure timely renewal of maintenance and subscription contracts.
• Contributes to the development and implementation of  GIS project management, software application development, testing, service management, change management, RCA  and other relevant process, standards, governance and control changes and improvements.  May manage execution of sox controls and testing, and support internal and external audits. 
• Plan and manage  large, highly complex  cross functional projects  to ensure effective and efficient execution in line with guardrails of scope, timeline, budget and quality. Directs project managers managing medium to large scale projects.
• Manages business application contingent worker strategic vendor relationships and delivery performance.   Ensures  contingent workforce utilization is optimized. Directs activities with strategic providers and GIS Vendor and Resource Management  to identify gaps and opportunities and to recommend strategies for improvement.

Functional Knowledge:

• Demonstrates broad and comprehensive understanding of different systems, theories and practices.

Business Expertise:

• Applies broad industry and commercial awareness to drive financial and operational performance across business unit, department or sub-functions.

Leadership:

• Leads through subordinate managers of managers; executes segment/functional business plans and contributes to the development of segment/functional strategy.

Problem Solving:

• Directs the resolution of highly complex or unusual business problems applying advanced analytical thought and judgment.

Impact:

• Guided by segment/functional  strategy, impacts results of a department, business unit or sub-function or facilitates the work done by other segments/functions by providing support to impact the business.

Interpersonal Skills:

• Negotiates and influences the opinions of others at the senior executive level and in external organizations; exercises sensitivity to the audience.

Responsibilities:·Oversee the strategic direction and management of Global Trade applications, ensuring alignment with business objectives for trade and logistics.·Lead a team of Solution Architects and Project Managers to deliver high-quality IT solutions, including SAP and data analytics platforms.·Develop and implement IT policies, procedures, and best practices, while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.·Collaborate with senior leadership to define IT strategy and roadmap, and gather requirements to design system architecture.·Lead the technical design and integration of SAP applications and other data analytics platforms, focusing on scalability, security, and performance.·Provide technical guidance and expertise to development teams, staying updated on emerging technologies and industry trends.·Plan and execute projects related to Global Trade applications, coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure timely, within scope, and budget delivery.·Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, and status reports, managing project risks, issues, and dependencies.·Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among project team members and stakeholders.Qualifications:·Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in IT, with significant exposure to global trade and supply chain applications.
• At least 5 years in a leadership role, managing cross-functional IT projects and teams.
• Proven record as a Solution Architect and/or Project Manager within trade or supply chain environments.

·Strong knowledge of SAP modules relevant to trade and logistics, such as SAP GTS·Experience implementing SAP GTS E4H to integrate with SAP S4 and/or ECC·Experience with data analytics platforms and their integration with SAP.·Proven leadership and team management skills.·Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.·Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior leadership.·Familiarity with regulatory requirements and industry standards for trade and logistics.

Technical Skills:

Global Trade Applications:

• Expertise in global trade management software and systems.
• Knowledge of compliance, tariffs, and international trade regulations.

SAP Expertise:

• In-depth knowledge of SAP modules related to trade, such as SAP GTS (Global Trade Services).
• Experience with integrating SAP with other enterprise systems (ERP, CRM, TMS, etc.).

Data Analytics Platforms:

• Proficiency with BI tools like Tableau, Power BI, or SAP Analytics Cloud for reporting and analytics.
• Understanding of data warehousing and big data technologies.

Enterprise Architecture:

• Ability to design and implement scalable IT architectures for trade applications.
• Familiarity with architecture frameworks like TOGAF.

Project Management:

• Expertise in Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid project management methodologies.
• Proficiency with project management tools such as JIRA, Microsoft Project, etc.

Cloud and Infrastructure:

• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and their SAAS-based trade solutions.
• Understanding of IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and best practices.

Leadership and Management Skills:

Strategic Vision:

• Ability to develop and implement IT strategies that align with global trade objectives.
• Experience in leading digital transformation initiatives within trade operations.

Team Leadership:

• Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing IT teams.
• Strong mentoring and coaching skills.

Stakeholder Management:

• Excellent skills in managing relationships with senior executives, stakeholders, and vendors.
• Ability to communicate IT strategies and solutions effectively to non-technical audiences.

Financial Acumen:

• Understanding of budgeting, cost management, and financial impacts of IT initiatives.
• Ability to assess the financial aspects of trade compliance and operations.

Change Management:

• Experience in driving organizational change and managing resistance to new systems and processes.

Soft Skills:

Analytical Thinking:

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze and optimize complex trade processes.

Communication:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to articulate complex technical concepts to various audiences.

Negotiation and Influence:

• Strong negotiation skills to manage vendor relationships and contracts.
• Ability to influence decision-making at all organizational levels.

Adaptability:

• Ability to adapt to rapidly changing environments and manage multiple priorities effectively.

Additional Information

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Type:

Assignee / Regular

Travel:

Yes, 25% 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 [email protected], 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.