Senior Director, Commercial Transactions, Legal (Santa Clara)

Primary Duties & ResponsibilitiesLead and develop a global team of commercial transactions attorneys and legal professionals.Serve as a strategic legal advisor to executive leadership and business management on significant commercial initiatives.Draft, negotiate, and advise on highly complex commercial agreements, including:Supply and purchase agreementsSales agreementsManufacturing and contract manufacturing agreementsCapacity reservation agreementsStrategic sourcing arrangementsDistribution and channel agreementsConfidentiality, services, and other strategic commercial contractsPartner closely with Sales, Procurement, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Executive Leadership.Provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice balancing commercial objectives with appropriate legal risk management.Develop and implement scalable contracting processes, templates, and playbooks that improve efficiency and consistency across the organization.Leverage artificial intelligence tools and emerging technologies to improve legal operations, increase productivity, and enhance the quality and speed of legal services.Mentor, coach, and develop attorneys and legal professionals across multiple regions.Collaborate effectively across global teams, cultures, and time zones.Education & ExperienceJuris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.Minimum of 15 years of legal experience.Minimum of 5 years of in-house experience in a commercial transaction’s legal role.In-house legal experience must have been gained within the electronics and/or semiconductor manufacturing industries.Demonstrated experience leading and supervising global legal teams.Extensive experience negotiating and drafting highly sophisticated commercial agreements involving complex products, strategic customers, and international transactions.Exceptional contract drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.Strong executive presence and ability to influence senior business leaders.Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex matters simultaneously while consistently delivering high-quality work under demanding timelines.Deep understanding of:Electronics and semiconductor manufacturing supply chainsContract manufacturing and outsourced manufacturing modelsProduct qualification and change management requirementsGlobal sourcing and procurementManufacturing operations and commercial practicesStrong business judgment and practical, solution-oriented approach to legal counseling.Willingness and ability to travel occasionally, including international travel.AI-First MindsetAt Coherent, we believe that artificial intelligence is transforming how legal work is performed. We are seeking candidates who embrace this transformation. The successful candidate must demonstrate an AI-first approach to legal practice, including thoughtfully incorporating AI tools into legal drafting, contract review, negotiation preparation, knowledge management, workflow automation, and legal operations. Candidates should be enthusiastic adopters of emerging technologies, continuously seek opportunities to improve efficiency through responsible AI use, and be comfortable leading teams through the evolution of modern legal practice.SkillsExperience supporting a global public company.Experience negotiating with S&P 500 or multinational OEM customers and suppliersExperience leading commercial contracting transformation initiatives.Experience supporting manufacturing operations across Asia, Europe, and North America.Collaborative and team-oriented.Decisive and commercially pragmatic.Exceptionally organized.Comfortable operating with urgency and competing priorities.Resilient under pressure.Shows up with executive presence and can confidently build trust across leadership teams when tensions are high.Curious, innovative, and continuously learning.A trusted advisor who earns credibility through sound judgment and practical solutions.Passionate about leveraging technology and AI to deliver exceptional legal support.Working ConditionsPrimarily works in a professional office environment, with flexibility to collaborate virtually across global teams and time zones.Operates in a fast-paced setting requiring management of multiple high-priority and confidential legal matters under tight deadlines.Occasional domestic and international travel may be required to support business operations, negotiations, and team collaboration.Physical RequirementsAbility to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through virtual meeting platforms.Ability to travel occasionally and move through office, manufacturing, and customer locations as needed.Safety RequirementsAll employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.Quality and Environmental ResponsibilitiesDepending 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 CommitmentEnsure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:Integrity – Create an Environment of TrustCollaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of IdeasAccountability – Own the Process and the OutcomeRespect – Recognize the Value in EveryoneEnthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in WorkCoherent 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 View email address on apply.placed-app.com 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. Full timePosting Date: 2026-07-24