Project/Program Manager

Productivity Leader

Applied Materials is the global leader in materials science and engineering solutions that are at the foundation of virtually every new semiconductor chip and advanced display in the world. Join us and push the boundaries of materials science and engineering in a company at the foundation of the electronics industry. The work we do together advances the world's technology.

The SPO organization is seeking execution-driven productivity leaders who combine strong field credibility with advanced analytics and program management expertise. These leaders are expected to operate at the intersection of data insights and field execution, enabling scalable and sustainable productivity impact across the organization. In this role, productivity leaders will drive global initiatives end-to-end, starting from data-driven opportunity identification, through prioritization and structured execution, and into long-term sustainment.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate complex field and operational data into actionable insights and improvement opportunities.
• Build and manage a prioritized pipeline of productivity initiatives aligned with strategic business objectives.
• Lead cross-functional teams across regions and functions to drive execution and achieve measurable productivity gains.
• Ensure disciplined program management, governance, and accountability throughout implementation.
• Develop scalable adoption mechanisms, including standard work processes, performance dashboards, and structured change management frameworks.
• Embed improvements into daily operations to ensure long-term sustainability and continuous performance improvement.
• Provide executive-level reporting and visibility into initiative progress, risks, and business outcomes.
• Facilitate governance and decision-making forums to support prioritization, alignment, and value realization.
• Track, measure, and communicate the impact of productivity initiatives across the organization.
• Drive sustainable, repeatable productivity improvements that can be scaled globally.

Education & Background:

Bachelor's degree in one of the following disciplines:

• Industrial Engineering
• Operations Management
• Mechanical Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Data Science
• Analytics or a related field

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
• Project or Program Management certifications (e.g., PMP, Agile)

Experience Requirements

3-5 years in:

• Operations
• Service Operations
• Manufacturing
• Industrial Engineering
• Productivity Improvement
• Continuous Improvement (CI)

Proven experience in:

• Cycle time reduction and cost optimization initiatives
• Process improvement and Lean implementation
• Leading cross-functional projects and transformation initiatives
• Strong data orientation:
• Working with dashboards (Power BI, Tableau)
• Translating data into actionable improvements
• Change management & stakeholder influencing without authority

Preferred / Differentiating Experience

• Experience leading global programs across multiple regions
• Exposure to field or frontline operations
• Experience driving adoption of data and productivity tools
• Proven track record of leading end-to-end transformation initiatives, from strategy and analysis through implementation and sustainment

Time Type: Full time

Employee Type: Assignee / Regular

Travel: Yes, 20% 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.

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.