Global Account Manager

Location:

San Jose, CA, US

Employment Type: Permanent

About VAT Group

At VAT, we change the world with vacuum solutions. As the world’s leading supplier of high-performance vacuum valves, we have been driving innovation for more than 60 years. With over 3,200 employees worldwide, we operate from our headquarters in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania, as well as sales and service hubs around the world. We are guided by our passions integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation – always working together as #oneVAT.

Joining us means becoming part of a passionate, international team where your voice is heard, your ideas matter, and your career growth is supported.

Your Impact

VAT is seeking an experienced Global Account Manager (GAM) based at our U.S. headquarters in San Jose, California to lead one of VAT’s largest and most strategically critical global customer relationships: Applied Materials.

This role is a key member of the VAT U.S. Management Team and carries direct responsibility for the commercial success, strategic growth, and long-term customer partnership of a leading global semiconductor WFE OEM.

You will lead a globally matrixed organization spanning sales, applications engineering, operations, service, finance, and product management to execute VAT’s global account strategy and drive business growth across regions.

This role requires both strong commercial leadership and deep semiconductor industry expertise. The ideal candidate either brings direct experience working with Applied Materials or has a strong track record within the semiconductor/WFE ecosystem combined with deep technical understanding of wafer fabrication processes, vacuum technology, and semiconductor system architectures.

What You’ll Do

Own and drive the global commercial strategy for one of VAT’s most important semiconductor accounts
Develop and execute growth strategies to increase market share and share of wallet
Lead executive customer engagement and strategic commercial negotiations
Drive specification wins and design-ins across next-generation semiconductor platforms
Translate market intelligence and technology trends into actionable account strategies
Build trusted relationships across engineering, sourcing, operations, and executive leadership
Lead cross-functional collaboration across global regions and business units
Coordinate account execution across the U.S., Asia, and Europe
Partner closely with VAT headquarters in Switzerland and global product organizations
Ensure forecasting discipline, operational excellence, and high customer satisfaction

What We’re Looking For

Proven experience managing strategic global accounts within the semiconductor industry
Direct Applied Materials experience strongly preferred
Alternatively: strong semiconductor/WFE industry background with deep technical understanding
Strong understanding of wafer fabrication processes, vacuum technology, and semiconductor systems
Demonstrated success driving commercial growth and executive customer relationships
Experience operating within complex global matrix organizations
Strong negotiation, communication, and leadership skills
Bachelor’s degree required; engineering or technical discipline strongly preferred
MBA or advanced degree is a plus
Willingness to travel globally (~30%)

Compensation

The expected base salary range for this position is $200,000 – $240,000 annually. In addition, this role participates in a competitive performance-based incentive plan, with total on-target earnings expected to exceed $300,000+, as well as comprehensive benefits. Final compensation will depend on experience, qualifications, and overall fit.

Our commitment to inclusion, fairness and equal opportunities

We believe in meaningful careers, continuous learning, and equal opportunities for everyone to drive our innovation and success. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace. If you have concerns, our compliance channel is available at our website. All reports are handled with strict confidentiality and in accordance with our Code of Conduct.