Director – Korea Head of Global Workplace & Infrastructure - Gwi

Who We Are

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. The equipment that we create and service is essential to advancing AI and accelerating the commercialization of next-generation semiconductor chips. 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. 

What We Offer

Location:

Bundang,KOR

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

Applied Materials is entering a period of significant growth across Korea, with increased demand for advanced manufacturing, R&D, cleanroom, logistics, customer-facing, and workplace infrastructure.

At the same time, the company is modernizing its global workplace and services portfolio to better support business growth, operational resilience, employee experience, and long-term scalability.

The Director, Korea Global Workplace and Infrastructure will lead the country’s GWI organization and facilities portfolio across all Korea locations. This role has country-level accountability for the full asset lifecycle, including planning, transactions, design, construction, operations, and disposition.

The portfolio includes manufacturing, service and logistics sites, complex cleanroom R&D labs, and customer-facing office environments. The Director will also lead major capital programs that may exceed $100M.

As a member of the GWI APAC leadership team, this leader will partner closely with business unit executives, regional and global GWI leaders, and functional partners across Real Estate, EHS, Security, IT, Finance, Legal, Procurement, and HR. Success will require translating business requirements into executable workplace and infrastructure plans, building strong stakeholder alignment, and driving measurable year-over-year improvements in performance, efficiency, cost effectiveness, and service quality.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the GWI APAC leadership team to develop and execute a multi-year Korea portfolio strategy aligned to business growth, GWI priorities, financial plans, operating requirements, and long-term workplace and infrastructure objectives.
• Lead the full lifecycle of real estate, workplace, infrastructure, and site services across the Korea portfolio, including site selection, transactions, design, construction project management, commissioning, operations, and ongoing facilities management.
• Own Korea GWI capital plans, annual operating expense plans, and forecasts. Identify and deliver cost-efficiency opportunities in partnership with Finance, Procurement, business stakeholders, and strategic suppliers.
• Use KPIs, service-level expectations, business reviews, and formal performance management processes to drive vendor accountability, address performance gaps, and ensure continuous improvement in service delivery, reliability, safety, and cost effectiveness.
• Accountable for site operations across the Korea portfolio, including technical facilities operations, equipment maintenance, infrastructure reliability, workplace services, food and beverage, janitorial, reception, office supplies, and other employee-facing services.
• Partner with site leadership teams to understand business needs, prioritize requests, resolve issues, and ensure a strong site-level communications plan that supports employee experience and operational transparency.
• Establish governance mechanisms that secure timely alignment, decisions, and trade-off resolution for GWI-related strategies, investments, and initiatives.
• Challenge the status quo and champion innovation that improves GWI’s ability to deliver safe, reliable, scalable, and cost-effective workplace and infrastructure solutions across Korea and the broader region.
• Apply GWI standards, guidelines, and best practices while effectively leveraging internal experts and third-party partners to deliver office planning, facilities operations, programs, and projects consistent with agreed service levels, budgets, compliance requirements, and global expectations.
• Drive Korea GWI planning and operating rhythms that synchronize portfolio strategy, financial planning, operational execution, and business reviews with regional and global GWI cadences.
• Build effective partnerships with key functions, including IT, Procurement, Security, Finance, Legal, HR, EHS, Real Estate, and regional business leaders to ensure integrated planning and execution.
• Develop trusted relationships and a regular engagement rhythm with business unit executives and site leaders to align priorities, manage trade-offs, and ensure GWI plans support business objectives at each Korea location.
• Ensure GWI compliance with statutory requirements, reporting obligations, Applied Materials policies, internal controls, and data integrity expectations across the Korea portfolio.
• Provide strong leadership and direction to the Korea GWI organization by coaching, developing, and managing team members. Collaborate closely with vendors, business leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver projects successfully and support the continued growth

Success Profile

• Ability to translate strategic insight into operational plans that improve performance, reliability, employee experience, and cost effectiveness in complex environments.
• Comfortable operating across the full leadership spectrum, from hands-on issue resolution to long-range strategic planning and executive engagement.
• Ability to lead through ambiguity, balance competing priorities, and make sound decisions in a fast-moving, matrixed global environment.
• Strong business judgment, financial acumen, and ability to evaluate trade-offs across cost, schedule, risk, quality, compliance, and stakeholder impact.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and partner effectively across a highly matrixed organization, including business executives, regional leaders, global functions, and external partners.
• Executive communication skills, including the ability to clearly articulate business rationale, influence decisions, and build alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and change leadership skills, with the ability to build trust, establish operating rhythms, and maintain disciplined execution.
• Commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, and change leadership that advances GWI’s mission and improves the workplace and infrastructure experience for employees and business partners.

Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Finance, Business Management, Real Estate, Construction Management, Facilities Management, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in real estate, construction, facilities operations, workplace services, infrastructure planning, or related fields.
• Experience leading multi-location teams or portfolios in a technology, semiconductor, advanced manufacturing, R&D, or similarly complex operating environment.
• Experience across multiple phases of the facility lifecycle, including planning, transactions, design, construction, operations, and portfolio optimization.
• Demonstrated track record of driving continuous improvement in facility performance, reliability, safety, service quality, employee experience, and cost effectiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to lead employees, contractors, vendors, and virtual teams across a multinational organization.
• Proven collaboration and influencing skills across GWI, IT, Procurement, Security, Finance, Legal, HR, EHS, business units, and other peer organizations to deliver exceptional service, resolve issues, and drive cross-functional outcomes.

Additional Information

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Type:

Assignee / Regular

Travel:

Yes, 20% of the Time

Relocation Eligible:

No

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.