Senior Business Development Manager for Connected Computing Sector - #45245

imec

imec is the world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. The combination of our widely acclaimed leadership in microchip technology is what makes us unique. By leveraging our world class infrastructure and local and global ecosystem of partners across a multitude of industries, we create ground-breaking innovation in a wide range of application domains.

What you will do

As a Senior Business Development Manager within imec’s Connected Computing business enablement team, you will drive business growth and long‑term partnerships for imec’s Optical Interconnects and/or System Scaling portfolio offerings. You will translate these offerings and their go‑to‑market strategies into tangible customer engagements and revenue‑generating collaborations.

You are accountable for the full business development lifecycle: from identifying leads and shaping opportunities, through deal structuring and negotiation, to closing R&D and innovation partnerships. Your objective is to sustainably grow revenue and ecosystem impact for selected portfolio offerings within imec’s Connected Computing Sector.

You will actively contribute to the go‑to‑market strategy of the portfolio offerings, and establish, implement, and steer regional sales plans in line with agreed priorities. In your daily work, you will collaborate closely with portfolio offering teams, strategic partnership managers, IP and legal teams to land collaboration projects leveraging imec’s full range of business models, such as:

• Pre-competitive R&D Programs
• Bilateral R&D collaborations
• Design and Foundry Services

Your responsibilities include:

• Identifying and prioritizing target customers relevant to Optical Interconnects and/or System Scaling.
• Shaping the business offering, including value proposition, pricing framework, business model, and IP model in close alignment with the sector portfolio offering team.
• Contributing to and executing the go‑to‑market plan, including regional focus and account strategies.
• Defining and coordinating marketing actions together with the marketing team to support customer engagement and lead generation.
• Managing deal negotiation and closure, working hand‑in‑hand with technical, IP, and legal teams.
• Representing imec’s portfolio offerings at industry conferences and ecosystem events, and actively participating in relevant networking groups

What we do for you

As a Senior Business Development Manager at imec, you will represent a global research institution with the largest semiconductor ecosystem. You will have the opportunity to contribute to technology roadmaps across all technology areas from a business perspective. You will represent an organization that builds industry partnerships with the goal of making a positive societal impact.

You will interact with senior management decision-makers, industry leaders, and experts to build collaborations that shape the future. This position offers flexibility, working in a multidisciplinary team in an international culture, and opportunities for continuous learning.

In exchange for your skills, passion, and expertise, you will join an organization with various challenges. Our working environment provides opportunities to take initiative. This is your chance to contribute to technology that will influence future society. Your contributions and those of your colleagues make imec prominent in its field.

We offer you the opportunity to join one of the world’s premier research centers in nanotechnology at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. With your talent, passion and expertise, you’ll become part of a team that makes the impossible possible. Together, we shape the technology that will determine the society of tomorrow.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and proud of our open, multicultural, and informal working environment with ample possibilities to take initiative and show responsibility. We commit to supporting and guiding you in this process; not only with words but also with tangible actions. Through imec.academy, 'our corporate university', we actively invest in your development to further your technical and personal growth.

We are aware that your valuable contribution makes imec a top player in its field. Your energy and commitment are therefore appreciated by means of a market appropriate salary with many fringe benefits.

Who you are

• You hold a Master’s degree in technology, engineering, or a related field, combined with strong business acumen and a passion for deep‑tech innovation (PhD preferred but not required).
• You bring 15+ years of experience in business development, sales, and/or technology‑driven innovation environments.
• You demonstrate leadership and credibility in connected computing related industries; experience such as in silicon photonics, semiconductor process technology, chip design, chip system architecture, HW-SW co‑design is a strong asset.
• You are comfortable navigating multi‑stakeholder and multi‑level customer environments, including senior technical and executive decision‑makers.
• Familiarity with Miller Heiman sales methodology and tools is considered a plus.
• You bring or can rapidly build a strong network in the Optical Interconnects and/or System Scaling ecosystems.
• You think strategically, communicate effectively, and negotiate confidently at senior executive level.
• You are a team player, working closely with R&D teams, portfolio management, IP, legal, and regional account teams.
• You have excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills in English; additional European languages are an asset.
• Location: Leuven, Belgium. Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (up to ~30%).