Sr / Manager, Business Development and Applications - SEA

PURPOSE STATEMENT:

This role will be responsible to accelerate regional growth of emerging businesses across SEA by identifying, developing, and scaling opportunities in sectors such as Advanced Optics (AO) / Packaging and Wafer (P&W), and Life Sciences.  

Reporting tot he Director of BD & Market Expansion, SEA, this role focuses on establishing new revenue streams, developing market entry strategies, and building strategic partnerships, while providing application engineering leadership/support to translate customer needs into commercially viable solutions, with Singapore as the regional hub.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Business Development: Identify growth opportunities in SEA (Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand) and build pipeline in AO/Packaging and Wafer and life sciences, including identifying new applications and/or unmet customer needs that can be addressed through Corning technologies.
• Strategic Execution: Develop and implement market entry frameworks, pilot programs, and GTM strategies.  Conduct competitive analysis, market intelligence, and customer mapping.
• Customer Engagement: Lead end-to-end customer engagement from market discovery through commercialization, including applications and feasibility discussions, translating product capabilities into compelling value propositions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the commercial and technical interface and work with sales, application engineering, business operations, legal, and finance teams to advance opportunities, including preparing documentation for RFIs/RFPs/RFQs.
• Budget Oversight: Manage budgets and track growth across assigned MAPs, refining plans with regional sales leadership based on progress and insights.
• Internal Support: Develop business cases, pricing strategies, and account growth proposals.  Own technical-commercial alignment and ensure smooth handover to execution and/or applications and/or account teams.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Serve as regional contact for emerging businesses and guide junior BD and country teams.
• Reporting & Insights: Provide actionable insights, and recommendations to regional leadership to shape strategy and track progress.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Context/Environment:

• Successful candidate must showcase business acumen, networking skills, sales orientation, communication abilities, analytical thinking and customer service skills.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience Required:

• Bachelor's degree in technical discipline (STEM), or business administration; master's degree is advantageous.
• Minimum 8+ years of experience in technical industry in customer-facing roles such as strategy, sales, business development, or product line management.
• Experience in semiconductor or advanced materials industries.
• Proven track record in new business creation (not just account management).
• Ability to engage effectively in technical and application level discussions with customers and internal engineering teams.
• Comfortableoperating in ambiguity and early-stage markets.
• Strong regional exposure across Southeast Asia.
• Based in Singapore with willingness to travel regionally.

Key Success Factors:

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Business-savvy, detail-oriented, and persuasive communicator.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and relationship builder.
• Disciplined, proactive, and independent.
• Aligned with MNC business conduct; adaptable to matrix organizations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and supports marketing activities.

Working Relationships:

• Internal:    Director of BD & Market Expansion, Sales Directors/ Managers, Global/ Regional Account Managers, PLMs, Application Engineering Managers, Customer Service Managers.
• External:    Customers, consultants, end users, vendors, and channel partners.