General Manager Europe & RoW

VAT Vakuumventile AG; Haag; On-site; CHF 280,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

VAT Vakuumventile AG is seeking a commercially driven and strategically minded General Manager to lead our Europe & RoW business. This role combines executive customer engagement, multi-country leadership, and operational management in a highly international matrix environment.

The majority of the business is based in Europe, with additional responsibility for selected distributor and channel markets globally.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience within semiconductor, vacuum technology, or comparable high-tech industrial environments
• Proven experience leading regional commercial organizations with multi-country responsibility
• Strong understanding of the semiconductor and/or vacuum technology ecosystem in Europe
• Experience managing strategic OEM or key account customer relationships at executive level
• Demonstrated ownership of regional business performance, including forecasting, financial reviews, and operational management
• Strong commercial leadership capability combined with strategic business thinking
• Experience working successfully within global matrix organizations
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence across functions and stakeholders
• Strong coaching and talent development mindset
• Entrepreneurial and hands‑on mentality with the ability to drive execution pragmatically
• Comfortable balancing strategic topics with operational business management
• Experience driving commercial excellence, process improvements, or business transformation initiatives
• Technically credible with the ability to engage confidently in customer and engineering discussions
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across cultures and organizational levels
• Recognized as a charismatic and authentic leader who builds trust and naturally connects with people across organizational levels and cultures
• Fast thinker with the ability to quickly assess complex situations, make sound decisions, and translate strategy into action
• Highly execution-oriented, combining pace, pragmatism, and accountability to consistently deliver results
• Passionate about developing people and building high‑performing teams, with a proven track record of coaching future leaders
• Resilient and adaptable, thriving in dynamic environments and leading effectively through change

Responsibilities

• Lead the Europe & RoW commercial organization across multiple countries and business units
• Own regional business performance, including revenue growth, forecasting, budgeting, and operational business reviews
• Drive profitable growth across Semiconductor, Advanced Industrial Vacuum (ADV), and Global Service business areas
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with strategic customers and partners
• Act as an executive escalation point and trusted customer interface for key accounts
• Translate global business unit strategies into effective regional go-to-market execution plans
• Drive pipeline quality, field activity, customer engagement, and commercial KPI discipline across the organization
• Strengthen market coverage models, territory segmentation, and customer prioritization strategies
• Partner closely with cross-functional stakeholders across Sales, Service, Operations, IT, Sales Operations, and Business Units
• Identify opportunities to improve business efficiency, digitalization, and operational effectiveness
• Support the development of new commercial and service business models to accelerate growth
• Develop and strengthen leadership capabilities and succession pipelines within the regional organization
• Foster a collaborative, pragmatic, and high-performance culture within an international matrix environment
• Lead through influence, alignment, and accountability rather than hierarchy alone
• Stay close to customers and teams across the region through regular field engagement and international collaboration
• Act as a highly visible leader, engaging directly with customers and teams to create alignment, momentum, and business impact

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive communication

Job description

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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.

Business Unit: Global Sales & Marketing
Reports to: Senior Vice President Global Sales

We are looking for a commercially driven and strategically minded General Manager to lead our Europe & Rest of World business. This role combines executive customer engagement, multi-country commercial leadership, operational business management, and organizational development in a highly international matrix environment.

The majority of the business is based in Europe, with additional responsibility for selected distributor and channel markets globally. The role plays a key part in driving commercial excellence, operational effectiveness, and future growth initiatives across VAT’s business units.

We are seeking a visible and inspiring business leader who combines strategic thinking with a strong execution mindset. The successful candidate builds followership through credibility, presence, and results, while creating an environment where people can grow, perform, and succeed.

Your Responsibilities

• Lead the Europe & RoW commercial organization across multiple countries and business units
• Own regional business performance, including revenue growth, forecasting, budgeting, and operational business reviews
• Drive profitable growth across Semiconductor, Advanced Industrial Vacuum (ADV), and Global Service business areas
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with strategic customers and partners
• Act as an executive escalation point and trusted customer interface for key accounts
• Translate global business unit strategies into effective regional go-to-market execution plans
• Drive pipeline quality, field activity, customer engagement, and commercial KPI discipline across the organization
• Strengthen market coverage models, territory segmentation, and customer prioritization strategies
• Partner closely with cross-functional stakeholders across Sales, Service, Operations, IT, Sales Operations, and Business Units
• Identify opportunities to improve business efficiency, digitalization, and operational effectiveness
• Support the development of new commercial and service business models to accelerate growth
• Develop and strengthen leadership capabilities and succession pipelines within the regional organization
• Foster a collaborative, pragmatic, and high-performance culture within an international matrix environment
• Lead through influence, alignment, and accountability rather than hierarchy alone
• Stay close to customers and teams across the region through regular field engagement and international collaboration
• Act as a highly visible leader, engaging directly with customers and teams to create alignment, momentum, and business impact

Your Profile

• 10+ years of leadership experience within semiconductor, vacuum technology, or comparable high-tech industrial environments
• Proven experience leading regional commercial organizations with multi-country responsibility
• Strong understanding of the semiconductor and/or vacuum technology ecosystem in Europe
• Experience managing strategic OEM or key account customer relationships at executive level
• Demonstrated ownership of regional business performance, including forecasting, financial reviews, and operational management
• Strong commercial leadership capability combined with strategic business thinking
• Experience working successfully within global matrix organizations
• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence across functions and stakeholders
• Strong coaching and talent development mindset
• Entrepreneurial and hands‑on mentality with the ability to drive execution pragmatically
• Comfortable balancing strategic topics with operational business management
• Experience driving commercial excellence, process improvements, or business transformation initiatives
• Technically credible with the ability to engage confidently in customer and engineering discussions
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across cultures and organizational levels
• Recognized as a charismatic and authentic leader who builds trust and naturally connects with people across organizational levels and cultures
• Fast thinker with the ability to quickly assess complex situations, make sound decisions, and translate strategy into action
• Highly execution-oriented, combining pace, pragmatism, and accountability to consistently deliver results
• Passionate about developing people and building high‑performing teams, with a proven track record of coaching future leaders
• Resilient and adaptable, thriving in dynamic environments and leading effectively through change

Additional Information

• International travel required (~30%)
• Main business focus: Europe, with selected distributor/channel markets globally

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 .