Technical Director, Corporate Engagement

ACS; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Optica seeks a Technical Director to grow and sustain its corporate membership by building strong relationships across the global photonics industry. The role blends technical credibility with business acumen, public speaking, and alliance-building to connect members with contacts, market intelligence, and opportunities.

As a visible industry ambassador, you will engage corporate leaders, shape content, recruit influential speakers, moderate discussions, and contribute to long-term membership

Qualifications

• PhD or higher in photonics, optics, physics, electrical engineering, or related field.
• Experience in business-facing roles such as partnerships, product management, or technical marketing.
• Experience engaging corporate members and industry stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with corporate members, prospective members, and ecosystem partners.
• Serve as primary contact for an assigned portfolio and deliver tangible membership value.
• Lead recruitment and growth efforts through outreach, visits, and strategic networking.
• Connect members with contacts, resources, market intelligence, and opportunities.
• Represent Optica at conferences, meetings, and industry events.
• Support program development across executive forums, webinars, and workshops.
• Moderate discussions and ensure content remains relevant and non-promotional.
• Monitor tech trends and share insights to guide program offerings.
• Collaborate with Corporate Engagement, Events, Marketing, and Membership teams.
• Maintain records of interactions using Salesforce and other systems.

Skills

Public speaking

Relationship building

Industry engagement

Strategic thinking

Presentation skills

Networking

Content development

Education

University degree; PhD preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

The Technical Director is responsible for growing and sustaining Optica's corporate membership by building strong relationships across the global photonics industry, understanding member needs, and connecting companies with valuable contacts, market intelligence, and opportunities. The role combines technical credibility, business awareness, public speaking, and relationship-building skills to support Optica's network of more than 600 corporate members. Technical Directors may focus on different industry segments based on their expertise, including integrated photonics, optics, lasers, life sciences, imaging, sensing, quantum technologies, advanced manufacturing, communications, AI infrastructure, defense, and emerging photonic technologies. As technologies increasingly converge, Technical Directors work collaboratively across technical domains while serving as trusted advisors to corporate members.

The position requires proactive engagement with corporate members, prospective members, industry leaders, investors, and ecosystem partners to identify opportunities for collaboration and growth. The Technical Director represents Optica across the global photonics community through member visits, conferences, executive meetings, industry summits, webinars, and other engagement activities. By maintaining a strong understanding of technology trends, market developments, and industry priorities, the Technical Director helps shape relevant content, identify influential speakers, moderate strategic discussions, and ensure that Optica’s programs provide meaningful value to senior decision-makers. Working closely with colleagues across Corporate Engagement, Events, Marketing, and Membership, the Technical Director serves as a visible industry ambassador while contributing to departmental planning, reporting, and long-term membership growth objectives.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Membership and Industry Engagement

• A. Develop and maintain strong relationships with corporate members, prospective members, industry leaders, investors, and ecosystem partners, ensuring alignment with member needs and Optica’s strategic objectives.
• B. Serve as the primary point of contact for an assigned portfolio of corporate members, fostering engagement, identifying opportunities for collaboration, and delivering measurable membership value.
• C. Actively contribute to membership recruitment, retention, and growth efforts through regular outreach, member visits, industry networking, and strategic relationship development.
• D. Identify member challenges, business priorities, and technology interests, and connect companies with relevant contacts, resources, market intelligence, and partnership opportunities across the Optica network.
• E. Represent Optica at industry conferences, exhibitions, executive meetings, corporate visits, and other industry engagement activities.

Content Development and Thought Leadership

• A. Support the development and execution of Optica’s industry-focused programs, including executive forums, industry summits, webinars, workshops, and other corporate engagement initiatives.
• B. Collaborate with industry leaders, corporate members, and ecosystem partners to identify emerging technology trends, market opportunities, and strategic challenges relevant to the global photonics industry.
• C. Identify, recruit, and engage high-quality speakers, moderators, and contributors to ensure Optica programs deliver meaningful value to senior industry decision-makers.
• D. Moderate executive-level discussions, panel sessions, interviews, and webinars, facilitating productive dialogue among industry leaders.
• E. Exercise strong editorial judgment to ensure program content remains relevant, balanced, and focused on industry needs rather than promotional or marketing-driven presentations.

Industry Intelligence and Strategic Insights

• A. Monitor technology developments, market trends, investment activity, competitive dynamics, and industry developments across the photonics ecosystem.
• B. Gather and share industry intelligence that supports member engagement, program development, corporate outreach, and strategic planning activities.
• C. Serve as a technical and market resource for Optica, providing insights to members, staff, partners, investors, media, and other stakeholders.
• D. Contribute to the development of reports, articles, interviews, presentations, and other content that strengthens Optica’s position as a trusted industry resource.

Operations and Collaboration

• A. Collaborate closely with the Corporate Engagement, Events, Marketing, Communications, and Membership teams to ensure successful execution of departmental initiatives and programs.
• B. Maintain accurate records of member interactions, opportunities, and engagement activities using Salesforce and other organizational systems.
• C. Contribute to departmental planning, performance tracking, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• D. Work collaboratively with other Technical Directors to support members whose activities span multiple technology domains and market segments.
• E. Support additional strategic initiatives and special projects that advance Optica’s corporate engagement and membership growth objectives.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

This position requires significant travel, approximately 60-70 days per year, including international travel between the United States and Europe to attend conferences, meet with members, and engage with stakeholders.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• A. University degree (PhD preferred) in photonics, optics, physics, electrical engineering, or a closely related technical field.
• B. Approximately 2–5 years of professional experience in industry, preferably within photonics, semiconductors, telecommunications, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, defense, quantum technologies, or related technology sectors.
• C. Technical knowledge in one or more areas of the photonics ecosystem, with an interest in developing expertise across adjacent technologies and market segments.
• D. Experience in a business-facing role such as business development, strategic partnerships, product management, applications engineering, technical marketing, technology consulting, or a comparable function.
• E. Experience working with commercial organizations, research institutions, government agencies, industry consortia, or other stakeholders within a technology-driven environment.
• F. Experience participating in technical, business, or industry-focused projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• G. Familiarity with the structure, value chain, and key participants of the global photonics industry.
• H. Experience contributing to professional presentations, publications, events, industry initiatives, or customer engagement activities.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• A. Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• B. Strong public speaking and moderation capabilities, including the ability to facilitate executive-level discussions and industry panels.
• C. Exceptional interpersonal and networking skills, with a natural ability to establish trust and build long-term professional relationships.
• D. Strong business acumen and the ability to understand member priorities, market opportunities, and industry challenges.
• E. Sound judgment and critical thinking skills, including the ability to evaluate technical content and distinguish objective information from promotional messaging.
• F. Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a team environment.
• G. Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• H. High levels of integrity, professionalism, discretion, and accountability.
• I. Adaptability and intellectual curiosity, with the ability to quickly learn new technologies, markets, and industry developments.
• J. Proficiency with standard business software, CRM platforms such as Salesforce, AI-assisted productivity tools, and virtual collaboration technologies.

Optica is an equal employment opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy, disability, religion, marital status, veteran's status, personal appearance, political affiliation, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation or any other basis prohibited by law.