Vice President / General Manager, Fab Operations

CONFIDENTIAL RETAINED SEARCH | US SEMICONDUCTORS

Search Reference: TNF-SC-FAB-2026 | Fab Leadership Mandate, US Semiconductors

ABOUT THIS SEARCH

Top Notch Finders has been retained on an exclusive and strictly confidential basis to identify a VP / General Manager of Fab Operations for a well-established organization in the United States semiconductor industry. To protect the interests of our client and of every candidate who engages with us, the identity of the company and the location of its operations are disclosed only to qualified candidates under a confidentiality agreement. All inquiries and applications are received and managed solely by Top Notch Finders.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The VP/GM of Fab Operations owns full P&L and operational execution of a semiconductor wafer fabrication facility, leading production output, capital equipment utilization, safety, and workforce management across a multi-billion-dollar manufacturing asset.

MARKET CONTEXT

New CHIPS Act-funded mega-fabs are entering ramp phases simultaneously across multiple U.S. regions, each requiring dedicated senior operating leadership. A four-decade contraction of the domestic semiconductor workforce has created acute scarcity of executives with 15 to 25 years of fab operating experience, making this one of the industry’s most difficult searches to fill.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Direct day-to-day fab operations including wafer starts, throughput, capacity planning, and cost management to meet production and yield targets.
• Own the fab’s P&L, capital budget, and operating expense management, ensuring efficient use of multi-billion-dollar manufacturing assets.
• Lead cross-functional teams across process engineering, equipment engineering, manufacturing, quality, and EHS.
• Manage new fab ramp-up and technology transfer, coordinating with process integration and equipment suppliers to accelerate time-to-volume production.
• Partner with corporate leadership on workforce planning, staffing strategy, and integration of AI-driven fab operations and predictive maintenance tools.
• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards across the facility.
• Report operational performance, risk, and capital allocation decisions to executive leadership and the board.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• 20+ years of progressive semiconductor manufacturing experience, including direct P&L ownership of a fab facility.
• Proven track record managing assets valued at $10 billion or more.
• Demonstrated success leading yield ramps at advanced technology nodes.
• Deep knowledge of fab operations across multiple process technologies and nodes.
• Experience integrating AI-driven operations and advanced-packaging processes into fab workflows.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Strong safety, quality, and regulatory compliance track record.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND HOW TO APPLY

This is a discreet, retained engagement. Your candidacy will never be presented to any organization without your explicit prior authorization, and no application will be visible to the hiring company at this stage. Accomplished fab operations executives are invited to submit a resume in confidence through the Top Notch Finders website. Please reference search code TNF-SC-FAB-2026 in your submission. Do not include export-controlled technical data or other proprietary information of any kind in your application materials. Only candidates whose backgrounds align closely with the mandate will be contacted.