Vice President / General Manager, Fab Operations

CONFIDENTIAL RETAINED SEARCH | US SEMICONDUCTORS

We are conducting a confidential, retained search for a fab operations vice president at a well-established US semiconductor company. The Vice President / General Manager of Fab Operations will own the P&L and operational execution of a wafer fabrication facility. Therefore, we seek executives with 20+ years of progressive semiconductor manufacturing experience.

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

ABOUT THIS SEARCH

Top Notch Finders holds an exclusive, strictly confidential retained search for a Vice President / General Manager of Fab Operations at a well-established organization in the US semiconductor industry. Because we must protect our client and every candidate, we disclose the company’s identity and the location of its operations only to qualified candidates under a confidentiality agreement. In addition, Top Notch Finders receives and manages every inquiry and application directly.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The VP/GM of Fab Operations owns full P&L and operational execution of a semiconductor wafer fabrication facility. As a result, this executive leads 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, and each one needs dedicated senior operating leadership. In addition, a four-decade contraction of the domestic semiconductor workforce has created acute scarcity of executives with 15 to 25 years of fab operating experience. As a result, this is one of the industry’s most difficult searches to fill.

For a deeper look at how we evaluate and hire senior leaders in this industry, read our The 2026 San Diego Semiconductor Executive Search Hiring Guide. It also explains our approach to executive search for fab and operations leadership roles.

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 across 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, and coordinate 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.
• A 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.
• A bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field (required); an advanced degree (preferred).
• A strong safety, quality, and regulatory compliance track record.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND HOW TO APPLY

Because this is a discreet, retained engagement, we will never present your candidacy to any organization without your explicit prior authorization. In addition, the hiring company cannot see any application at this stage.

If you are an accomplished fab operations executive and want to be considered as our next fab operations vice president, please submit your resume in confidence through the Top Notch Finders website. Also, reference search code TNF-SC-FAB-2026 in your submission. However, do not include export-controlled technical data or other proprietary information of any kind in your application materials. Finally, we will contact only the candidates whose backgrounds align closely with the mandate.