Technical Director, Corporate Engagement

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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…