Head of Research and Development (R&D): Our client, a leading global medical devices co. is seeking a leader to head up international multi-site R&D team from their EMEA HQ in Ireland.


Head of Research and Development (R&D) Medical Devices

Our client, a leading global medical devices co. is seeking a leader to head up their international multi-site R&D team from their EMEA HQ in Ireland.


Job Purpose
Lead the Research & Development function within EMEA ensuring that programs and activities are carried out in a manner that balances quality, regulatory, commercial and customer requirements.
Implement a strategy of progressive new product development and incremental improvements to the existing product portfolio. 
Contribute as a key member of the EMEA leadership team
Acting as a liaison with external parties for the company.
Ensure our client remains positioned at all times as a key preferred supplier within the medical devices space.

Key Responsibilities
Key responsibilities will include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Lead a team of Engineers, Scientists and Technicians in the development of medical devices in a multi-site, multicultural environment bringing expertise and talent together to establish a strong team that delivers value to the business
• Perform the role of liaison between the Sales and Marketing front end of the business and the R&D facilities.
• Proactively review the marketplace and the competition to give the R&D function pragmatic, realistic and commercial product projects to bring to the market.
• Collaborate with our physician partners and key opinion leaders to identify new technology, improvements to existing product designs or new clinical applications for our current technology.
• Direct the engineering operations, scientific evaluations of new products, technology concepts and development of products and solutions.
• Pro-actively collaborate with QA/RA department to define the quality and regulatory requirements and resolve all quality issues, allowing transfer of manufacturing processes to operations.
• Provide guidance on compliance requirements satisfying European Medical Devices Directive, Food & Drug Administration, and quality systems regulations.
• Maintain current knowledge of competitive technologies in addition to medical, technical, and medical devices developments related to products.
• Present statistical support for design of experiments, sampling plans, capability assessments, and hypothesis tests.
• Anticipate tactical situations 2-5 years ahead, and act to create opportunities or avoid problems.
• Propose solutions and push the organisation to resolve challenges in the marketplace 
• Influence the company's business, tactical directions, and financial results through a sharing of technical expertise.

Requirements:

• Degree in engineering or life sciences with 12 to 15 years of medical or therapeutic device industry or equivalent experience in another regulated industry is required for this role.  Advanced degree is preferred but not required.     
• Strong business acumen with a proven expertise in strategic planning; MBA an advantage.
• Excellent leadership skills with ability to influence management and collaborate with others;
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, direct and motivate a team in a dynamic, changing environment;
• Ability to define and manage R&D budgets;
• Strong problem solving skills for developing creative solutions and meeting project objectives are required.
• Ability to manage in a remote, multi-cultural, multi-site environment
• Excellent analytical ability
• The ability to prioritise tasks and be able to manage several projects and customers simultaneously; and the ability to interface with all levels of management.