Job Description:
Director R&D Operations, Medsurg
At Solventum, we enable better, smarter, safer healthcare to improve lives. As a new company with a long legacy of creating breakthrough solutions for our customers’ toughest challenges, we pioneer game-changing innovations at the intersection of health, material and data science that change patients' lives for the better while enabling healthcare professionals to perform at their best. Because people, and their wellbeing, are at the heart of every scientific advancement we pursue.
We partner closely with the brightest minds in healthcare to ensure that every solution we create melds the latest technology with compassion and empathy. Because at Solventum, we never stop solving for you.
The Impact You’ll Make in this Role
The Director of RD Operations will report to the Senior Vice President (SVP) of MedSurg RD and play a critical role in partnering with the RD Leadership Team to drive strategic decision-making and organizational performance improvements. This position provides high-level strategic and financial support to the SVP while keeping them abreast of current issues. This position will make judgments and decisions on behalf of the SVP on a regular basis and respond to leadership team requests. This position will be responsible for facilitating effective organizational processes including leading monthly financial reviews with leadership team members aligned with the Finance department, ensuring improvement in all areas of RD Operations to increase efficiency and effectiveness driving accountable and overseeing global RD laboratory operations for MedSurg RD.
This position will be responsible for facilitating effective organizational processes including leading monthly financial reviews with leadership team members aligned with the Finance department. Additionally, this leader will be responsible for ensuring improvement in all areas of RD Operations to increase efficiency and effectiveness driving accountable, as well as overseeing global RD laboratory operations for MedSurg RD.
As the Director of R&D Operations, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people around the world. Here, you will make an impact by:
The Impact You’ll Make in this Role
Partner with the RD Leadership Team to identify and prioritize strategic operational and business objectives. Assist the SVP in developing and managing the financial plans/budgets required to drive product development excellence while tracking and balancing expenditure.
Facilitate cross-functional integration: Connect operating mechanisms cross functionally. Introduce structure, processes, and mechanisms as necessary to enhance alignment and facilitate information sharing. Grasp the interconnections between various initiatives and projects, discern who requires what information, and ensure that key individuals are present in pertinent discussions; serve as a knowledge hub for the RD leadership team.
Laboratory Oversight: Manage and oversee laboratory operations across MedSurg RD. Establish and maintain best practices while enabling continuing operations in support of innovation objectives and commitments.
Goal development and alignment: Maintain organizational alignment to top priorities and goals. Translate strategic goals into operational and financial strategies aimed at creating sustainability, increasing capacity, and driving effectiveness.
Performance Monitoring: Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs), encompassing project delivery commitments and financial data to evaluate performance and identify areas of improvement while sharing actionable insights with stakeholders.
Process Optimization: Identify opportunities for process improvement and optimization that drive efficiencies and increase productivity while applying best practices to simplify operations.
Communication and Liaison: Act as a key contact between the RD Leadership Team and stakeholders to ensure clear communication in decision-making, department initiatives, and other key activities.
Support the SVP to develop and deliver communication plans and messaging to target audiences.
Business Initiatives: Oversee strategic department initiatives, from development through successful execution in partnership with the leadership team.
Your Skills and Expertise
To set you up for success in this role from day one, Solventum requires (at a minimum) the following qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree or higher in a technical field and a minimum of 15 years of experience in medical device development is required
Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:
An advanced degree such as an MBA is preferred.
Previous experience leading individuals and/or teams in multiple locations preferred
Previous experience overseeing RD laboratory operations preferred
Demonstrated experience navigating and leading in environments of complexity, transformation, change and disruption.
Ability to drive and influence process improvements in a dynamic-fast moving environment, including prior experience developing strategies for projects that have significant impact to RD operations.
Well-developed negotiation skills and business management acumen as related to solving complex issues that have operational impacts.
Experience in data analysis, performance monitoring and budget management.
Exceptional project management and organizational change skills with a track record of managing complex initiatives
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders.
Nimble business mind, focused on developing creative solutions that drive and influence process improvements in a dynamic-fast moving environment, including prior experience planning and developing strategies for projects that have significant business impact.
Work location:
Hybrid Eligible (Job Duties allow for some remote work but require travel to Eagan Minn at least 3 days per week)
Travel: May include up to 10% domestic/international
Relocation Assistance: May be authorized
Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).
Supporting Your Well-being
Solventum offers many programs to help you live your best life – both physically and financially. To ensure competitive pay and benefits, Solventum regularly benchmarks with other companies that are comparable in size and scope.
Applicable to US Applicants Only:The expected compensation range for this position is $211,600 - $290,950, which includes base pay plus variable incentive pay, if eligible. This range represents a good faith estimate for this position. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant knowledge, training, skills, work location, and/or experience. In addition, this position may be eligible for a range of benefits (e.g., Medical, Dental & Vision, Health Savings Accounts, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, Paid Absences and Retirement Benefits, etc.). Additional information is available at: https://www.solventum.com/en-us/home/our-company/careers/#Total-RewardsResponsibilities of this position include that corporate policies, procedures and security standards are complied with while performing assigned duties.
Solventum is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in our recruitment process. Applicants must remain alert to fraudulent job postings and recruitment schemes that falsely claim to represent Solventum and seek to exploit job seekers.
Please note that all email communications from Solventum regarding job opportunities with the company will be from an email with a domain of @solventum.com. Be wary of unsolicited emails or messages regarding Solventum job opportunities from emails with other email domains.
Solventum is an equal opportunity employer. Solventum will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.Please note: your application may not be considered if you do not provide your education and work history, either by: 1) uploading a resume, or 2) entering the information into the application fields directly.
Solventum Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement
Carefully read these Terms of Use before using this website. Your access to and use of this website and application for a job at Solventum are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms.
Please access the linked document by clicking here. Before submitting your application you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the
terms.
Top Skills
Similar Jobs
What you need to know about the Colorado Tech Scene
Key Facts About Colorado Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 260,000; 8.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Lockheed Martin, Century Link, Comcast, BAE Systems, Level 3
- Key Industries: Software, artificial intelligence, aerospace, e-commerce, fintech, healthtech
- Funding Landscape: $4.9 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Access Venture Partners, Ridgeline Ventures, Techstars, Blackhorn Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Denver, Colorado State University, Mesa Laboratory, Space Science Institute, National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Gottlieb Institute


