Project Head - R&D

LivaNova

Munich, Germany

Are you an experienced Project Head with a passion for leading complex projects within a technical and highly regulated environment? Are you looking for a highly visible role that will allow you to exercise your leadership, giving you the space to drive change and make decisions whilst influencing senior leaders? If that sounds like you and you are curious to find out more about who we are and what we could offer you, please keep reading!

YOUR NEW ROLE

We are looking for a Project Head to be responsible for the comprehensive execution and oversight of the Product Development Process (PDP) for a given project within our R&D group. In the role, you will drive technical and commercial excellence by overseeing and connecting all key functional teams, taking a system-level view of products and ensuring that all system components function cohesively. In addition, you will proactively drive product innovation in anticipation of evolving clinician, regulatory and payer needs, and in alignment with LivaNova's strategic business goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE

Spearhead project execution, responsible for all key executional decisions related to the PDP
Strategically balance business and innovation objectives with adherence to desired scope, budget, and timelines; proactively sequence deliverables to adhere to these timelines
Act as the single point of accountability for the end-to-end delivery, being the advocate and the face for projects in front of senior leaders
Regularly engage senior leadership to understand their expectations and provide updates on PDP program status and challenges
Proactively communicate project execution decisions and status updates to the product development core team and other relevant stakeholders
Ensure all project deliverables meet the necessary rigor and quality
Drive technical excellence and innovation within the product development process, ensuring that projects are aligned with strategic business objectives
Maintain a system-level understanding of all technical aspects and integrations, ensuring that individual components are designed and perform in harmony with the entire system
Ensure project delivery meets business and market needs, balancing technical and commercial considerations

ABOUT YOU

Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent technical background; an advanced degree (MBA or similar) preferred to combine technical depth with strategic business acumen
Extensive experience in technical project management within the medical device industry
In-depth knowledge of complex system development, including the integration of hardware, software, and firmware components
Proven experience in navigating and managing cross-disciplinary engineering challenges
Demonstrated ability to assess business cases, evaluate contracts, and align technical projects with overarching business objectives; strong understanding of financial implications and market dynamics related to product development
Extensive experience leading large, cross-functional, and geographically dispersed teams in a fast-paced and highly technical environment
Strong leadership presence and gravitas, with the ability to influence and engage senior leadership and diverse stakeholders effectively
Comprehensive understanding of U.S. FDA regulations, European Union Medical Device Regulation (EU MDR), and other relevant global standards highly beneficial
Proven track record of successfully managing projects from concept to market, consistently delivering within scope, budget, and time constraints
Fluent English language skills, written and spoken
Ability to travel to global locations to meet technical teams and build critical relationships with key stakeholders