Director R&D Lead

Director R&D Site Lead

Lead our Hardware R&D organization in Penang - and help shape the future of medical device innovation.

We're looking for an experienced, dynamic and open-minded leader to take the helm of our R&D Hardware organization in Penang. If you thrive on building great teams, love the energy of a fast-moving, international environment, and want your work to genuinely improve patient outcomes worldwide - this is your next chapter.

The Role

As Director R&D Site Lead, you'll manage the Hardware development organization in Penang in close alignment with our global R&D organization and strategy - driving both the technical roadmap and the people who bring it to life.

1. Shape strategy and new initiatives that advance the department, the company and our products
2. Build strategic partnerships with business and technology leaders across the organization
3. Define, build and grow project teams with the right mix of skills - complementing with external expertise where needed
4. Develop leadership talent within the organization and mentor the next generation of leaders
5. Own planning, staffing and execution of the Penang R&D organization
6. Ensure every project is delivered on a common architecture and platform strategy

What You'll Own

1. Lead and manage the R&D unit, balancing staffing and workload across project teams
2. Be accountable for the quality, timeline, cost and content of your own work and your teams
3. Ensure compliance with processes, SOPs, directives, guidelines and norms
4. Drive teams and projects to hit - and keep hitting - their KPIs
5. Coach, mentor and develop your team leader and project managers with their teams
6. Keep raising the bar: continuous improvement is part of the job, not an add-on
7. Share responsibility for group and company objectives

What You Bring

1. A degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, life sciences, or related field (MSc preferred)
2. 10+ years of experience in Project Management and R&D management
3. A track record leading regulated product development, ideally with agile methodology
4. Fluent English with strong presentation skills - equally comfortable with technical and non-technical audiences
5. Proven ability to build, energize and empower high-performing teams across time zones
6. Experience with medical device development
7. Willingness to travel up to 20%

Your Personality

This role calls for a leader who is dynamic, open and genuinely curious - someone who:

1. Is value-, team-, target- and solution-oriented
2. Stays flexible, curious and always willing to learn
3. Works independently, efficiently and reliably
4. Isn't afraid to take smart risks, own the outcome, and step outside the comfort zone
5. Brings self-motivation that's contagious - and lifts the people around them
6. Gives clear direction and resolves conflict without letting perfect get in the way of good enough