Executive Director, Device Product Platforms

Job Description

The Executive Director, Device Product Platforms (DPP) will serve as a strategic and operational leader, responsible for shaping and executing the organization’s vision for Drug Device Combination Products. This role emphasizes a platform-based approach, ensuring seamless, cross-functional product delivery that aligns with the evolving needs of the Research and Development (R&D) pipeline.

The Executive Director will drive scientific and technical excellence, foster innovation, and develop high-performing teams to achieve optimal efficiency in device development, design, and commercialization.

The Executive Director, Device Product Platforms, Device Development & Technology reports to the Associate Vice President, Device Development & Technology. The Device Development and Technology (DD&T) organization resides within the Pharmaceutical Sciences and Device Development (PSDD) organization of our R&D Division and collaborates closely with other functional and therapeutic area leaders.

• Lead and inspire the Device Product Platforms (DPP) organization, including driving Platform Leadership for Auto Injectors (for multiple therapeutic areas), Prefilled Syringes for Vaccines, Prefilled Syringes for Intravitreal Injections, Combination Product Kits, and Inhalation Devices; as well as providing Functional Leadership for Device Design & Process Development.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to advance a platform-based approach to deliver the portfolio that is device and combination products enabled, ensuring integration across internal and external functional teams and alignment with DD&T and enterprise objectives.
• Retain and develop top technical talent, promote skills and expertise, and foster a culture of scientific and technical excellence.

• Provide expert guidance on the design, development, and evaluation of device products, components, materials, packaging systems, and manufacturing processes.
• Oversee verification strategies, material properties assessments, design assessments; leverage data analysis and risk-based approaches aligned with best-in-class combination product development and commercialization.
• Drive innovation and continuous improvement in product quality and process efficiency.

• Oversee the Drug Device Combination Products portfolio across all therapeutic areas, modalities, and platforms for our company's molecule portfolio that is device and combination products enabled.
• Ensure robust platform expertise in prefilled syringes for vaccines (1 mL, 2.25 mL, 5.5 mL), auto injectors, pen injectors, combination product kits, prefilled syringes for intravitreal injections, inhalation devices, and other nasal delivery mechanisms.
• Support the evolution of the organization by identifying and developing future platform leaders as the pipeline needs evolve.

• Collaborate with stakeholders across Research, Clinical, Regulatory, Quality, and Manufacturing to ensure seamless product development and commercialization.
• Strategically represent the DPP organization in global forums, cross-divisional governance forums, cross-functional teams, and with external partners as needed.

• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards for combination products and medical devices.
• Identify and mitigate technical and operational risks across the product lifecycle working with cross-functional teams across the enterprise.

Advanced degree (Ph.D. or M.S. preferred) in Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or Materials Engineering.

• Experience: Minimum 15 years of progressive engineering leadership experience in device or combination product development within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or medical device industry.
• Therapeutic Area Expertise: Demonstrated experience with device and combination products in at least three of the following therapeutic areas (preferably with marketed products):
  Cardiometabolic, Infectious Disease, Ophthalmology, Immunology, Oncology,…