VP of Global Clinical Affairs

Job Description

Primary Function of Position:

The Clinical Affairs function at Intuitive is a multidisciplinary department that plays a pivotal role in advancing the company’s scientific and business objectives through the generation and assessment of clinical evidence. The team is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive pre- and post-launch evidence generation strategies to support product and platform approvals, market adoption, and reimbursement across Intuitive’s global portfolio.

These evidence strategies are operationalized through a diverse range of initiatives, including pre- and post-market clinical trials and observational research studies, global clinical value dossier submissions, and research grant enablement. By integrating core scientific expertise with strategic insights, the Clinical Affairs team ensures that Intuitive’s technologies are supported by robust clinical evidence and positioned for success in healthcare markets worldwide.

As a corporate leader, the Clinical Affairs VP is directly involved in shaping enterprise-wide evidence strategy with the different business units and regions across Intuitive’s portfolio. In addition, the VP is responsible for overseeing clinical study operations and planning resources across global regions for research involving all Intuitive products and platforms.

This leader will help support regulatory submissions and the generation of high-impact clinical evidence through publications, presentations, abstracts, and scientific collaborations that enable market access, adoption, and reimbursement worldwide. This individual will also oversee strategic engagements with key opinion leaders (KOLs), medical societies, advisory boards, and government agencies to advance regulatory and evidence objectives. Additionally, the position is accountable for establishing and maintaining effective programs, policies, and processes that drive operational excellence within Global Clinical Affairs, fostering continuous improvement and delivering measurable value across multiple functions and teams.

The VP of Clinical Affairs is an in-person role (set schedule) based at Intuitive global headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, and reports to the Senior Medical Officer.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Lead and drive long-range strategy development for various functions within Clinical Affairs and operationalizing multidisciplinary plans to enable seamless global execution.
• Shape the company’s clinical and scientific strategy by driving the design and implementation of pre-market, post-market, and real-world evidence (RWE) studies, as well as domestic and international publication plans that support value propositions and business goals.
• Establish global shared service standards and operating models across Clinical Affairs subfunctions, including data management, clinical trial management systems, biostatistics, medical and library sciences.
• Develop and execute innovative global clinical evidence generation pathways that align with business unit and regional needs while meeting all regulatory requirements.
• Translate corporate and scientific strategies into clear, actionable evidence roadmaps that effectively engage and align cross-functional stakeholders.
• Foster a culture of leadership and excellence, developing multiple high-performing leaders and modeling exemplary leadership across all organizational levels.
• Drive effective communication and alignment across senior internal and external stakeholders, managing complex communications and guiding teams through change and strategic challenges.
• Stay ahead of evolving clinical literature and global public affairs trends, ensuring timely and informed evidence strategies and publication efforts.
• Build organizational capability by developing standards, competencies, and processes that significantly enhance Clinical Affairs performance and influence company-wide business results.
• Lead and mobilize large, cross-functional teams to deliver strategic outcomes with agility and precision.
• Balance short- and long-term priorities to ensure consistent achievement of functional goals while preparing the organization for future needs.
• Facilitate collaboration and decision-making, driving alignment, managing risk, and leading teams through complex problem-solving and change initiatives.
• Create clarity and alignment across teams through transparent direction, feedback, and communication.