Head of Innovation, Sustainability and Product Portfolio Governance

**Position Summary & Purpose of the role**

We are seeking a visionary and hands-on leader to drive transformative innovation, sustainability, and portfolio governance across our global product organization. As a cross-functional leader, you will shape and accelerate the company’s innovation pipeline and product portfolio, aligning breakthrough ideation with medical and technical excellence and sustainable growth objectives.

You will lead and inspire cross-functional teams across R&D, sustainability, marketing, regulatory, clinical, and commercial functions based on deep understanding of market needs and dynamics. You will ensure holistically that strategic innovation translates into tangible outcomes through structured yet agile portfolio governance, while managing complexity across diverse stakeholders, disciplines, and geographies. In this role, you will ensure profitable market development, based on solid business plans, reflecting financial needs.

**Key Responsibilities**
- ** Innovation Leadership**
- Champion breakthrough innovation with a clear pathway from idea to market.
- Facilitate ideation processes and cross-functional innovation sprints, combining user-centric design, sustainability, and clinical insight.
- Foster a culture of experimentation, strategic risk-taking, and structured innovation processes.
- Request strategic partnerships with external innovation hubs, academic institutions, startups, and industry consortia
- ** Product Portfolio Governance**
- Govern the global product development portfolio with transparency, prioritization, and strategic alignment.
- Establish and manage robust governance processes for pipeline decision-making, resource allocation, and risk management.
- Leverage data-driven insights to inform portfolio decisions and identify emerging market opportunities.
- Ensure consistency between innovation strategy and portfolio execution across value streams & business units.
- ** Sustainability Integration**
- Embed sustainability targets into product innovation and development lifecycles.
- Collaborate with ESG, engineering, and supply chain functions to drive sustainable design and materials usage.
- Set and monitor innovation and sustainability KPIs, ensuring alignment with financial targets and value creation objectives.
- ** Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Management**
- Align diverse internal and external stakeholders to shared innovation and sustainability goals.
- Develop and implement change management strategies to embed innovation and sustainability mindsets across the organization.
- Lead global, interdisciplinary teams in a matrix environment with a balance of structure and flexibility.
- Translate complex strategic objectives into actionable roadmaps and initiatives.

**Required Qualifications**
- Advanced degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, or related field; MBA or PhD preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in medical technology, life sciences, or related regulated industry.
- Proven track record of driving innovation from ideation to product launch.
- Deep understanding of product development, clinical needs, sustainability principles, and global healthcare markets.
- Strong strategic thinking paired with operational execution skills.
- Experience in portfolio management, including governance frameworks and prioritization methods.

**Key Success Factors**
- ** Strategic Vision & Execution** - Ability to connect the long-term vision with hands-on leadership in implementation.
- ** Inspirational Leadership** - Capability to inspire and mobilize teams around complex, future-facing objectives.
- ** Systems Thinking** - Navigates complex ecosystems and integrates inputs from diverse disciplines and cultures.
- ** Structured Agility** - Balances structured frameworks with adaptability to context and individuals.
- ** Technical & Clinical Acumen** - Speaks the language of engineers, clinicians, and sustainability experts alike.
- ** Communication Excellence** - Presents complex information clearly to senior executives and global stakeholders.

**What We Offer**
- The opportunity to shape the future of healthcare innovation at a global market leader.
- A highly collaborative, mission-driven, and innovative culture.
- Global exposure, challenging assignments, and high visibility.
- A platform to make a tangible impact in advancing health, sustainability, and innovation.