Head of R&d Process

Merz Aesthetics is an international company in the field of aesthetic medicine. Our broad product portfolio is synonymous with top quality in each of their categories and is highly regarded by healthcare professionals worldwide. As Merz Aesthetics, we are part of the Merz Group with our EMEA headquarters located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Our global head office is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Every day, more than 3,000 employees in 26 countries are committed to restoring and maintaining the skin's beauty. Would you like to become part of our success story? Then join Merz Aesthetics

**The following responsibilities are awaiting you**:

- You identify process gaps, inefficiencies, and regulatory impacts by leveraging data and team feedback to assess performance and drive improvements.
- You collaborate with R&D and cross-functional teams (Regulatory, Quality, Operations) to design, implement, and monitor sustainable improvements using KPIs.
- You support change management with clear documentation, training materials, and communication, ensuring compliance and business alignment.
- You stay current on regulatory changes and proactively guide their integration.
- You manage the central list of R&D SOPs, forms, and templates, ensuring they are updated, trained on, and aligned with audit findings.
- You lead the SOP Committee, promoting cross-functional consistency and harmonization of processes.
- You assess training needs across the R&D organization, design and deliver targeted programs, and evaluate their effectiveness.
- You manage the R&D Academy portal, Training Matrix, and all GxP and vendor-related training activities to ensure comprehensive and compliant learning experiences.
- You maintain and share best practices, lessons learned, and up-to-date process/training documentation.
- You lead workshops and coach teams on process improvement tools, driving standardization and a culture of continuous improvement.
- You align closely with R&D and relevant Ax/Merz teams, ensuring smooth coordination and clear communication of updates and initiatives.
- You serve as a key point of contact for all process and training-related topics within R&D.
- You manage the R&D Training Specialist through coaching, regular 1:1s, and development planning.

**What we expect from you**:

- You have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and are certified in a recognized process improvement methodology (e.g., ASQ, Lean, or Six Sigma).
- You bring over 15 years of experience in R&D, with extensive and in-depth knowledge of research and development processes.
- You have a strong track record in R&D process improvement, including SOP management and training, and demonstrate deep expertise in methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma.
- You have a solid understanding of the regulations and standards governing R&D operations.
- You possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, enabling you to identify process gaps and implement effective solutions.
- You are skilled in designing and delivering impactful training programs tailored to various stakeholders.
- You are proficient in relevant computer systems, software, and tools used in R&D and process management.
- You communicate effectively across diverse teams, build strong interpersonal relationships, and thrive both independently and within cross-functional environments.
- You have demonstrated leadership experience, guiding teams toward shared objectives and driving results.
- This role reports directly into our Chief Scientific Officer.

**What you can expect from us**:
**Putting people first**: You can expect to find an open work culture with flat hierarchies and short decision-making paths at Merz Aesthetics. You will collaborate with colleagues from all around the globe. And if life takes an unexpected turn and you need help or advice, then you can always rely on our different internal and external support systems.

**Family and work**: Our employees should be able to reconcile their family and work commitments. That’s why you’ll find, for example, company day care centers at our locations. In the EMEA region, we have been awarded the “Top Employer” and “Great Place to Work” certifications for our outstanding HR policies and work culture.

**Work-life harmony**: Our time is precious; our daily routines individual. To help you reconcile work and leisure time with their conflicting demands, we have adopted contemporary flexible working time models. We offer you flex-working time and mobile working. Our employees also benefit from generous arrangements for annual leave.

**Ongoing training**: Your personal and professional development is the key to success for us. To foster this, we conduct regular development discussions and facilitate a wide range of management and specialist training courses, soft skills courses, e-learning courses, language courses and coaching sessions.