Head of ENT R&D
Smith+Nephew
Summary
The Head of ENT R&D is responsible for defining and executing the technology roadmap and driving innovation, new product development, and existing product support for Smith+Nephew's Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) business. The portfolio serves adult and pediatric ENT procedures across three clinical areas: Ear (otitis media, middle-ear conditions, tympanostomy), Nose & Sinus (nasal obstruction, turbinate hypertrophy, chronic sinusitis, epistaxis), and Throat & Airway (tonsillar and adenoid disease, laryngeal conditions, airway obstruction). The technology portfolio includes COBLATION-based surgical energy systems, tissue resection and ablation devices, surgical instrumentation, and associated capital equipment. A key priority is to expand beyond existing technologies into new clinical applications and emerging areas of ENT, building a strong pipeline of differentiated products.
Job description
Technology Strategy & Innovation
- Define and champion the ENT technology roadmap, aligned with customer needs, clinical trends, and business priorities.
- Build and nurture a strong innovation pipeline, translating unmet clinical needs into differentiated product concepts and development opportunities.
- Identify opportunities beyond the existing COBLATION portfolio, including new technologies, procedures, and adjacent ENT markets.
- Develop strong relationships with ENT surgeons, clinical thought leaders, academic institutions, and technology partners.
- Assess competitive technologies, emerging treatment approaches, and market trends to guide technology strategy and investment decisions.
- Drive rapid feasibility studies, prototyping, and technology evaluations to accelerate innovation.
Product Development & Lifecycle Management
- Lead end-to-end R&D activities across early innovation, new product development, and existing product support.
- Drive development of complex medical devices integrating mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, and surgical energy technologies.
- Translate innovative concepts into commercial products with speed while maintaining quality, regulatory compliance, and technical rigor.
- Provide technical direction on product architecture, systems engineering, design controls, risk management, and verification and validation.
- Ensure continued product performance, reliability, competitiveness, and cost-effectiveness across the existing portfolio.
Portfolio, Financial & External Partnerships
- Manage R&D budgets, resources, and development priorities to maximize business impact.
- Make sound trade-offs across product performance, cost, quality, risk, and speed to market.
- Champion external technology and third-party development partnerships to accelerate innovation and execution.
- Prioritize development opportunities based on clinical value, competitive differentiation, technical feasibility, and commercial potential.
- Drive timely decision-making, organizational responsiveness, and disciplined execution.
Organizational Leadership & Collaboration
- Build, develop, and lead a high-performing multidisciplinary R&D organization with strong mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering capabilities.
- Develop technical talent and future leaders while fostering a culture of innovation, ownership, and accountability.
- Partner effectively with Marketing, Quality, Regulatory, Clinical, Operations, Finance, and other functions.
- Influence across a matrixed organization and communicate technical strategies, opportunities, and risks clearly to senior leadership.
- Provide clarity and direction in ambiguous situations, balancing strategic priorities with the need for rapid execution.
Requirements
- 15+ years of progressive experience in the medical technology industry, with significant experience in medical device R&D
- Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and complex product development programs
- Strong technical foundation in mechanical and electrical engineering, including electromechanical systems, product architecture, and engineering design
- Demonstrated ability to understand customer needs, clinical workflows, and unmet needs and translate them into differentiated products
- Proven ability to define technology direction, build innovation pipelines, and rapidly translate concepts into commercial products
- Strong understanding of competitive technologies, emerging trends, and their implications for product strategy
- Demonstrated intellectual curiosity, learning agility, and ability to develop expertise in new clinical and technology domains
- Ability to operate effectively under ambiguity, make decisions with incomplete information, and take calculated risks
- Recognized ability to build high-performing teams, develop talent, and influence across a matrixed organization
- Strong financial and commercial acumen, including investment prioritization, resource allocation, and effective technical and business trade-offs
- Willingness and ability to leverage third-party technology and development partners to accelerate product development
- Strong communication skills, responsiveness, and bias for action
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
Benefits
- 401(k) Matching
- 401(k) Plus Program
- Discounted Stock Options
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Flexible Vacation Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Flex Holidays
- Paid Community Service Day
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Health Savings Account
- Employee Assistance Program
- Parental Leave
- Fertility & Adoption Assistance
- Hybrid Work Model
- Fitness Club Discounts
Company overview
Smith+Nephew is a global portfolio medical technology company with a rich history dating back to 1856, originally founded as a chemist shop in Hull, UK. The company specializes in the repair, regeneration, and replacement of soft and hard tissue through innovative medical devices and technologies. Operating through three core business units—Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine & ENT, and Advanced Wound Management—Smith+Nephew serves healthcare professionals and patients in over 100 countries worldwide. With approximately 18,000 employees, the company generated annual sales of $5.5 billion in 2023 and is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (FTSE100) and New York Stock Exchange. Their product portfolio includes joint replacement systems, robotics-assisted surgical platforms, sports medicine implants, advanced wound care solutions, and ENT technologies. The company is pioneering new frontiers in medical technology, including Spatial Surgery systems that integrate augmented reality and real-time data processing for enhanced surgical precision. Smith+Nephew's mission centers on their "Life Unlimited" purpose, aiming to restore patients' bodies and self-belief through technological innovation that removes limitations on living.