Your unique talents and perspective can make a vital contribution to innovative products that improve the lives of Ostomates everywhere. A career opportunity within Welland Medical may provide you with an ideal setting to build your experience; express your passion and make a difference.

Leading an existing creative team, the successful candidate will be working closely with all members of R&D and the wider organisation, supporting information to develop Medical Devices for Ostomy Care. The candidate will be involved in the new product development process, helping to guide and develop new product strategies, maintaining the product roadmap, designing and technical specifications, and supporting material and product verification and validation.

Our R&D team of Engineers, Designers and Technical experts are in the forefront of technology in the ostomy device industry. You will be making a vital contribution to Welland’s New Product Development process and transforming patient care through innovation.
The Head of R&D will be a key member of the leadership team driving the strategic direction of new product development.

Main Duties and Responsibilities
• Lead and guide the Research and Development team/s focused on the development of new medical devices, in the Ostomy field, providing mentoring, guidance and training when required.
• Manage and maintain Welland’s development process as part of NPD, keeping it up to date and fresh, through the introduction of new initiatives and in support of changing regulation or other departmental/ process improvements.
• Ensure the Research Development team have the skills required to generate concepts and solutions and bring them to life.
• Responsible for all IP management processes for new and existing designs including evaluation of potential IP infringements in accordance with organisation procedures, patent renewals and new applications.
• Project manage delivery of device development activity throughout the phase gates and product lifecycle to ensure Welland’s strategic plans and product roadmap are reviewed, validated and delivered.
• Contribute to the development of new devices, from early-stage product concepts to ready for clinical trial product, in line with Welland’s development strategy, Quality system and Development Process.
• Oversee/ review technical reports and design documentation such as biological evaluation reports, traceability matrices, DFMEA, raw materials and packaging specifications, ensuring that the content is accurate and informed.
• New product, material and process development including initial characterisation, verification and validation according to company procedures.
• Responsibility for Welland’s Product road map.
• Develop cost and time plans for new projects and manage/monitor adherence to these plans putting mitigating actions in place when necessary.
• Provide design and technical knowledge input to activities and business decision-making, within your specialty area.
• Technical liaison with the customer/s and attendance at Sales & Marketing and Research & Development meetings, helping to provide technical solutions and product support.
• Research support with distributor co-creation as well as dealing with complex complaints supporting QARA in technical investigations of customer complaints and in compilation of technical sections of regulatory submissions.
• Presenting as the technical authority of the Welland Medical product portfolio both internally and externally.
• Working closely with the QARA, Production and Engineering teams to ensure smooth transition of programs down the NPD pipeline.
• Build relationships with external design houses, technical consultancies and specialists to deliver Welland’s strategic plans.
• Evaluate and minimise risk utilizing DFMEA’s or other methodologies as appropriate.
• BoM Management and maintenance using Welland’s ERP system. Defining new product costs.
• Managing, developing and assisting in the recruitment of the Development of the R&D teams
• Performance management and regular personal development reviews with team members to ensure KPIs are focused on and at the same time developing relevant competencies.
•Management of departmental budgets/ requirements and work to approved budgets and schedules, and to contribute to the annual strategic plan.
•Maintaining and championing Welland’s commitment to high quality product standards and reliability benchmarks.
•Working within the Welland Medical Quality system, standards and regulatory requirements
•Adherence to Quality Management System (QMS) requirements in line with ISO13485 and the MDR
•Understand the principle of Lean Manufacturing and CI

For more information about the role, including individual attributes, please click here.