Director General, Medical Devices

Automotive and Surface Transportation; Montreal (administrative region); On-site; CAD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

National Research Council of Canada (NRC) seeks a Director General of MDRC to inspire and lead bioengineering R&D and digital health initiatives. The role requires driving a forward-looking strategy, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams, and leveraging large facilities and partnerships to maximize impact in medtech innovation.

The incumbent will report to the Vice President, Life Sciences, and guide investment decisions, program delivery, and organizational change to advance NRC's goals in

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in science or engineering required.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary R&D teams.
• Strong leadership in managing programs and budgets.
• Proven ability to build partnerships with national/international organizations.
• Senior executive experience and change management.

Responsibilities

• Lead MDRC^{2024} bioengineering technologies R&D and digital health initiatives.
• Drive integrated, forward‑looking research strategy to maximize industry growth and health security.
• Manage multidisciplinary staff and large‑scale facilities with budget oversight.
• Engage with government, industry and clinical partners to translate and commercialize IP.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Financial management

Research leadership

Education

Ph.D. in science or engineering

MBA or business degree

Job description

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Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

* The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

OrganizationalUnit:Medical Devices

Classification:MGT-4

Tenure:Continuing

Work arrangements:

• Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position will require full-time physical presence at the NRC work location identified.
  At the NRC, we recognize that Indigenous candidates may have important connections to their communities and you may be eligible for an exception to this work arrangement. Alternative work arrangements may also be considered to accommodate candidates as required. To learn more about these options, please contact the NRC Hiring team using the contact information below.

Discover the possible

The role

The Director General of MDRC will inspire and lead Bioengineering Technologies R&D focused on advancing innovation in the area of microfluidic-based point-of-care (POC) diagnostics and virtual health digital technologies.

MDRC's largest site is located in Boucherville, Montreal which includes a Biodevice scale-up foundry and virtual health technologies expertise and facilities. Additionally, MDRC's is located in Royalmount site at Montreal which includes antibody and molecular technologies expertise and facilities. MDRC also has a satellite presence at the University of Toronto, which includes MDRC's flagship collaboration centre and initiative - CRAFT (Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies). MDRC's DG will drive an integrated and forward focused research strategy to maximize impact for industry growth and health security and sovereignity in the Medtech sector.
Reporting to the Vice President, Life Sciences, the Director General will lead highly skilled technical staff, organized in multi-disciplinary teams, and supported by large-scale facilities and cutting-edge equipment. As a well-qualified candidate, you are a seasoned research leader and come with a high level of scientific credibility in one or more of the centre's disciplines. You have significant and recent leadership experience in managing multidisciplinary research, technical, business and administrative staff in participative and team-oriented environments, budget and project management, and investment decisions. You have significant leadership experience in business strategy, organizational change management and program delivery to achieve organizational objectives. Significant and recent leadership experience working with industry and clinical research organizations on biomedical engineering research projects is highly recognized as well as developing, translating and commercializing IP and innovation products, with demonstratable outcomes.

Screening criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

An advanced degree in science or engineering such as Ph.D, or Master/MBA with significant experience leading research team in the relevant areas is required for this position and complementary business degree and/or experience is highly valued.

• Significant experience conducting original research in a field related to the position and ideally recognition as a global leader in their domain of expertise.
• Significant experience supervising and developing staff in multidisciplinary teams, ideally in a matrix environment of projects and programs.
• Significant and recently demonstrated experience in applying the principles, tools and practices of leadership, administrative, financial, and human resource management.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary R&D programs.
• Significant and demonstrated scientific or engineering and technical leadership.
• Significant and demonstrated experience in building partnerships with national and international organizations.
• Experience developing and maintaining strategic projects with senior government officials, academic and industry leaders.
• Senior executive experience including a demonstrated ability to lead change, build superior teams, motivate a diverse group of individuals, and direct large-scale initiatives.

Condition of employment

A thorough security clearance process will be applied.

For a Secret Clearance, verification of background information over a period of 10 years is required. Individuals must have lived in Canada for a sufficient period of time to enable the security screening process.

Language requirements

Note: In the event that no qualified bilingual candidates are identified, NRC may consider unilingual candidates who will be required to commit to achieving these levels within two years.

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• Strong knowledge of the national and international Medical Devices' research community.
• Knowledge of the Canadian innovation process, the structure of the Canadian research and innovation systems, and the Canadian research community.
• Ability to effectively lead and manage a multi-faceted organization in an R&D environment with a style and approach that supports NRC's commitment to scientific excellence and its participative management and entrepreneurship values.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully leverage, government, industry or other partnerships to generate and deliver on ideas that would lead to recognition of NRC's role in world-wide research and technology innovation.
• Strong knowledge of Medical Devices' initiatives, programs and activities and their potential for impact nationally and internationally.
• Recognized leadership in the field of medical devices.
• Ability to analyze complex information, make timely decisions and communicate clearly with all internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to manage in a scientific environment with in depth knowledge of the different models of research operations while enhancing a collaborative approach.
• Knowledge of the National Research Council, its mandate and strategic objectives.
• Management Competencies (MG) - Self-Awareness (3)
• Management Competencies (MG) - Strategic Outlook and Alignment (Level 4)
• Management Competencies (MG) - Drive for Results and Efficiency (Level 4)
• Management Competencies (MG) - Client Relationship Management (Level 4)

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well-being throughout your career and beyond.

Notes

• In 2026, the NRC was chosen as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People, a National Capital Region Top Employer and Forbes Canada’s Best Employer.
• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one-year period.
• Preference will be given to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Please direct your questions, with therequisition number (26085) to:

Closing Date: 15 October 2026 - 23:59 Eastern Time

*If you are currently a term or continuing employee at NRC, please apply through the SuccessFactors Careersmodule from your NRC computer.