Director Audiological Development

Sonova; Stäfa; Hybrid; CHF 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonova is seeking a Director of Audiological Development to lead the global audiological organization, aligning hearing functions, system steering, individualization, and performance innovation into cohesive, high-quality solutions.

You will work across science, engineering, platforms and products, building teams, translating concepts into scalable products, and shaping strategy at a global level. Fluency in English is required and a strong regulatory awareness is preferred.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Audiology, Hearing or related scientific/technical discipline.
• Minimum 5 years in senior technical or functional leadership with accountability for people and delivery.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams across international, multi-site environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end execution of the audiological functional roadmap across global teams.
• Shape system-level audiological behavior across hearing functions, integration, and performance innovation.
• Balance audiological performance with product needs while resolving cross-team dependencies.
• Partner with Audiological Research Centers and Domain Architect to translate concepts into scalable solutions.
• Develop and grow the global Audiological Development organization and foster ownership and collaboration.
• Represent Audiological Development with science, platform, system integration, and product stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Master’s or PhD in Audiology or related field

Job description

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At Sonova, we envision a world where everyone can enjoy the delight of hearing. This vision inspires us and fuels our commitment to developing innovative solutions that improve hearing health and human connection - from personal audio devices and wireless communication systems to hearing aids and cochlear implants. We're dedicated to providing outstanding customer experiences through our global audiological care services, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to engage fully with the world around them.

Here you’ll find a diverse range of opportunities that span both consumer and medical solutions and the freedom to shape your career while making an impact on the lives of others. Join us in our mission to create a more connected world, where every voice is heard and every story matters.

Director Audiological Development

As Director Audiological Development, you will shape how audiological innovation is translated into meaningful hearing performance across our platforms and products. Leading our global Audiological Development organization, you will bring together hearing functions and system steering, audiological individualization, and performance innovation to create coherent, high-quality solutions for people with hearing needs.
In return for your deep audiological expertise and ability to lead complex R&D organizations, you will have the opportunity to influence the future of hearing technology at a strategic level. You will work across science, engineering, platforms and products, develop talented teams and professionals with subject matter expertise, and turn innovative audiological concepts into solutions that can make a tangible difference to people's lives.

More about the role

• Lead the end-to-end execution of the audiological functional roadmap, translating strategy into clear priorities, aligned objectives and predictable delivery across global development teams.
• Shape system-level audiological behaviour across hearing functions, system steering, individualization, and performance innovation, ensuring coherent and measurable outcomes across platforms and products.
• Drive the balance between audiological performance, individualization, validation, and product needs while resolving cross-team dependencies and priorities.
• Partner with Audiological Research Centers, Functional Leaders and the Audiological Domain Architect to translate new concepts and validated performance innovations into scalable, system-ready solutions.
• Lead and develop the global Audiological Development organization, building a culture of ownership, collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement, while strengthening talent and succession pipelines.
• Represent Audiological Development across science, platform, system integration, and product stakeholders, providing clear direction on priorities, progress, risks, and readiness.
• Ensure strong R&D execution through robust architecture, effective portfolio and budget management, intellectual property protection, and state-of-the-art development environments.

More about you

• An advanced degree, such as a master’s or PhD in Audiology, Hearing or Speech Science, Acoustics, Biomedical Engineering, or a closely related scientific or technical discipline.
• Experience in audiology, hearing science, or MedTech R&D is an advantage, including at least 5 years’ experience in a senior technical or functional leadership with accountability for people, delivery, and cross-team coordination.
• A strategic and analytical leader who can connect scientific and technological opportunities with business and product needs, make complex trade-offs, and create clarity in changing environments.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire multidisciplinary teams in international, multi-site organizations, developing professionals with subject matter expertise and fostering accountability, collaboration, and technical excellence.
• Strong stakeholder and communication skills, with the ability to build consensus and influence effectively across research, engineering, product, and leadership communities.
• Deep understanding of audiological systems, hearing performance, and individualization, ideally combined with system-level responsibility across products, platforms, or functional domains would be a great asset
• Fluent English, and a strong quality and process improvement mindset;
• Experience with medical-device regulations, validation frameworks, organizational transformation, or external scientific and industry collaboration would be an advantage.

More about what we offer

As one of the world's leading hearing care providers headquartered in Switzerland, we're committed to building an inclusive culture. We want to create an environment where you can balance a successful career with your commitments and interests outside of work, through our flexible hybrid working model. We offer a wide range of training opportunities for both your professional and personal development, and there are exceptional growth opportunities with individual development plans.

Candidates are invited to submit their application in English.

For this vacancy only direct applications will be considered.

Sonova is an equal opportunity employer.

We team up. We grow talent. We collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds to win with the best team in the market place. We guarantee every person equal treatment in regard to employment and opportunity for employment, regardless of a candidate’s ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation or marital status, gender, genetic identity, age, disability or any other legally protected status.