Head of R&D Business Sector Refractive (f/m/x)

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG; Jena; On-site; EUR 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Carl Zeiss Meditec AG in Germany seeks a senior leader to translate strategic product and workflow roadmaps into high-impact surgical and imaging solutions. You will steer architectural design across products, lead the global R&D workflow organization, and ensure timely, budget-conscious delivery while coordinating with Regulatory, Clinical, Quality and Operations teams.

The role requires a university degree in natural sciences or engineering, plus extensive leadership and international project

Qualifications

• University degree in natural sciences or engineering (or related field).
• Proven leadership experience in global or cross-functional settings.
• Strong strategic planning and business acumen capabilities.
• Experience in international R&D environments and program management.
• Experience in global service management and cross-functional interfaces.

Responsibilities

• Translate strategic product and workflow roadmaps into successful solutions.
• Provide technical design authority and steer workflow architecture across products and solutions.
• Lead global R&D workflow programs, ensuring on-time delivery and regulatory alignment.
• Drive lifecycle management of products and applications.
• Foster collaboration across global, interdisciplinary teams and ensure execution alignment.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic planning

Global collaboration

Project management

Negotiation skills

Customer orientation

English fluency

Education

University degree in natural sciences or engineering

MBA (advantage)

Job description

Seeing beyond - future of medical technology

For more than 100 years, ZEISS medical technology has been driving progress in ophthalmology and microsurgery. In ophthalmology, our solutions help to maintain and improve people's vision at every stage of their lives. In microsurgery, our solutions enable targeted interventions on diseased tissue so that small and sensitive organs continue to function optimally. Medical technology from ZEISS supports medical professionals in improving the lives of patients worldwide. The fact that our actions have a direct impact on people's well-being is what drives us every day. In this key leadership role, you translate strategic product and workflow roadmaps into successful solutions and create sustainable value for our customers and patients worldwide.

Your Role

• You drive the successful implementation of innovative product and workflow roadmaps and ensure technical excellence in line with the strategic objectives of the business sector
• You provide technical design authority and steer the workflow architecture across contributing products and solutions
• You lead the global R&D workflow organization, programs and projects, ensuring delivery on time and within budget while securing the required support from Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Affairs, Quality and Operations
• You drive the continuous development, adaptation and sustaining of products and applications throughout their entire lifecycle
• You establish a strong and continuous innovation exchange with Advanced Development and ensure a seamless transition of new technologies and concepts into product development
• You ensure efficient innovation execution in line with the agreed business sector workflow and product roadmaps
• You foster effective collaboration across global and interdisciplinary teams, creating clarity, alignment and accountability for successful execution

Your Profile

• You hold a university degree in natural sciences, engineering or a related discipline; an additional qualification in business administration, such as an MBA, is an advantage
• You bring extensive years of relevant professional experience, including proven experience in disciplinary leadership
• You combine broad business and commercial expertise with strong strategic planning capabilities
• You have strong project and program management skills and experience in complex, international R&D environments
• You bring experience in global service management and managing cross-functional interfaces
• You have sound knowledge of contract development and negotiation
• You demonstrate strong leadership capabilities, including people development, stakeholder management and building effective global networks
• You combine a strong customer and results orientation with the ability to translate strategy into execution
• You communicate confidently across cultures and have strong negotiation skills
• You are fluent in English; additional language skills are an advantage
• You are willing to travel frequently national and international

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team: Jana Benn

Step out of your comfort zone, excel and redefine the limits of what is possible. That’s just what our employees are doing every single day – in order to set the pace through our innovations and enable outstanding achievements. After all, behind every successful company are many great fascinating people. In a spacious modern setting full of opportunities for further development, ZEISS employees work in a place where expert knowledge and team spirit reign supreme. All of this is supported by a special ownership structure and the long‑term goal of the Carl Zeiss Foundation: to bring science and society into the future together.

Diversity is a part of ZEISS. We look forward to receiving your application regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, philosophy of life, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity.