Director, Innovation Laboratory

Terumo Neuro; Aliso Viejo (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Terumo Neuro seeks a visionary leader to head the TIS Innovation Lab in the United States, advancing early-stage technologies and opportunities. You will guide cross-functional teams across R&D, clinical, regulatory, and business units to de-risk and transition projects into development.

The role emphasizes strategic incubation, external partnerships, and delivering impactful, patient-focused innovations aligned with Terumo's growth priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 12+ years of relevant professional experience.
• 5+ years in leadership or management roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead identification, prioritization, and execution of Innovation Lab projects in the United States.
• Incubate and validate new business and technology opportunities.
• Build and lead high-performing cross-functional teams.
• Monitor industry trends and generate innovation opportunities.
• Drive external partnerships and align with Terumo's strategic objectives.

Skills

Leadership experience

Medical device industry

Strategic thinking

Interventional knowledge

MS Word/Excel/Teams/Outlook

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Job description

(Financial compensation packages may be higher/lower than listed, & will ultimately depend on factors including relevant experience, internal equity, skillset, knowledge, geography, education, business needs and market demand)

Responsible for leading the Terumo Interventional Systems (TIS) Innovation Lab in the United States and driving the identification, incubation, validation, and transition of innovative technologies, products, and business opportunities for TIS. Working under the guidance of the GM of Discovery and Technology Center of Terumo (D-TECT), responsible for advancing early-stage innovation projects, building cross-functional teams, and accelerating the development of strategic opportunities that strengthen TIS's medium- and long-term competitiveness.

What You'll be Doing

Lead and manage TIS Innovation Lab activities under the guidance of the GM of D-TECT

• Lead the identification, prioritization, and execution of Innovation Lab projects in the United States
• Establish project objectives, milestones, governance processes, and success criteria
• Provide regular progress updates and recommendations to the Scout Committee
• Manage Innovation Lab resources to maximize project outcomes and organizational impact

Incubate and validate new business and technology opportunities

• Identify and evaluate emerging technologies, unmet clinical needs, and business opportunities with strategic relevance to TIS
• Lead feasibility assessments, proof-of-concept activities, and early-stage validation efforts
• Reduce technical and commercial risks through structured investigation and experimentation
• Develop transition strategies for successful projects into TIS Global R&D or Business Units for continued development and commercialization

Build and lead high-performing project teams

• Establish and lead multidisciplinary teams to pursue priority innovation opportunities
• Leverage expertise from D-TECT, Corporate R&D, Business Units, and external partners as needed
• Provide leadership, coaching, and direction to ensure alignment with Terumo's strategic objectives
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and rapid execution

Monitor industry trends and generate innovation opportunities

• Continuously monitor emerging technologies, competitive activities, market trends, and unmet healthcare needs
• Identify opportunities that align with TIS strategic growth priorities
• Develop business rationales and project proposals for presentation to the Scout Committee
• Support portfolio planning by recommending areas for future investment and exploration

Build and leverage external innovation networks

• Collaborate with the Networking Group to identify startups, academic institutions, venture ecosystems, research organizations, and strategic partners
• Establish and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders to expand TIS's innovation ecosystem
• Evaluate externally sourced opportunities and translate them into actionable Innovation Lab projects
• Foster partnerships that accelerate innovation and future business creation

Drive cross-functional alignment and accelerate project execution

• Build consensus among stakeholders across R&D, marketing, clinical, regulatory, quality, manufacturing, and business leadership
• Facilitate efficient decision-making and resource allocation to accelerate project progress
• Collaborate with relevant functions to ensure smooth project transitions and successful handoff to development organizations
• Promote a disciplined yet agile approach to innovation and project execution

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field of study
• Minimum twelve (12) years of relevant professional experience
• Minimum five (5) years of leadership or management responsibility
• Medical device industry experience
• Deep knowledge of Cardiology, Peripheral, Oncology and Venous intervention procedure
• Multiple start-up medical device company experience
• Proficient with MS Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of medical, engineering, and biomedical development and competitive environment
• Knowledge of clinical procedures and competitive products in interventional procedure

What Will Differentiate You from the Crowd

• Excellent analytical skills to produce accurate data and solution proposal
• Ability to use computer assisted engineering, design software, and equipment to perform engineering and design tasks

EEO

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status or any other characteristics protected by law.

If you are applying to perform work for Terumo Neuro in any position which will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find here a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which Terumo Neuro reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment.

Terumo Neuro will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.