Director, R&D Portfolio Program Management

Bausch + Lomb; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 175,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Bausch + Lomb is seeking a Director of R&D Global Portfolio and Project Management to lead a team of project managers and coordinators across a designated business vertical. The role drives governance, ensures alignment with strategy, and mentors staff to strengthen the GPPM function.

The Director translates customer needs into product requirements, guides project valuation, and supports global registration and launch planning while promoting continuous process improvements and cross-functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level science or engineering degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years in Medical Device/Pharma industry experience.
• 10+ years in R&D project management and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of project managers and coordinators.
• Contribute to Project Management Leadership Team (PMLT) and governance.
• Translate customer needs into product requirements and drive project valuations.
• Plan for global registration and launch, define scope, budget, resources, and timelines.
• Manage risk, develop communication plans, and ensure regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic thinking

Portfolio management

Risk management

Education

BS/BA in Science or Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

MS Excel

MS Project

PowerPoint

Job description

Bausch + Lomb (NYSE/TSX: BLCO) is a leading global eye health company dedicated to protecting and enhancing the gift of sight for millions of people around the worldfrom the moment of birth through every phase of life. Our mission is simple, yet powerful: helping you see better, to live better.

Our comprehensive portfolio of over 400 products is fully integrated and built to serve our customers across the full spectrum of their eye health needs throughout their lives. Our iconic brand is built on the deep trust and loyalty of our customers established over our 170-year history. We have a significant global research, development, manufacturing and commercial footprint of approximately 13,000 employees and a presence in approximately 100 countries, extending our reach to billions of potential customers across the globe. We have long been associated with many of the most significant advances in eye health, and we believe we are well positioned to continue leading the advancement of eye health in the future.

Objective:

The Director is a key member of the R&D Global Portfolio and Project Management (GPPM) team, responsible for leading and developing a team of R&D project managers and coordinators. This role focuses on overseeing a portfolio of R&D development projects within a designated Bausch + Lomb business vertical (e.g., Vision Care, Surgical, or Pharmaceuticals/Consumer).

As the leader for the assigned business area, the Director facilitates and manages the New Product Development (NPD) governance board. They ensure the consistent and effective execution of projects and programs by applying standardized project management methodologies and industry best practices across all phases of development and lifecycle management. Additionally, the Director will serve on the Project Management Leadership Team (PMLT), contributing to cross-business unit initiatives aimed at enhancing processes and policies.

The Director is accountable for ensuring that all projects and programs within their portfolio are supported by a comprehensive global project strategy. This includes translating customer needs into product requirements, developing project valuations, planning for global registration and launch, and defining project scope, budget, resources, timelines, risk management strategies, and communication plans.

Beyond project oversight, the Director also plays a critical role in mentoring GPPM staff and may lead strategic initiatives or special projects across the broader R&D organization.

Responsibilities:

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead and manage a team of project managers to ensure successful execution of projects and programs.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and career development opportunities for GPPM staff.
• Collaborate with HR to attract, retain, and grow high-performing talent.
• Cultivate a high-performance, inclusive culture focused on continuous improvement.
• Manage the performance, succession planning, and annual compensation process for their assigned team. Address performance challenges constructively and proactively.

Strategic & Operational Oversight

• Contribute to the GPPM vision as a member of the Project Management Leadership Team (PMLT).
• Ensure program alignment with strategic objectives through effective governance, tools, and standards.
• Apply product development expertise, portfolio insights, and financial acumen to guide investment strategy and optimization.
• Facilitate the NPD Governance Board to oversee project strategy and execution.

Additional Responsibilities (If Managing Highly Complex Programs)

Program & Portfolio Leadership

• Lead cross-functional teams to develop and execute global product development strategies, including:
• Project scope and timelines
• Target Product Profile (TPP) and value drivers
• Financial modeling and risk analysis
• Regulatory strategy and launch planning
• Intellectual property (IP) strategy and functional execution
• May serve as Program Team Leader (PTL) or lead key initiatives across GPPM, R&D, or the broader organization.
• Navigate complexity and uncertainty using critical analysis and scenario planning.

Resource & Risk Management

• Develop and maintain resource plans; resolve conflicts to maintain project schedule commitments.
• Guide teams in proactive risk identification, mitigation, and contingency planning.
• Communicate project interdependencies, risks, and issues clearly and effectively.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication

• Partner with Commercial, Operations, and R&D to ensure full support for overall portfolio.
• Act as a central communication hub for project plans, status updates, and escalations.
• Maintain accurate data in GPPM systems and deliver timely reports to support decision-making.

Governance & Compliance

• Facilitate Business Gate Reviews to ensure alignment and approval of project progression.
• Ensure compliance with SOPs, GMPs, design control, EHS standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Promote the use of lessons learned and best practices across teams.

Budget Management & Innovation

• Manage portfolio budgets, prioritize initiatives for maximum value, and ensure financial discipline.
• Support business development activities, including due diligence and strategic partnerships.
• Champion innovative practices in program and portfolio management to enhance execution and accelerate time to market.

Requirements:

Education:

BS/BA in Science or Engineering, advanced degree in science, engineering or business preferred.

Experience:

10+ years of Medical Device/Pharma industry experience and 10+ years of experience in R&D Project Management and Leadership.

Special Skills:

Strong communication, organization, and presentation skills required.

Computer Literacy with skills in MS Excel, Word, Project, and PowerPoint.

Specialized Training:

MS Project (or equivalent) preferred.

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification a plus.

Agile Methodologies preferred for software projects.

Process Improvement:

Proven expertise in designing, implementing, and monitoring process improvement initiatives.

Systems Thinking & Operational Efficiency:

Experience defining and implementing policies, procedures, and systems to drive organizational effectiveness and sustainability.

Performance Under Pressure:

Highly effective at managing multiple competing priorities and deadlines, while maintaining positive, collaborative relationships.

Leadership & Influence:

Strong interpersonal skills, including active listening, emotional intelligence, and strong negotiation and influencing skills across all organizational levels, both internally and externally.

Skilled in leading through complex organizational dynamics, with the ability to influence, inspire, and achieve results through others.

Motivation & Team Enablement:

Demonstrates high energy and a results-driven mindset, consistently motivating teams to enable performance at all levels.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

For U.S. locations that require disclosure of compensation, the starting pay for this role is between $175,000.00 and $220,000.00. The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors.

[SHOULD BE INCLUDED WITH PAY TRANSPARENCY LANGUAGE IN THE PARAGRAPH ABOVE IF APPLICABLE] U.S. based employees may be eligible for short-term and/or long-term incentives. They may also be eligible to participate in medical, dental, vision insurance, disability and life insurance, a 401(k) plan and company match, a tuition reimbursement program (select degrees), company holidays, and well-being benefits, among others. U.S. based employees are also eligible to receive sick time, floating holidays and paid vacation.

Our US Benefit Programs:Employee Benefits: Bausch + Lomb (https://www.bausch.com/careers/benefits/)

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.