Head of R&D Costa Rica

JOB TITLE - Head of R&D Costa Rica

JOB SUMMARY

The Head of R&D Costa Rica is a Senior Manager level position responsible for establishing and leading TBCT’s (Terumo Blood Cell Technologies’ Costa Rica research and development site, primarily focused on sustaining activities for equipment and software across our global product lines. This role involves building a multifunctional engineering team from scratch, comprising electrical, mechanical, software, systems, and design quality functions. The incumbent will drive sustaining activities for existing product lines, ensuring alignment with global R&D strategies. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Global Product Engineering, this leader will be an active participant in the Global Product Engineering Leadership Team, contributing to worldwide R&D strategies and initiatives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Establish and develop the new Costa Rica R&D site, including facilities, infrastructure, and operational processes.
• Build and lead TBCT’s Costa Rica R&D team from the ground up, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and execute sustaining engineering strategies aligned with global R&D’s goals and market demands.
• Oversee sustaining activities for existing product lines, ensuring product performance, quality, and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with global R&D Functional Leaders to ensure consistency in processes and knowledge sharing.
• Manage resource allocation, budgeting, and project prioritization for the Costa Rica R&D function.
• Build and maintain relationships with local sources of engineering talent, including universities and technical institutions.
• Ensure compliance with quality management systems, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
• Identify and nurture top talent within the R&D organization through consistent coaching and mentoring of teams.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and market trends to inform sustaining engineering efforts.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Coordinate with representatives from the Quality organization to identify requirements and ensure compliance with Design Control procedures.
• Represent the Costa Rica R&D function in senior leadership meetings and cross-functional initiatives.
• Actively participate in the Global Product Engineering Leadership Team, contributing to global strategies and best practices.
• Align Costa Rica R&D initiatives with global product roadmaps and engineering objectives.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer and collaboration between the Costa Rica R&D team and other global R&D centers.
• Ensure alignment and compliance with local laws and global regulatory bodies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Bachelor's degree in an Engineering field (e.g., Biomedical, Mechanical, Electrical, Software Engineering or related discipline).
• Master's degree in an Engineering field or MBA preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in R&D within the medical device industry, with a strong focus on both hardware and software sustaining engineering.
• At least 5 years in a management capacity, preferably with experience in establishing new R&D sites or departments.
• Demonstrated experience in sustaining existing products and continuous improvement initiatives for medical equipment.
• Extensive experience working in a global R&D environment and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Proven ability to operate effectively within a matrix organization and influence at a senior level.
• Experience in building and scaling R&D teams from the ground up.

Skills

• Fluent in English and Spanish.
• Adaptability and resilience in facing challenges associated with establishing a new R&D site.
• Strong leadership and team-building abilities, with experience in recruiting and developing diverse engineering talent.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, particularly in establishing new operations.
• Strong cross-cultural communication skills and experience working in diverse, international teams.
• Strong business & financial acumen, including experience in budgeting for new site establishment.
• In-depth knowledge of medical device and software sustaining engineering processes and regulatory requirements.
• Proficiency in quality management systems and design control methodologies for both hardware and software.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Strategic thinking and ability to translate global R&D needs into local sustaining engineering initiatives.
• Ability to represent the Costa Rica R&D function effectively in global leadership forums.