Senior Manager R&D – NPD Lead, Continence Care

Convatec

Senior Manager R&D overseeing new product development projects in Continence Care for a global medical solutions company. Leading cross-functional teams from concept to market launch.

Posted 7/9/2026full-timeDeeside • 🇬🇧 United KingdomSeniorWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Single point of accountability for delivering new product development projects towards first launch until commercial product owner/manager takes responsibility.
Accountability will be on strategy and execution on quality, time & cost and-spanning Commercial, Technology & Innovation and Global Quality and Operations activities.
Provide leadership and oversight for project teams and close partnership with project managers to deliver new products to the market.
Responsible for project scope definition, timelines, escalation, problem-solving and risk mitigation plans throughout the life of a project.
Lead the communication regarding a project(s) at the executive leadership forums such as business unit portfolio review and corporate executive leadership team meetings in alignment with the Head of Continence Care R&D.
Actively partner, influence, advocate and engage the wider business functions such as Regulatory Affairs, Clinical, Marketing, Quality and Operations etc. at both peer and senior level to enable the effective delivery of projects.
Ensure appropriate visibility and escalation in a timely and coordinated fashion.
Partner with project manager to define, detail and maintain a series of project plans with clearly identified milestones and execute accordingly to time, quality and cost.
Ensure detailed and accurate project plans are in place for both the technical aspects of the project and the overall delivery of the project in partnership with the project manager.
May lead and initiate interactions with 3rd party partners and vendors on technical issues and questions.
Identify activities which are needed to mitigate risk during all stages of the projects and resolve by proving out concepts through to practice using methods such as prototyping and or rapid simulation techniques.
Analyze, interpret and present data from product, process development, clinical and regulatory, quality and operations work in partnership with functional leaders which can enable appropriate stakeholder management and engagement, propose recommendations and support decision making.
Actively recruit maintain and develop a team of personnel who can deliver on the projects for 3-5 years, ensuring a competent and clear deputy for this role is in place.
Coach, train and advise others on design controls and new product development process as a whole.
Maintain compliance with company Health and Safety policies and ensure that direct reports are compliant.
Ensure that Quality standards are maintained via compliance with systems and SOPs, particularly in relation to Design Control.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Minimum 10 years of experience within the medical device, pharmaceutical, or other heavily regulated industries.
Minimum 5 years of technical management and/or leadership experience.
Proven track record of delivering New Product Development (NPD) projects from concept through to market launch.
Experience leading and influencing cross-functional teams.
Confident presenting to, influencing and engaging with C-Suite and senior executive leadership stakeholders.
Demonstrable experience in regulated medical device product development, including medical device design controls is desirable.
Working understanding of ISO 13485 and ISO 14971 standards, and FDA regulations for design controls.
Broad understanding of key project functions, including regulatory, quality, manufacturing, clinical, commercial and marketing.
Strong business and strategic mindset, with the ability to influence and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Excellent communicator and strategic thinker, with a strong bias for execution.
Ability to build, develop and coach cross-functional teams in line with Convatec High Performing Team principles.
Experience with the continence care market is preferred but not essential.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Flexible hybrid working model
Travel up to 25% of the time

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

New Product DevelopmentProject Scope DefinitionRisk MitigationData Analysis and InterpretationDesign Controls

Soft Skills

Excellent CommunicationStrategic ThinkingInfluencing SkillsCoaching and Training