Director, R&D Operations - AI & Digital Enablement

Changing lives. Building Careers.
 

Joining us is a chance to do important work that creates change and shapes the future of healthcare. Thinking differently is what we do best. To us, change equals opportunity. Every day, our colleagues are challenging what’s possible and making headway to innovate new treatment pathways to advance patient outcomes and set new standards of care.

Changing What’s Possible

At Integra LifeSciences, we are dedicated to restoring patients’ lives through innovative solutions in regenerative tissue technologies, neurosurgery, and surgical reconstruction. Our employees are united by a shared purpose: to improve outcomes for healthcare professionals and the patients they serve.

Position Summary

The Director, R&D Operations, AI & Digital Enablement serves as  the recognized R&D authority and internal thought leader for AI, digital enablement, and R&D operating effectiveness. As a strategic partner to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and R&D Leadership Team, the role defines the AI and digital strategy for the global R&D organization, and shapes the standards, operating models, and capabilities required to deliver measurable scientific and business outcomes.

As a key member of the Office of the CTO, this role leads and executes a significant component of R&D functional strategy by leading operating mechanisms, governance, executive communications, and complex cross-functional initiatives that strengthen execution, alignment, and decision-making. The Director champions new AI-enabled systems, concepts, technologies, and ways of working across R&D, solving unique and complex challenges with broad impact on R&D productivity, innovation, portfolio execution, and business performance.

Principal Responsibilities

R&D Operations & Organizational Effectiveness

• Partner with the CTO and R&D Leadership Team to shape and execute R&D functional strategy, translating long-term priorities into operating plans, resource recommendations, standards, and measurable outcomes.
• Lead strategic and cross-functional initiatives sponsored by the CTO, developing and implementing new operating approaches that improve productivity, accelerate time-to-market, and enhance overall R&D effectiveness
• Establish metrics, reporting, and executive dashboards that provide visibility into priorities, resources, risks, dependencies, and organizational performance.
• Solve unique and highly complex organizational, portfolio, and technology-enabled challenges by developing innovative analyses, recommendations, and decision frameworks that influence R&D direction and senior executive decisions.
• Lead strategic and cross-functional initiatives sponsored by the CTO and continuously improve R&D processes and operating effectiveness.

Strategic Communications and Organizational Influence

• Advance strategic initiatives and organizational alignment on behalf of the Office of the CTO.
• Develop communication and engagement strategies that reinforce R&D priorities, business objectives, progress, and organizational change.
• Partner with the CTO and R&D Leadership Team on executive messaging, organizational narratives, and communication approaches that strengthen alignment, engagement, and adoption of strategic initiatives.
• Partner with Communications, Human Resources, and functional leaders to ensure messaging, change management, and stakeholder engagement strategies are aligned with R&D objectives.
• Support CTO interactions with Executive Leadership, Board presentations, strategic reviews, and enterprise initiatives.

AI & Digital Enablement

• Define, own, and execute the R&D AI and digital enablement strategy, multi-year roadmap, standards, and operating model for the global R&D organization, aligned with enterprise technology, data, security, and compliance requirements.
• Anticipate emerging AI, automation, analytics, and digital trends and determine how they should be applied across R&D to address unmet needs, enable new capabilities, and materially improve scientific, operational, and portfolio outcomes.
• Develop and govern  a portfolio of AI and digital initiatives aligned with R&D strategy, making recommendations that influence investment priorities, capability standards, adoption measures,  impact, and value realization across the function.     
• Champion the development and scaling of new AI-enabled systems, concepts, technologies, and standards across R&D, partnering with enterprise technology, data, legal, privacy, security, quality, and business leaders to govern risk and drive sustainable value.
• Serve as R&D’s leading internal expert and thought leader for AI and digital enablement, establishing functional practices, decision principles, and capability-building approaches that shape adoption and ways of working across the global R&D organization.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CTO and R&D Leadership Team on R&D operating strategy, AI and digital trends, emerging risks, investment choices, and new approaches that may change functional direction.
• Build strong partnerships across R&D, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial, Information Technology, Finance, Human Resources, Communications, Legal, Corporate Strategy, and Business Development.
• Facilitate alignment, decision-making, accountability, and execution across organizational boundaries.
• Partner with enterprise leaders to strengthen governance, compliance, evidence generation, innovation, operational readiness, and business continuity.
• Support strategic assessments, technology evaluations, external collaborations, innovation partnerships, and acquisition-related activities, as appropriate.
• Lead through expert influence in direct and matrixed relationships, communicating highly conceptual ideas and persuading senior leaders to adopt new or divergent approaches; drive and support organizational transformation and capability building.

Qualifications

• 12+ year’s experience with Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Technology, Business, or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Significant experience in R&D strategy and operations, AI and/or digital transformation, organizational effectiveness, or related disciplines, with broad knowledge across scientific, technology, data, regulatory, quality, and business domains.
• Demonstrated success partnering with senior executives and translating strategic priorities into measurable outcomes.
• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in a matrixed organization and influence across enterprise functions.
• Strong business acumen, analytical capability, executive presence, facilitation, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Demonstrated success defining functional AI or digital strategy and championing new systems, concepts, technologies, standards, or methodologies that produced broad and measurable organizational impact.
• Experience in medical devices, life sciences, healthcare, or another regulated industry preferred.

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate is a recognized internal thought leader who combines mastery of R&D operations and AI-enabled transformation with broad knowledge across scientific, technology, data, regulatory, quality, and business disciplines.  This individual develops innovative approaches to unique and complex challenges, translates highly conceptual ideas into scalable solutions, and influences senior leaders to adopt new or divergent points of view. The role requires comfort operating under consultative direction toward long-term objectives in a highly visible environment, navigating ambiguity, influencing across organizational boundaries, and driving outcomes that shape R&D performance, capability, and direction.

Role Purpose

Enable a high-performing R&D organization by strengthening operational excellence, defining the R&D AI and digital strategy, and championing innovative systems, standards, concepts, and ways of working that deliver broad and measurable impact, while fostering effective collaboration across the enterprise.

Salary Pay Range:

$166,750.00 - $228,850.00 USD Salary

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is determined by several factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for bonus, commission, equity or other variable compensation. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Additional Description for Pay Transparency:

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees and/or eligible dependents are eligible to participate in the following Company sponsored employee benefit programs: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, business accident insurance, and group legal insurance, and savings plan (401(k)).

Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, Employees are eligible for the following Total Rewards | Integra LifeSciences

Integra LifeSciences is an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees regardless of race, marital status, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.

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