Head of Product Development – Biotech Medical Products (m/f/d)

Employer

Our client is an internationally medium-sized company operating at the interface between biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology. At its North German facility, the company develops, manufactures, and sells innovative products for surgical wound care on an international scale.

Role

As Head of Product Development – Biotech Medical Products, you will be responsible for strategy-driven product development for the Group’s global markets. Your primary focus will be on the application-oriented development of market-ready products. You will guide plant-based active substance- and material concepts through structured development processes and manage projects from medical and technical feasibility assessments through CE marking and handover to production.

You combine scientific expertise with product knowledge, regulatory compliance, and systematic project management. You will report directly to the CEO and work closely with Regulatory Affairs, Quality Management, Production, Medical Management, and Product Management. Other key interfaces include surgeons, hospitals, scientific institutions, testing laboratories, and external development partners. The company combines in-house research and development expertise with short decision-making paths, industrial production, and an international market perspective. As part of a long-term succession plan, the position of Head of Product Development is now being filled.

Responsibilities

• Strategic and operational leadership of product development for surgical wound care, hemostasis, and adhesion prevention
• Further development of the product and innovation roadmap in coordination with the CEO, the market, and medical users
• Management of development projects from the product idea through CE marking and market launch
• Ensuring scientifically reliable, regulatory-compliant, and industrially viable product developments
• Management of external development-, testing-, and research partners
• Responsibility for resources, budgets, priorities, timelines, and development risks
• Close collaboration with Regulatory Affairs, Quality Management, Production, and Medical Management

Expected competence profile

• A master’s degree in biotechnology, biochemistry, biology, pharmacy, human medicine, medical technology, or a comparable field in the natural sciences or medicine
• Several years of professional experience in industrial product development, ideally in biotechnology, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, or the life sciences
• Demonstrable responsibility for product development from concept through approval, CE marking, or market launch
• Experience with surgical wound care, hemostasis, biomaterials, adhesion prevention, or comparable medical applications is a plus
• In-depth understanding of regulated development processes as well as the requirements of the MDR, ISO 13485, and CE labeling
• Leadership experience in interdisciplinary development areas or complex product development projects
• Strong strategic, analytical, and entrepreneurial skills
• Clear decision-making ability, a results-oriented approach, and assertive communication
• Very good English skills and good German skills

A Ph.D. is preferred but not required. What matters most is proven experience in product development