Director, Product Development

Envista Holdings Corporation•Madison, WI

23h

About The Position

Position Summary: The Director of Product Development is responsible for leading the innovation, lifecycle management, and continuous improvement of Orascoptic’s core product portfolio, including optical loupes, illumination systems, and related accessories. This role ensures the company continues to lead the industry through differentiated innovation, superior product performance, and disciplined portfolio management. The Director oversees the product management and R&D teams responsible for advancing Orascoptic’s core technologies, improving product value, and delivering innovations that enhance clinician experience. This includes driving new product development, incremental innovation, and value engineering initiatives that improve performance, manufacturability, and profitability. Working closely with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Quality, and Envista leadership, this role ensures the product roadmap aligns with customer needs, commercial priorities, and operational capabilities. The Director plays a critical role in strengthening Orascoptic’s market leadership by delivering reliable innovation, optimizing the product portfolio, and improving the economics of the business.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life sciences, or related technical field required; MBA preferred.
10-15 years of experience in product development, engineering, or product management.
10+ years of leadership experience managing technical or product development teams.
Demonstrated success leading product innovation, lifecycle management, and cost optimization initiatives.
Experience working within regulated medical device environments is strongly preferred.
High integrity leader who builds trust quickly and drives alignment across technical, commercial, and operational teams.
Strong business and technical acumen with the ability to translate customer insights and market needs into effective product strategies.
Deep expertise in product development processes including concept development, engineering design, validation, and lifecycle management within regulated environments.
Proven ability to lead cross functional teams through complex product development programs from concept through commercialization.
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to evaluate technical tradeoffs, product performance, and cost drivers.
Experience leading portfolio strategy, product lifecycle management, and multi year product roadmaps.
Demonstrated success driving value engineering and cost optimization initiatives that improve margin and manufacturability.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business insights for leadership and cross functional teams.
Proven ability to build, develop, and lead high performing teams while fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Strong execution discipline with the ability to prioritize initiatives and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Product Strategy & Portfolio Leadership: Provides strategic leadership for Orascoptic’s core product portfolio, including loupes, illumination systems, and supporting accessories. Defines and executes the multi-year product roadmap focused on innovation, performance improvement, and portfolio expansion. Leads lifecycle management for existing products, ensuring continued competitiveness, differentiation, and profitability. Works closely with Sales and Marketing to ensure product strategies align with market needs, commercial priorities, and customer insights.
Research & Development Leadership: Leads the global R&D organization responsible for the design, development, and validation of new optical products and product enhancements. Drives innovation focused on optical performance, ergonomics, durability, and clinician experience. Ensures development programs are executed with speed, technical rigor, and strong cross functional collaboration. Partners with Operations and Manufacturing to ensure new designs are scalable, manufacturable, and aligned with cost targets. Maintains close alignment with Quality and Regulatory to ensure compliance with medical device requirements.
Value Engineering & Product Optimization (VAVE): Leads value engineering initiatives across the portfolio to improve margins, reduce costs, and enhance manufacturability without compromising product performance or customer experience. Identifies opportunities for product simplification, component standardization, and design improvements. Works closely with Operations, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing teams to drive cost reduction initiatives and operational efficiencies. Ensures VAVE initiatives are prioritized and executed with strong financial impact.
Product Management & Lifecycle Excellence: Leads the product management team responsible for portfolio strategy, product lifecycle management, and product positioning. Defines pricing strategies, product segmentation, and competitive positioning in partnership with Marketing and Sales. Ensures product decisions are grounded in customer insights, market analysis, and financial performance. Monitors portfolio performance and drives actions to optimize growth, margin, and product relevance.
Customer Insights & Clinical Engagement: Builds strong relationships with key opinion leaders, clinicians, and industry experts to identify unmet needs and product improvement opportunities. Leverages field feedback and customer insights to guide innovation and portfolio strategy. Partners with marketing to translate customer insights into differentiated product offerings and compelling value propositions.
Leadership, Collaboration & Continuous Improvement: Builds and leads a high performing team across product management and R&D, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and collaboration. Partners with senior leadership to ensure product strategy supports overall business objectives and growth plans. Applies Envista Business System principles to drive continuous improvement, operational discipline, and standard work across product development processes. Leads cross functional collaboration with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Finance to accelerate execution and business impact.