Director, R&D Operations

Vantive • Deerfield, IL

2d • $200,000 - $260,000

About The Position

Vantive is a vital organ therapy company on a mission to extend lives and expand possibilities for patients and care teams everywhere. For 70 years, our team has driven meaningful innovations in kidney care. As we build on our legacy, we are deepening our commitment to elevating the dialysis experience through digital solutions and advanced services, while looking beyond kidney care and investing in transforming vital organ therapies. Greater flexibility and efficiency in therapy administration for care teams, and longer, fuller lives for patients— that is what Vantive aspires to deliver. We believe Vantive will not only build our leadership in the kidney care space, it will also offer meaningful work to those who join us. At Vantive, you will become part of a community of people who are focused, courageous and don’t settle for the mediocre. Each of us is driven to help improve patients’ lives worldwide. Join us in advancing our mission to extend lives and expand possibilities. The Director of R&D Operations is a strategic leadership role responsible for providing organizational, administrative, and operational leadership for a dynamic, growing global R&D organization. Reporting directly to the SVP, R&D, this role serves as a trusted advisor, thought partner, and operational leader, ensuring the execution of strategic initiatives, organizational priorities, and cross-functional collaboration and decision-making. The Director partners closely with the SVP R&D to define and drive implementation of R&D priorities and plays a key role in fostering a highly inclusive culture where team members thrive. Strategic & Operational Leadership Provides strategic, organizational, and administrative leadership for day-to-day operations of the R&D organization. Partners closely with SVP R&D to define & drive implementation of R&D strategies, investment priorities, determine future capability needs tied to future growth strategy. Drives alignment across R&D priorities, programs, and resources to ensure execution against business objectives. Develops and presents sound proposals and recommendations; leads discussions to determine and prioritize strategic priorities. Serves as trusted advisor to SVP R&D and senior leadership, synthesizing complex business inputs from across the company to inform Acts as an internal consultant to drive collaboration, cross-functional clarity, and alignment on R&D projects, initiatives, and operations. Business Operations & Process Excellence Implements and continuously improves R&D business processes, governance frameworks, and reporting mechanisms. Works with the SVP of R&D to manage budgets, forecast spending, and coordinate annual financial processes. Partners with SVP of R&D, RDLT, and Finance to support resourcing, AOP planning, and quarterly financial updates. Partners with Finance and the SVP to develop and refine long-range financial plans, ensuring R&D investment strategies align with corporate growth and innovation goals. Manages special projects and strategic initiatives on behalf of the SVP of R&D. Supports a broad range of functional areas and partners on or leads R&D projects as needed. Utilizes excellent planning skills to ensure all department projects remain on track and teams are aligned. Identifies best practices across functions to fast-track efficiencies and impact. Objectively assesses and resolves R&D project and operational issues by identifying root causes as opportunities to improve effectiveness. Maintains a high compliance posture and ensures adherence to company policies, quality system requirements, and other legal and regulatory directives. Leadership & Communication Plays a key role in ensuring a highly inclusive culture within R&D, demonstrating and fueling Vantive’s Cultural Values across the Global R&D team. Drives the establishment of R&D communications objectives and their implementation across multiple platforms (including but not limited to board meetings, townhalls, investor meetings). Serves as a key liaison between SVP R&D and internal/external stakeholders, ensuring timely and effective communication. Prepares executive-level communications utilizing a clear understanding of the business strategy. Tracks and reports progress across key operational activities (e.g., hiring updates, tracking progress against established key priorities and goals). Builds strong relationships across the organization to drive collaboration and foster a culture of accountability and innovation.

Requirements

• Proven record of leading large-scale programs, business operations, or portfolio management in a complex, global environment.
• Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Strong executive presence with proven ability to influence and collaborate at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience preparing executive-level presentations and reports.
• Demonstrated ability to drive process improvement, change management, and organizational effectiveness.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, life sciences, business, or related field required with 10+ years of relevant experience required.
• Relevant experience includes work in medical device software engineering (e.g., quality management systems—ISO 13485, ISO 14971, cybersecurity, internationalization, localization, integration, mobility) or other regulated industries.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or PhD in similar fields preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic, organizational, and administrative leadership for day-to-day operations of the R&D organization.
• Partners closely with SVP R&D to define & drive implementation of R&D strategies, investment priorities, determine future capability needs tied to future growth strategy.
• Drives alignment across R&D priorities, programs, and resources to ensure execution against business objectives.
• Develops and presents sound proposals and recommendations; leads discussions to determine and prioritize strategic priorities.
• Serves as trusted advisor to SVP R&D and senior leadership, synthesizing complex business inputs from across the company to inform
• Acts as an internal consultant to drive collaboration, cross-functional clarity, and alignment on R&D projects, initiatives, and operations.
• Implements and continuously improves R&D business processes, governance frameworks, and reporting mechanisms.
• Works with the SVP of R&D to manage budgets, forecast spending, and coordinate annual financial processes.
• Partners with SVP of R&D, RDLT, and Finance to support resourcing, AOP planning, and quarterly financial updates.
• Partners with Finance and the SVP to develop and refine long-range financial plans, ensuring R&D investment strategies align with corporate growth and innovation goals.
• Manages special projects and strategic initiatives on behalf of the SVP of R&D.
• Supports a broad range of functional areas and partners on or leads R&D projects as needed.
• Utilizes excellent planning skills to ensure all department projects remain on track and teams are aligned.
• Identifies best practices across functions to fast-track efficiencies and impact.
• Objectively assesses and resolves R&D project and operational issues by identifying root causes as opportunities to improve effectiveness.
• Maintains a high compliance posture and ensures adherence to company policies, quality system requirements, and other legal and regulatory directives.
• Plays a key role in ensuring a highly inclusive culture within R&D, demonstrating and fueling Vantive’s Cultural Values across the Global R&D team.
• Drives the establishment of R&D communications objectives and their implementation across multiple platforms (including but not limited to board meetings, townhalls, investor meetings).
• Serves as a key liaison between SVP R&D and internal/external stakeholders, ensuring timely and effective communication.
• Prepares executive-level communications utilizing a clear understanding of the business strategy.
• Tracks and reports progress across key operational activities (e.g., hiring updates, tracking progress against established key priorities and goals).
• Builds strong relationships across the organization to drive collaboration and foster a culture of accountability and innovation.

Benefits

• Our health and well-being benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage that start on day one, as well as insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance.
• Financial and retirement benefits include the Aon Pooled Employer Plan (“Aon PEP”), Vantive’s 401(k) retirement savings plan, to help you prepare for your future.
• We also offer Flexible Spending Accounts, educational assistance programs, and time-off benefits such as paid holidays, paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service, family and medical leaves of absence, and paid parental leave.
• Additional benefits include commuting benefits, the Employee Discount Program, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and childcare benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director