Sr. Director, R&D Technology, PLM, Othopedics

Johnson & Johnson • Brunswick, OH

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Johnson & Johnson announced plans to separate our Orthopaedics business to establish a standalone Orthopaedics company, operating as DePuy Synthes. The process of the planned separation is anticipated to be completed within 18 to 24 months, subject to legal requirements, including consultation with works councils and other employee representative bodies, as may be required, regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and approvals. Should you accept this position, it is anticipated that, following conclusion of the transaction, you would be an employee of DePuy Synthes, and your employment would be governed by DePuy Synthes employment processes, programs, policies, and benefit plans. In that case, details of any planned changes would be provided to you by DePuy Synthes at an appropriate time and subject to any necessary consultation processes. About DePuy Synthes DePuy Synthes is a global leader in Orthopaedics, advancing patient care through innovative solutions across joint reconstruction, trauma, spine, sports medicine, and related surgical technologies. As DePuy Synthes separates from Johnson & Johnson to become the world’s largest, most comprehensive Orthopaedics-focused company, the organization is entering a defining chapter—establishing its own corporate identity, voice, culture, and reputation while continuing to serve patients, customers, and healthcare systems around the world. Job Overview The Senior Director, R&D Technology, Product Lifecycle provides enterprise leadership for the strategy, roadmap, and delivery of R&D medical device product lifecycle capabilities that enable end‑to‑end product development and lifecycle execution across DePuy Synthes. This role partners closely with R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Digital teams to ensure product lifecycle platforms, data, and processes support innovation, compliance, and speed to market. The role has a significant impact on how products are designed, developed, governed, and sustained across the organization and plays a critical role in R&D innovation, enabling scalable, compliant, and data‑driven R&D operations and reports into the DePuy Synthes Technology organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required in Information Technology, Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 12-15 years of progressive experience in IT or digital technology roles, with significant experience supporting R&D or product development organizations.
• Proven leadership experience at director or senior director level, managing complex, cross‑functional teams and programs.
• Demonstrated leadership of enterprise‑scale PLM platforms and complex system implementations including product data governance.
• Demonstrate expertise in Materials Management, Risk and Requirements management, and medical device Product Portfolio Management.
• Strong understanding of end‑to‑end product lifecycle processes, including requirements and risk management, portfolio planning, and engineering analysis/simulation workflows.
• Clear understanding of medical device product digital thread concepts and connection to upstream and downstream applications (e.g. SAP, MES, Regulatory)
• Demonstrate expertise in leveraging AI in product lifecycle to increase efficiency in product development.
• Strong understanding of regulated product development environments (e.g., medical devices, life sciences, or similarly regulated industries).
• Ability to translate business strategy into technology roadmaps and executable delivery plans.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at senior leadership levels.
• English required.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree (e.g., MS, MBA) preferred.
• Experience supporting orthopedics, medical devices, or life sciences R&D organizations.
• Proven experience leading and developing global, cross‑functional teams.
• Experience with leading enterprise platforms: Windchill, MatVault, and Codebeamer
• Familiarity with advanced analytics within Product Lifecycle environments.
• Experience leading technology transformation initiatives across global organizations.
• Knowledge of Quality and Regulatory processes as they relate to product development systems.
• PLM, Agile, or IT leadership certifications preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Set and own the enterprise Product Lifecycle strategy and roadmap aligned to DePuy Synthes R&D, business priorities, and digital transformation goals.
• Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of product lifecycle platforms, integrations, and data models supporting the full medical device product lifecycle.
• Partner with R&D, Quality, Regulatory, and Supply Chain leaders to ensure Product Lifecycle solutions enable compliant, efficient, and best in class product development processes.
• Oversee governance, data integrity, and change management for Product Lifecycle systems to ensure consistency, traceability, and regulatory readiness.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing global team of technology and product professionals, fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Manage relationships with key technology vendors and implementation partners, including budgeting, contracts, and performance oversight.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to streamline workflows, reduce complexity, and enhance user experience across R&D technology platforms.
• Ensure alignment with enterprise IT standards, cybersecurity requirements, and data privacy policies.
• Lead the application of AI, advanced analytics, and automation to modernize R&D platforms, accelerating product development, improving scientific and engineering insights, and strengthening end‑to‑end decision‑making while enabling scalable, compliant, and efficient R&D operations from discovery through lifecycle management.

Benefits

• Vacation –120 hours
• Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year
• Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year
• Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
• Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child
• Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
• Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period
• Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
• Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year

What This Job Offers

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