Vice President, Research & Development – Capital and Software Systems

Role Overview

• Champion and deliver a breakthrough innovation agenda across Cataract and Refractive Surgery platforms, including capital equipment, lasers, software, and digital solutions.
• Provide visionary leadership that enables bold innovation choices, disciplined portfolio investment, and thoughtful long term technology bets.
• Drive rapid experimentation, platform evolution, and transformation across hardware, software, and integrated digital ecosystems.
• Foster external innovation through partnerships, technology scouting, and ecosystem engagement.
• Set the R&D vision and strategic direction for the Cataract & Refractive portfolio, aligned with clinical needs, customer insights, and enterprise strategy.
• Lead development of an integrated, multi-year roadmap that connects core innovation, next generation platforms, and transformational opportunities.
• Ensure strong governance, prioritization, and trade off decisions across programs, balancing speed, risk, and impact.
• Partner closely with Regulatory, Quality, and Clinical teams to ensure robust development pathways and successful global launches.
• Collaborate closely with Global Strategic Marketing, Medical Affairs, Clinical, Regulatory, Quality, Supply Chain, Digital, and Manufacturing to deliver end to end platform solutions.
• Translate customer, surgeon, and patient needs into differentiated technical solutions across physical and digital products.
• Communicate R&D strategy, portfolio progress, and innovation outcomes to executive leadership and key stakeholders.
• Lead and develop high performing, multidisciplinary R&D teams spanning mechanical, optical, laser, software, systems, and digital disciplines.
• Build organizational capabilities in platform thinking, systems integration, software and digital development, and customer centric design.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, scientific rigor, and inclusion, while developing next generation technical and people leaders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Degree in a technical field such as Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related discipline required
• Minimum 10–12+ years of progressive R&D experience, including senior leadership of large, complex technical organizations
• Demonstrated experience delivering breakthrough or platform level innovation, ideally across capital equipment, lasers, and/or software enabled medical devices
• Strong business acumen with experience aligning technical strategy to commercial and clinical outcomes
• Proven track record of leading programs from concept through development, regulatory approval, and global launch
• Exceptional communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence at the executive level

Benefits

• Eligible for an annual performance bonus
• Cash bonus for achieving targeted results
• Participation in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension)
• 401(k) savings plan
• Vacation –120 hours per calendar year
• Sick time
• 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in Colorado –48 hours; Washington –56 hours
• 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