Sr Director Strategic Platform Execution

At Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, our 8,000+ global associates impact the lives of patients around the world by creating medical devices and related products used to collect, separate, manufacture, and process blood and cell components. With innovative technologies and service offerings, we touch a patient’s life every second of every day.

About the role

The Senior Director, Strategic Platform Execution leads a global organization accountable for bringing TerumoBCT's devices, disposables, and software to market. This role reports to the Senior Vice President, R&D and sits on the R&D Leadership Team, owning how work is planned, prioritized, sequenced, and delivered across multiple sites. It establishes standards and governance to ensure predictable delivery and serves as the senior R&D voice on product development priorities. The Senior Director advises executive leadership on long-range strategy and investment, resolves competing priorities, and drives results—from market share growth to cost reduction and improved product quality in both developed and emerging markets.

The role operates through influence rather than direct authority, as functional engineering teams are peers. Success depends on setting effective frameworks and building credibility with these teams, as well as with Commercial partners, including Enterprise Marketing. Together, they shape roadmaps, product line strategies, value propositions, and cross-functional Product Lifecycle Management. The Senior Director translates Commercial needs into achievable R&D commitments.

Strategic Platform Execution is a newly formed organization, offering the opportunity to define its structure and shape how TerumoBCT develops products in the years ahead.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior authority and global leader for platform, program, and project execution across devices, disposables, and software, representing the organization with internal and external stakeholders.
• Own planning and decision-making for the portfolio, advising top management on long-range global platform strategy.
• Act as the primary R&D interface to Commercial, including Enterprise Marketing, partnering on roadmapping, product line strategies, value propositions, and cross-functional Product Lifecycle Management. Identify and advance new product opportunities with a clear view of value and risk.
• Design and implement frameworks for R&D operational excellence, including standard methods for project execution, resource use, performance measurement, and continuous improvement.
• Develop, execute, and refine the organization’s build, buy, and borrow competency, setting criteria for insourcing, outsourcing, or partnering, and leading partner selection, integration, and governance.
• Establish systematic approaches for portfolio management, resource planning, and program execution across multiple global sites.
• Lead change management and communication to drive cultural transformation in global R&D, adjusting strategies based on adoption and impact.
• Define metrics and governance to track operational performance, progress on change initiatives, and alignment with desired work practices.
• Determine the organizational structure and staffing needs, and oversee the development of leaders and teams in a global, cross-functional environment.
• Collaborate across regional and functional boundaries to meet business objectives and project timelines.
• Ensure product design and documentation comply with FDA and global regulatory requirements, set standards for technical documentation and product lifecycle management, and lead or sponsor quality system remediation and major quality initiatives.
• Communicate with senior management and external customers on program, strategic, and business matters, translating complex solutions for both technical and non-technical audiences.

Requirements

• B.S. degree in Engineering (required).
• M.S. or PhD in Engineering combined with a management degree (preferred).
• Minimum 15 years of progressive engineering experience, with at least 10 years leading engineering teams, including experience managing other people leaders.
• Minimum of 5 years in the medical device industry or an equivalently regulated industry.
• Proven track record managing complex portfolios, measured by the number of concurrent programs, annual revenue supported, and geographic footprint.
• Experience delivering commercialized products that combine devices, disposables, and software, with clear accountability for outcomes.
• Experience with insourced, outsourced, and partnered development models, including partner selection, governance structures, and achieved results.
• Demonstrated success leading scalable and durable operational or process changes that remained in place after initial implementation.
• Direct engagement with FDA or comparable regulatory bodies, including submissions, inspections, or audits, and a defined role in each.
• Experience developing and advancing leaders, with measurable succession outcomes.

Skills

• Credibility as both a platform authority and operational leader, setting portfolio direction while ensuring disciplined execution.
• Ability to build R&D operating models, governance, and standards that endure beyond individual programs and leadership changes.
• Deep expertise in Design Controls and Quality Management Systems, with the authority to lead quality system remediation and defend decisions to regulators.
• Proficiency in portfolio and program management methods, applied at a global, multi-site scale.
• Skill in developing and maturing build, buy, and borrow capabilities, including sourcing models and partnership strategies that strengthen over time.
• Ability to structure and govern external development relationships while maintaining accountability for quality, design control, intellectual property, and schedule without relinquishing internal ownership.
• Sound judgment on platform trade-offs, guiding top management on portfolio direction, sequencing, and investment decisions.
• Ability to align senior stakeholders across a matrixed, consensus-driven, multi-region organization without relying on direct authority.
• Experience developing senior leaders and building succession depth for critical roles.
• Ability to connect platform roadmaps to business outcomes such as market share, cost, margin, and time to market.
• Use of performance data to identify and close execution gaps, rather than merely reporting status.
• Ability to make trade-off decisions on scope, resources, quality, and risk with incomplete information.

Physical Requirements

Typical office environment requirements include reading, speaking, hearing, close vision, walking, bending, sitting, and occasional lifting up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties. Up to 25% international travel is required.

Pay

Target pay range: $245,900.00 to $307,400.00 (salary determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills, internal equity, and market alignment). Target bonus on base: 40.0%.

Benefits

• Competitive total rewards, including compensation, benefits, and recognition programs.
• Multiple group medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Robust wellness program.
• Life insurance and disability coverages.
• Voluntary benefits such as group accident, hospital indemnity, critical illness, and pet insurance.
• 401(k) plan with matching contribution.
• Vacation and sick time programs.