Baxter International Inc. · 15 hours ago
Senior Director, Research and Innovation, Advanced Surgery
Deerfield, Illinois
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$216K/yr - $297K/yr
15+ years expBaxter International Inc. is a leading healthcare company dedicated to saving and sustaining lives. The Senior Director, Research & Innovation for Advanced Surgery will lead the strategic direction of early-stage research and technology development, focusing on innovative solutions for surgical care.
BiotechnologyClinical TrialsHealth CareMedical
Responsibilities
Define and execute the long-range research and innovation strategy for Advanced Surgery, with a focus on drug/device combination technologies, local drug delivery, biologics, and biomaterials
Identify and prioritize emerging science and technology opportunities in areas such as anti-adhesion, infection prevention, wound healing, hemostasis, tissue regeneration, and controlled drug release
Build and manage a multi-year innovation portfolio that balances internal R&D programs with external partnerships and exploratory research
Provide scientific leadership in the design and development of local and regional drug delivery solutions, including formulation, stability, and release kinetics
Guide preclinical strategy and translational science to enable robust development pathways for drug-device combination products
Partner closely with Regulatory, Clinical, Quality, and CMC functions to ensure alignment with drug development requirements and regulatory frameworks
Lead multidisciplinary teams of scientists and engineers across biomaterials, drug delivery, pharmaceutical sciences, and surgical technologies
Foster a culture of scientific excellence, creativity, and executional rigor
Ensure effective transition of early concepts to product development programs through disciplined stage-gate processes
Establish strategic collaborations with academic centers, startups, and industry partners to accelerate access to emerging technologies and novel drug delivery approaches
Lead technical assessments and due diligence for external opportunities (licensing, acquisition, co-development)
Represent Baxter as a scientific and innovation thought leader at key conferences, consortiums, and industry forums
Drive measurable impact on Baxter Advanced Surgery’s innovation pipeline through new IP generation, platform extensions, and early-stage development programs
Manage budgets and resources effectively to maximize portfolio value and strategic alignment
Partner with commercial, medical, and clinical functions to ensure innovation aligns with unmet surgical needs and market opportunities
Qualification
Required
Ph.D. or equivalent in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related discipline. Advanced business degree a plus
15+ years of progressive R&D leadership experience in medical devices, drug delivery, or combination product development
Demonstrated expertise in biomaterial implants, drug formulation, delivery technologies, and translational science
Proven track record advancing programs from concept through IND-enabling or equivalent preclinical/early development stages
Experience with regulatory strategy and clinical pathways for drug-device combination products
Strong communication, strategic thinking, and organizational leadership skills
Must possess strong knowledge of scientific disciplines and solid knowledge of related disciplines. Specific knowledge of Oxidized Cellulose, PEG Hydrogels (for tissue sealing and drug delivery), Fibrin Sealants, Gelatin, Collagen, Recombinant drug development, and Synthetic implantable biomaterials is required
Knowledge of quality and general business systems
Must possess strong ability to negotiate for resources and influence others internally and externally
Must be able to set strategic direction for the organization and broadly communicate the vision
Ability to operate on a much broader scope
Benefits
Medical and dental coverage that start on day one
Insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), with the ability to purchase company stock at a discount
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), with options for employee contributions and company matching
Flexible Spending Accounts
Educational assistance programs
Paid holidays
Paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service
Family and medical leaves of absence
Paid parental leave
Commuting benefits
Employee Discount Program
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Childcare benefits
Company
Baxter International Inc.
For nearly a century, we have delivered on our commitment to saving and sustaining the lives of patients, working alongside clinicians and providers around the world.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Baxter International Inc. has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (15)
2024 (10)
2023 (17)
2022 (18)
2021 (6)
2020 (14)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$2.28BKey Investors
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
2025-12-08Post Ipo Debt· $600M
2021-04-21Grant· $1.81M
2019-05-15Post Ipo Debt· $1.68B
Leadership Team
Andrew Hider
President and Chief Executive Officer
Giuseppe Accogli
EVP & Chief Operating Officer
Recent News
Company data provided by crunchbase