Senior Director, Research and Innovation, Advanced Surgery

This is where your work makes a difference.

At Baxter, we believe every person—regardless of who they are or where they are from—deserves a chance to live a healthy life. It was our founding belief in 1931 and continues to be our guiding principle. We are redefining healthcare delivery to make a greater impact today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Our Baxter colleagues are united by our Mission to Save and Sustain Lives. Together, our community is driven by a culture of courage, trust, and collaboration. Every individual is empowered to take ownership and make a meaningful impact. We strive for efficient and effective operations, and we hold each other accountable for delivering exceptional results.

Here, you will find more than just a job—you will find purpose and pride. 

Your Role at Baxter:

Baxter’s Advanced Surgery division ($1+B) offers a portfolio of clinically proven biological products and medical devices used in surgical procedures for hemostasias, tissue sealing, adhesion prevention, bone & tissue repair and microsurgery as well as best-in-class programs to provide a holistic approach to optimizing surgical care.

As the Senior Director, Research & Innovation, Advanced Surgery, you will lead the strategic direction and execution of early-stage research, technology development, and external innovation. You will shape the future of surgery by advancing next-generation hemostats, sealants, tissue regeneration, and combination products that integrate drug, biologic, and device technologies.

You will drive the research strategy, build a robust innovation portfolio, and forge partnerships that enable differentiated drug-device solutions for complex surgical needs. You will bring a strong scientific background, deep experience in drug development and delivery, and a track record of translating science into commercial value.

What You’ll Be Doing:

Innovation Strategy & Portfolio Leadership

• 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.

Drug Development & Delivery Expertise

• 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.

Organizational & Technical Leadership

• 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.

External Innovation & Partnerships

• 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.

Strategic Execution & Impact

• 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.

Your Team:

Your Location:

The role is located at our global corporate headquarters