Director, Materials Science

Pioneering trusted medical solutions to improve the lives we touch: Convatec is a global medical products and technologies company, focused on solutions for the management of chronic conditions, with leading positions in advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence care, and infusion care. With around 10,000 colleagues, we provide our products and services in almost 100 countries, united by a promise to be forever caring. Our solutions provide a range of benefits, from infection prevention and protection of at-risk skin, to improved patient outcomes and reduced care costs. Group revenues in 2024 were over $2 billion. The company is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index (LSE:CTEC). To learn more about Convatec, please visit http://www.convatecgroup.com

Change is everywhere at Convatec . It’s transforming our business, and helping us improve millions of lives. And we’re nowhere near finished. Across every part of our business, we’re pushing for better.

Join us on our journey to #ForeverCaring as a Director, Materials Science, and you’ll do the same.

 

The Director of Materials Science is a senior leader within Technology and Innovation (T&I)’s Applied Research organization, responsible for the organization’s materials science capabilities.  This individual is charged with building and managing a world class Materials Sciences team, comprising adhesives technologies, plastics engineering, and process science. The Director of Materials Science develops and drives a talent strategy, defines performance expectations and ways of working, allocates resources, and leads the team to deliver Convatec’s strategic priorities across front-end innovation, product development, and lifecycle management. 

The Director of Materials Science is also responsible for delivering technology development programs.  The Director of Materials Science is accountable for structuring multi-faceted research programs aimed at addressing identified needs, working in collaboration with partners throughout Convatec and externally to advance innovation in a structured, milestone-driven process.  This individual is expected to partner with a wide range of stakeholders, including Applied Research, New Product Development, Marketing, Medical and Clinical Affairs, Market Access, and External Innovation to develop innovative and differentiated technologies that can be taken into product development.

As a direct report to the Vice President, the Director of Materials Science, also has an important role as part of the leadership team for the Applied Research organization.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and Manage the Materials Science Team

• Translate business strategies into clear, actionable goals and plans for a team.
• Align team with strategy and set measurable performance expectations.
• Allocate resources across near- and long-term priorities, maintaining flexibility to adapt to changing needs.
• Anticipate challenges and opportunities to optimize team performance.
• Build relationships with peers, senior leaders, and direct reports to foster collaboration and shared goals.
• Enhance team effectiveness by fostering both individual growth and building collective capability.
• Develop and manage annual budgets aligned with business goals.
• Optimize resources (personnel, equipment, and other assets) to support objectives.
• Conduct talent reviews, performance evaluations, and drive succession planning.
• Track and meet KPIs such as project timelines, training completion, and operating metrics.

Lead Research Programs

• Develop clear research aims aligned with stakeholder expectations and identify sequential project milestones to measure against.
• Foster an open innovation approach, exploring multiple paths to achieve research goals.
• Matrix-manage cross-functional teams, ensuring collaboration and alignment.
• Partner cross-functionally, e.g. with Marketing, Medical and Clinical Affairs, Market Access, and External Innovation, to develop business cases for research programs.
• Cultivate relationships with external partners (academic institutions, contract labs, vendors) to support strategic innovation.
• Collaborate with project managers on resource planning, timelines, and milestone tracking to ensure seamless execution.
• Provide clear progress updates, recommending data-driven decisions on project continuation or pivoting.
• Lead efforts to secure intellectual property, ensuring IP aligns with Convatec’s strategic priorities.

ABOUT YOU:

Education:

• Doctoral degree in a relevant science or engineering field, such as Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineer