Director Clinical Affairs

Intuitive

Job details

  • HYBRID
  • FULL_TIME
  • Aubonne
  • Switzerland
  • Verified 2026-11-06
  • Source: Intuitive public SMARTRECRUITERS source

Original job description

Company Description

At Intuitive, we are united behind our mission: we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints.

As a pioneer and leading company in the field of robotic-assisted surgery, we strive to foster an inclusive and diverse team, committed to making a difference. For more than 25 years, we have worked with hospitals and care teams around the world to help solve some of healthcare’s hardest challenges and advance what is possible.

Intuitive has been built by the efforts of great people from diverse backgrounds. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere—we strive to foster an inclusive culture built around diversity of thought and mutual respect. We lead with inclusion and empower our team members to do their best work as their most authentic selves.

Passionate people who want to make a difference drive our culture—our team members are grounded in integrity, have a strong capacity to learn, the energy to get things done, and bring diverse, real-world experiences to help us think in new ways. We actively invest in our team members to support their long-term growth so they can continue to advance our mission and achieve their highest potential. 

Join a team committed to taking big leaps forward for a global community of healthcare professionals and their patients. Together, let’s advance the world of minimally invasive care.

Job Description

Primary Function of Position:

This role is responsible for developing and executing short-term and long-range clinical study strategies and plans to support premarket and postmarket clinical evidence needs for assigned Intuitive products and European markets.  As a key cross-functional constituent, this employee will work in a global matrix with functions across the organization/Region – BU/country GMs and Marketing, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Regulatory Affairs, Global Public Affairs to optimize clinical evidence strategies to meet business objectives.  This position will be responsible for leading teams to develop and coordinate various strategic and tactical clinical evidence generation and dissemination activities, including the development of outcomes research studies, manuscripts, registries, collaborative studies, scientific evidence generation with medical/surgical societies, and investigator-initiated studies. 

Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Drives the development and implementation of clinical evidence strategies to meet business goals and objectives for European markets.
  • Responsible for effective cross-functional collaboration within a global matrix including interactions with EU Region/Country commercial leaders, Marketing, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Regulatory Affairs, Finance, Legal, Global Public Affairs to facilitate European program/project strategies.
  • Highly skilled at translating strategic, corporate and technical content into clear evidence roadmap that effectively engages multiple functions.
  • Effective in providing strategic direction and establishing priorities that balance short-term and long-term business needs.  Ensures the function and team consistently meets its targets, goals, and objectives, while keeping an eye on the future and how current results affect and support future needs and evolutions.
  • Responsible for establishing effective goals that are meaningful to the department and impactful to the organization.
  • Oversee European clinical research activities for assigned areas of responsibility with minimal supervision including company sponsored studies, collaborative studies, investigator-initiated studies and scientific evidence generation with medical/surgical societies.
  • Build relationships with KOLs, hospitals, medical/surgical societies to support clinical evidence planning, generation, and dissemination.
  • Contributes to, reviews and approves key clinical documents and plans, including but not limited to: Clinical Investigation Plans, Clinical Study Reports, and Post-Market Clinical Follow-up (PMCF) plans and reports.
  • As a functional manager, this role is responsible for effectively hiring and developing the clinical affairs staff, while coaching and guiding the overall team members in their internal/external communication and providing support to direct reports to consistently achieve their goals and objectives, while reinforcing a culture of inclusion, diversity and team spirit.
  • Provide leadership and direction to the broader Clinical Affairs organization as needed
  • Ensure compliance with corporate (e.g., SOP’s) and regulatory (e.g., GCP, EU MDR, US FDA, data protection) requirements.
  • Provides solutions and efficiencies for departmental process improvements, standard operating procedures and quality initiatives.
Qualifications

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

  • Advanced degree such as M.D, MS or PhD in scientific/bioengineering field with 8-12 years of experience in clinical affairs/research project management is preferred and at least 4 years of people management experience. Relevant job experience combined with technical degree and/or master's degree may qualify.
  • Previous experience assisting with the development of premarket (e.g. pre-CE mark) and/or post-market evidence generation is required
  • Prior experience in surgical robotics and endoscopic surgery is highly preferred.
  • Possesses strong working knowledge of Good Clinical Practice, ISO 14155, EU MDR regulations and other international regulations.
  • Strong scientific acumen and expertise in evidence appraisal and clinical research methodologies.
  • Proven track record of leadership by example and developing high-performing teams
  • Excellent ability to interact with physicians and other professionals inside and outside the company.
  • Experience of successful interactions with regulatory authorities, scientific congresses and peer-reviewed journals.
  • Strategic thinker with excellent project management skills and ability to prioritize and plan
  • Results-driven attitude & a resolve to win; must be self-directed with the ability to work with minimal supervision.
  • Excellent relational skills with emphasis on leadership, relationship development, employee development and influence management.
  • Excellent Verbal/written communication and presentation skills, teambuilding, and relational skills to work across multiple constituents.
  • Fluency in English required; language fluency in other European languages preferred
  • Must be able to travel up to 30-40%, predominantly in Europe, but including outside of Europe as needed
Additional Information

Intuitive is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer:  In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees
who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.

Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).  

For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s
start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes. 

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on
business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the
candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

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