Research & Innovation Manager

Job Description

Our leading medical device client is looking for a Research and Innovation Manager to join their team on a permanent basis.
The successful candidate will be the driving force behind breakthrough solutions for chronic respiratory conditions.Responsibilities:

• Lead the Innovation Pipeline: Spearhead discovery sprints, hackathons, and rapid prototyping cycles to uncover the next wave of customer-centric technologies.

• From Vision to Execution: Guide innovative concepts from initial idea through to development and deployment.

• Foster a Creative Culture: Mentor inquisitive engineers and interns, champion design-thinking, and embed experimentation into your team’s everyday approach.

• Identify Opportunities: Monitor market trends, emerging technologies, and unmet customer needs to define and prioritize impactful innovation themes.

• Fuel Ideation: Facilitate creative workshops and structured brainstorming sessions to generate a continuous flow of new ideas.

• Validate Early: Oversee rapid prototyping, simulations, and feasibility testing to reduce risk and build stakeholder confidence early in the process.

• Keep Projects Moving: Develop integrated plans, remove obstacles, and maintain project momentum from concept to completion.

• Develop Talent: Provide technical coaching and career development support for engineers, co-ops, and interns.

Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary engineering or product teams to launch innovative solutions.

• Deep understanding of Stage-Gate or similar innovation frameworks, with the adaptability to modify them when needed.

• Strong technical background in mechanical, electrical, biomedical, or systems engineering, with a quick-learning mindset across disciplines.

• Ability to translate high-level strategy into practical experiments, measurable outcomes, and compelling narratives for both executives and customers.

• A collaborative leadership style that builds others up, celebrates progress, and turns challenges into learning opportunities.

Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Mechatronic, Biomedical) or a related discipline

• 8-10+ years of product development experience

• People management experience is an asset

• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation is desirable

• Strong experience in the medical device, respiratory supplies, or healthcare/clinical industry

• Experience in start-up environments is a strong asset

• Demonstrated project management expertise

• Familiarity with market assessments, clinical research, and scientific publications