Job Function:
R&D Product Development
Job Sub Function:
Multi-Family R&D Product Development
Job Category:
People Leader
All Job Posting Locations:
Raritan, New Jersey, United States of America
Job Description:
About Surgery
Fueled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, we’re developing the next generation of smarter, less invasive, more personalized treatments.
Are you passionate about improving and expanding the possibilities of surgery? Ready to join a team that’s reimagining how we heal? Our Surgery team will give you the chance to deliver surgical technologies and solutions to surgeons and healthcare professionals around the world. Your contributions will help effectively treat some of the world’s most prevalent conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Patients are waiting.
Your unique talents will help patients on their journey to wellness. Learn more at
We are searching for the best talent for an Associate Director, Formulation Chemistry, Biosurgery – MedTech to support our handheld medical devices business. This role will be located in Raritan, NJ & work a Flex/Hybrid schedule with 3 days per week on-site. Relocation assistance is available to qualified applicants.
Our business offers a broad range of products and technologies, including surgical staplers, clip appliers, trocars and sealing devices—that are used in a wide variety of minimally invasive and open surgical procedures.
Purpose:
We are seeking an experienced, hands‑on Associate Director of Formulation Chemistry to lead and grow a multidisciplinary team of chemists and chemical engineers in Biosurgery R&D. This leader will oversee resource deployment across new product development and lifecycle improvement projects to design, develop, and refine chemistries used in medical devices (e.g., hemostats, sealants, adhesives, hydrogels, etc.). The role combines technical leadership, resource management, cross‑functional collaboration, and people development with strong attention to regulatory, quality, and manufacturability requirements.
Key responsibilities
- Daily oversite of technical project execution.
- Lead, mentor, and manage a team of formulation chemists and chemical engineers; hire, coach, set objectives, and perform performance reviews.
- Prioritize and allocate team resources across new product development and lifecycle projects to meet timelines, budget, and strategic goals.
- Define technical strategy for formulation and chemistry aspects of biosurgery product portfolio; translate business needs into project plans.
- Be the sounding board and provide scientific and technical direction for formulation development: polymer/biopolymer chemistries, adhesives, crosslinking strategies, rheology modification, drug/biologic incorporation where applicable.
- Oversee formulation optimization for functional performance, stability, sterilization compatibility, biocompatibility, process robustness, and scale‑up.
- Ensure design controls, risk management (e.g., DFMEA), and documentation meet regulatory and quality system expectations (ISO 13485, FDA 21 CFR where applicable).
- Drive development and execution of test methods for formulation characterization
- Collaborate closely with cross‑functional partners: product development, device engineering, biocompatibility, regulatory affairs, quality, clinical, procurement, and external partners/suppliers.
- Represent the formulation function in leadership meetings; report project status, technical risks, and mitigation plans.
- Manage department budget and external vendor/contract research relationships.
- Promote a culture of safety, continuous improvement, innovation, and compliant documentation practices.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- A minimum of an MS is required; a Ph. D in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Science, or related discipline is strongly preferred.
- 6+ years (PhD) or 8+ years (MS/BS) of progressive industry experience in formulation development and leadership is required.
- Demonstrated experience leading teams of chemists/engineers and managing technical resources across multiple projects is required.
- Deep technical knowledge of polymer/biopolymer chemistry, adhesives/sealants, hydrogels, crosslinking chemistries, and relevant analytical techniques is required.
- Track record of successful technology transfer and scale‑up of formulations to manufacturing is required.
- Strong working knowledge of regulatory requirements for medical devices and combination products, and experience supporting regulatory submissions is required.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to present complex technical concepts to cross‑functional and senior stakeholders.
- Proven ability to identify, prioritize, and mitigate technical risks to keep projects on schedule and within budget.
- Prior experience in medical devices, biosurgery, biomaterials, or combination products strongly preferred.
- Direct experience in biosurgery products (hemostats, sealants, adhesives) or related surgical device chemistry is preferred
- Familiarity with sterilization modalities (EO, gamma, e‑beam) and their impact on formulation stability and performance.
- Experience with design controls, clinical/biocompatibility testing strategies, and familiarity with DFx principles.
- History of patents, peer‑reviewed publications, or presentations in relevant scientific forums.
- Experience working with contract development/manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) and material suppliers.
- Travel: Domestic and international, up to 25% to manufacturing sites, suppliers, or partner locations is required.
#LI-Hybrid
Required Skills:
Preferred Skills:
Cross-Functional Collaboration, Developing Others, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Leadership, Leadership, Operations Management, Performance Measurement, Product Development, Product Development Lifecycle, Product Strategies, Quality Assurance (QA), Research and Development, Research Ethics, SAP Product Lifecycle Management, Strategic Thinking, Team Management, Technical Credibility, Versatility
The anticipated base pay range for this position is :
$137,000.00 - $235,750.00
Additional Description for Pay Transparency:
Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).
Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:
Vacation –120 hours per calendar year
Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year
Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year
Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child
Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period10 days
Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year
For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: - https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits
