Senior Vice President, Innovation

The Senior Vice President of Innovation will be responsible for driving the strategic vision and execution of innovative R&D programs within the organization. This role requires a dynamic and visionary leader who can identify emerging trends, foster a culture of creativity, and lead cross-functional teams to develop and implement compelling new offerings to address human health challenges.

The SVP will be responsible for Innovation, and leading our research and development initiatives. This role will be crucial in driving our innovation strategy, overseeing the development of new products, and enhancing existing offerings. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the lab industry, background in R&D, a passion for innovation, and the ability to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration. This leader will be charged with creating a one cohesive global team mindset across multiple sites to maximize and leverage the unique capabilities of our key talent.

The SVP will have oversight through their team for creating the strategic and operating plan, resource coordination, and oversight of the execution of the new solutions development pipeline for Science and Innovation. There is shared responsibility with the SVPs of Quest’s Clinical Franchises for coordinating the collaborative and effective relationship between Science and Innovation and the Clinical Franchises. The SVP will also have oversight of multiple clinical subspecialty areas, and will be responsible for delivering complete solutions to the testing menu across all sub-specialty areas. There will be shared revenue ownership for organic growth through aggressive esoteric test development, licensing of technology, leveraging existing products, driving innovation in new, high growth products and executing product development strategies that complete our test menu and build our reputation.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and lead the innovation strategy in alignment with the company’s mission and business objectives.
• Identify market opportunities and emerging trends to guide the innovation roadmap.

Research and Development

• Oversee R&D initiatives to create new testing methods, enhance existing services, and improve operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with scientific teams to translate research findings into practical applications.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with operations, Franchise, quality assurance, marketing, and regulatory teams to ensure successful implementation of innovative solutions.
• Foster a collaborative environment that encourages idea sharing and teamwork.

Market Analysis

• Conduct comprehensive market research to assess customer needs and identify gaps in the current offerings.
• Monitor the competitive landscape and technological advancements to inform innovation strategies.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build relationships with key stakeholders, including healthcare providers, technology partners, and regulatory agencies (i.e. Pharma).
• Engage in discussions to leverage insights and drive collaborative innovation efforts.

Budget and Resource Management

• Develop and manage the innovation budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources to high-impact projects.
• Monitor and report on project progress, outcomes, and ROI.

Talent Development

• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing Innovation team.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, creativity, and experimentation within the team.

Performance Metrics

• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of innovation initiatives.
• Utilize data-driven insights to refine strategies and improve outcomes.

• A Master’s Degree in a Life Science or Engineering-related field is required. A PhD or MD Degree is strongly preferred.
• At least 15 years of experience working in a biotech, diagnostics, or pharmaceutical related field at a senior level in innovation, research & development, product development, or business development on a global scale.
• At least 10 years of documented development success in a highly matrixed organization.
• FDA experience, and knowledge of the regulatory landscape, is required.
• Strong sufficiency in assay development methods: assay design, validation, clinical utility, etc.
• Strong program management and execution skills – developing and executing new test launches on time and within budget.
• Strong business acumen, and the ability to translate complex scientific concepts into pragmatic business plans.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, with a passion for advancing healthcare through innovation.
• Evidence of strong strategic thinking, technical knowledge, communication, analytical, planning and organizational skills required, with demonstrated leadership capability and effective collaboration.
• Proven track record of successfully leading innovation initiatives, and managing cross-functional teams.
• Understanding of diagnostic testing, new technology assessment, and intellectual property.
• A proven track record of creating and leading high performing and collaborative teams, and fostering a culture of accountability.
• Knowledgeable of key elements of product development and pipeline management (i.e. pricing and reimbursement) as it relates to managed care and Medicare.
• Strategic partnering experience at executive levels in large organizations (i.e. Pharma).
• Strong credibility and network in medical and scientific communities globally.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets