Product Leader (m/f/d)

The Opportunity: Drive Product Success Across the Entire Lifecycle

For one of our clients, a leading international healthcare and diagnostics company based in Rotkreuz, we are looking for a Product Leader (m/f/d) to join the Global Instruments Network (GIN) within Global Operations.

Are you passionate about bringing complex products to life and guiding them through every stage of their journey, from manufacturing readiness to continuous improvement and eventual phase-out?

Do you enjoy connecting people, aligning priorities, and driving decisions across functions in an international environment?

Our client operates a global manufacturing network responsible for delivering innovative diagnostic instruments used by healthcare professionals around the world. Working closely with teams across R&D, Operations, Quality, and Business, you will help ensure that products are successfully launched, continuously improved, and delivered to the highest quality standards.

As a Product Leader, you will take end-to-end ownership of assigned products and act as the key point of coordination across multiple stakeholders and locations. You will lead Product Care initiatives, support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities, drive product transfers within the global manufacturing network, and ensure products continue to meet business, operational, and customer expectations throughout their lifecycle.

We are looking for someone who combines a strong technical foundation with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. The ideal candidate is comfortable leading cross-functional teams, navigating complex environments, and driving results without direct authority. You are proactive, solution-oriented, and able to balance technical, operational, quality, and business considerations to make informed decisions and create lasting value.

This is an excellent opportunity to take on a highly visible role within a global organization and make a direct impact on products that ultimately contribute to improving patient care worldwide.

Tasks & Responsibilities

• Act as the Single Point of Contact for assigned diagnostic instrument products throughout their lifecycle.
• Lead and coordinate cross-functional global teams across R&D, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain and Business functions.
• Drive Product Care activities, ensuring products remain competitive, compliant and operationally efficient.
• Lead strategic product transfer projects within the global manufacturing network.
• Support the successful transition of new products from development into manufacturing (New Product Introduction / NPI).
• Manage product lifecycle activities from industrialization through active market support to phase-out.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focusing on quality, cost, manufacturability and operational excellence.
• Support budget planning and contribute to the optimization of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Standard Manufacturing Costs (SMC).
• Ensure effective risk management, CAPA execution and change control processes.
• Maintain compliance with applicable FDA, IVDR and GMP requirements.
• Promote and implement Design for Excellence (DfX) principles with a focus on quality, manufacturability and testability.
• Collaborate closely with customer-facing and business functions to align product strategy and operational execution.
• Identify and implement opportunities for process optimization through digital tools and AI-driven solutions.
• Drive stakeholder alignment and decision-making across multiple sites, functions and time zones.
• Monitor product performance and ensure timely resolution of technical, operational and quality-related issues.

Must Haves

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Life Sciences, Operations Management, Business Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Product Lifecycle Management, Product Care, Manufacturing Operations, Industrialization, Program Management, or a comparable function within a regulated industry.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional projects involving R&D, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Business stakeholders.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI), product industrialization, and lifecycle management activities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex stakeholder environments and drive decisions in a matrix organization without direct authority.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and operational excellence principles.
• Experience with risk management, change control processes, CAPA implementation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of regulated environments, ideally within Medical Devices, Diagnostics, Pharmaceuticals, Biotech, or other highly regulated industries.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to balance technical, operational, quality, and business considerations.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

Nice to Have

• Experience within the diagnostics, medical device, or healthcare industry.
• Familiarity with FDA, IVDR, GMP, and ISO 13485 requirements.
• Experience managing product transfer projects across global manufacturing sites.
• Lean, Six Sigma, PMP, or similar project/process improvement certifications.
• Knowledge of Design for Excellence (DfX), Design for Manufacturing (DfM), or Design for Testability (DfT) principles.
• Experience with SAP, PLM systems, or other product lifecycle management tools.
• Exposure to digital transformation, data analytics, or AI-driven process optimization initiatives.

General Information

• Start Date: October 2026 (or as agreed)
• Latest Start Date: 01.10.2026
• Duration: 12 months (until 30.09.2027)
• Extension: Possible
• Workload: 80-100%
• Location: Zurich Area
• Remote Work: Approximately 50% onsite, flexible home office arrangement possible
• Travel: Occasional international travel may be required