Product Developer, Medical Devices

This position works with the Insights/Explore Team in Health Care Product & Technology Development. Located within the Healthcare business unit, the Insights and Explore product developer leads research programs to acquire and assess customer insights that lead to profitable growth opportunities. The person in this role will lead upstream research programs and studies and participate in multifunctional development teams. This is a customer interactive role that will engage the clinical setting and its participants to better understand needs in the operating room and identify opportunities for solutions in medical devices, infection control and patient health. Objective will be to generate insights that can lead to new products with high growth potential.

These efforts can encompass but are not limited to:
o Exploring product, total solution and technology opportunities.
o Engaging the clinical setting (doctors, nurses, practitioners, patients) to develop understanding.
o Analyzing competitive information, identifying business implications and making recommendations.
o Utilizing new tools and methods for gathering and analyzing information.
o Communicating appropriately with all customers
o Ensuring that programs and systems/procedures incorporate good safety, quality, and diversity practices.


Scope

The primary responsibility is working with marketers on our global strategic teams and technologists to identify potential new business and new product medical device opportunities. The role involves market research to understand clinical trends and needs in areas such as airway management and surgical site infections.

Principal Accountabilities are as follows:
o Assume Insights and Explore program leadership for the assigned business area.
o Provide early estimates of customer value for new concepts
o Work with development teams, external resources, and cross functional teams, to identify critical areas to explore and develop/implement appropriate plans to deliver an understanding for potential insights that can lead to profitable growth.
o Engage one to two of these insight studies during the first year that will contribute to the team's insight objectives.
o Determine technical requirements to bring new products to market.
REQUIREMENTS
Preferred candidates will have the following:

o BS, MS or PhD in fields such as Material Science, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or Chemical Engineering with advanced training desirable, plus a track record of developing customer value of new concepts and developing requirements to bring new products to market. Candidate must have led more than one of these "discovery projects".

o Requires 6 to 10 years of in depth experience in medical device product development.

o Travel expectations to this position includes 11-25%.

Kimberly-Clark provides a comprehensive employee benefits package including relocation assistance. Learn more about our culture, business, and career opportunities at "kc-careers.com".

TRUSTED GLOBAL BRANDS: Kimberly-Clark is a leading global health and hygiene company with operations in 37 countries and product sales in more than 150. Employing more than 60,000 people worldwide, Kimberly-Clark posted sales of $15.1 billion in 2004.

K-C is home to some of the world's most trusted and recognized brands -- including KLEENEX, SCOTT, HUGGIES, PULL-UPS, KOTEX and DEPEND. We hold the No. 1 or No. 2 position globally in most of the major consumer products categories in which we compete. Every day, 1.3 billion people - nearly a quarter of the world's population - trust our brands to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being.

THE PEOPLE: At Kimberly-Clark, people do not stand on rank. Thought, contribution and teamwork are valued over job titles and status. Throughout the world, all Kimberly-Clark people operate on a first name basis with one another. We see ourselves as members of a global team, all with something important to contribute.

THE WORKPLACE: The atmosphere at Kimberly-Clark is designed to foster personal, professional and corporate growth. We work together in a spirit of cooperative teamwork and trust. We expect our work environment to reflect a sense of community while nurturing a commitment to innovation. You will find a culture that encourages open dialogue and the sharing of ideas, that prefers conversations over presentations. We are comfortable, yet professional. We are casual, yet respectful. We are motivated to continually deliver superior products and exceed the expectations of our shareholders, our customers and ourselves.