Director, Strategy – Advanced Innovation & Technology
About Edwards Lifesciences
Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader in patient-focused medical innovations for Structural Heart Disease. Driven by a passion to improve patient lives, the company collaborates with leading clinicians and researchers to address unmet healthcare needs. With millions of patients served in over 100 countries, each team at Edwards makes a meaningful contribution – advancing structural heart innovation, improving patient outcomes, and discovering lasting solutions that enhance lives.
About this role
The Advanced Innovation & Technology team is focused on innovating the future of Structural Heart Disease through early-stage needs finding, development and strategic capability building. As Director, Strategy – Advanced Innovation & Technology, you will play a central leadership role in running the strategic planning process and helping manage the device portfolio across Advanced Innovation & Technology.
This role is focused on strategic planning, portfolio management, and executive decision support across the AI&T agenda. The Director will also serve as the strategy lead for Digital & AI, shaping the strategic direction, portfolio choices, and capability priorities, needed to connect digital opportunities with device innovation and broader business objectives. You will work closely with AI&T leadership and cross-functional partners to drive portfolio reviews, synthesize strategic insights, inform prioritization decisions, and translate complex inputs into clear recommendations for leadership.
This is an opportunity to join a small, high-impact team focused on early-stage innovation and helping shape how Edwards evaluates and advances future opportunities. The role will help define how Digital & AI expands the impact of the portfolio and enables new ways to create value for patients, clinicians, and the business. This role will report directly to the VP of Strategy and PMO for AI&T.
This role is an onsite role based at our corporate headquarters in Irvine, California.
How you'll make an impact:
The Director, Strategy – Advanced Innovation & Technology will partner closely with AI&T leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to:
Lead development and evolution of the Digital & AI strategy and strategic roadmap, defining how digital products, software, data, diagnostics, and AI-enabled capabilities support the patient and clinician journey, strengthen the portfolio, accelerate innovation, and create measurable value for patients, clinicians, and business.
Lead and continuously improve the AI&T strategic planning process, ensuring priorities, investments, and key decisions are aligned to business objectives, emerging innovation opportunities, and long-range enterprise needs.
Partner across R&D, Clinical, Medical Affairs, Marketing, Finance, Information Technology, Data and Analytics, Regulatory, Quality, Privacy, Cybersecurity, and other functions to align strategic and Digital & AI priorities, clarify ownership, and advance key initiatives through appropriate governance and development pathways.
Assess market, clinical, technical, operational, and financial inputs, including digital health and AI trends, competitor and partner activity, evolving customer needs, regulatory and technology developments, and key risks and trade-offs, to inform strategic choices and executive-level recommendations.
Define success measures and value-realization expectations, and monitor progress, dependencies, risks, adoption considerations, gaps, and strategic impact across AI&T and Digital & AI priorities.
Develop executive communication materials, portfolio narratives, and strategic updates that translate complex information into clear recommendations and storylines for senior leadership forums.
Lead or contribute to other strategic initiatives within the scope of Advanced Innovation & Technology leadership.
Perform other incidental duties as assigned.
What you'll need (required):
Bachelor's Degree in related field (scientific, engineering, quantitative, business )
Experience in Strategy or equivalent work experience based on Edwards criteria Required
or equivalent work experience based on Edwards criteria Required ORMaster's Degree or equivalent in related field or equivalent work experience based on Edwards criteria Preferred
Demonstrated track record in people management
What else we look for (preferred):
Minimum 12 years of related work experience, or master’s degree/MBA or equivalent with 10 years of related experience
Demonstrated experience leading strategic planning, portfolio management, or enterprise-level strategy initiatives with senior leadership visibility
Experience influencing cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders without direct authority to drive alignment, prioritization, and execution
Proven ability to develop executive-level recommendations, facilitate leadership discussions, and support decision-making in complex or ambiguous environments
Direct experience in strategy, management consulting, corporate strategy, or a similar role
Experience developing structured strategic analyses and translating findings into clear recommendations for leadership
Experience working cross-functionally and managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to develop executive-level presentations and written recommendations
Excellent PowerPoint skills
Experience in the medical device, biotech, or healthcare sectors
Demonstrated experience leading digital product strategy development preferably in the medical device Knowledge of Structural Heart Disease
Experience with software-enabled medical products, digital health ecosystems, data strategy, AI-enabled capabilities, or connected care models.
Working knowledge of the regulatory, quality, privacy, cybersecurity, data governance, and evidence considerations that shape digital health and AI strategy in a healthcare environment.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including strong Excel skills
Effective synthesis and storytelling skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely to leadership audiences via PowerPoint
Strong attention to detail
Self-starter who takes initiative and drives work forward with limited oversight
Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
Comfort with ambiguity and incomplete information in strategic decision-making
Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across functions and organizational levels
Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
Travel up to 25%
Aligning our overall business objectives with performance, we offer competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, and a wide variety of benefits programs to address the diverse individual needs of our employees and their families.
For California (CA), the base pay range for this position is $174,000 to $246,000 (highly experienced).
The pay for the successful candidate will depend on various factors (e.g., qualifications, education, prior experience). Applications will be accepted while this position is posted on our Careers website.
Edwards is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer including protected Veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a related scientific, engineering, quantitative, or business field
- Experience in strategy or equivalent work experience based on Edwards criteria
- Demonstrated track record in people management
- Master's degree or equivalent in a related field
- At least 12 years of related work experience, or a master's degree/MBA with 10 years of related experience
- Experience leading strategic planning, portfolio management, or enterprise-level strategy initiatives with senior leadership visibility
- Experience influencing cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders without direct authority
- Experience developing executive-level recommendations and facilitating leadership discussions
- Experience in strategy, management consulting, corporate strategy, or a similar role
- Experience developing structured strategic analyses and translating findings into leadership recommendations
- Experience working cross-functionally and managing multiple priorities
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including executive presentations and written recommendations
- Excellent PowerPoint skills
- Experience in medical devices, biotechnology, or healthcare
- Experience leading digital product strategy, preferably in medical devices
- Knowledge of Structural Heart Disease
- Experience with software-enabled medical products, digital health ecosystems, data strategy, AI-enabled capabilities, or connected care models
- Working knowledge of regulatory, quality, privacy, cybersecurity, data governance, and evidence considerations in healthcare
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including strong Excel skills
- Strong synthesis and storytelling skills using PowerPoint
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and drive initiatives with limited oversight
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Comfort with ambiguity and incomplete information
- Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills across functions and organizational levels
- Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
Edwards Lifesciences Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Edwards Lifesciences and has not been reviewed or approved by Edwards Lifesciences.
-
Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is considered strong, with multiple plan choices, HSA options, and fertility support, and the company highlights holistic well‑being programs.
-
Retirement Support — A company 401(k) match and well‑regarded retirement offerings add clear long‑term value to total compensation.
-
Equity Value & Accessibility — An Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a discount and look‑back feature makes equity ownership accessible and enhances the total rewards package.
Edwards Lifesciences Insights
What We Do
Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW), is the global leader in patient-focused medical innovations for structural heart disease, as well as critical care and surgical monitoring. We thrive on discovery and expanding the boundaries of medical technology, serving patients in 100+ countries, with the help of our employees in areas including Clinical Affairs, Quality Engineering, Research & Development, Regulatory Affairs, Sales & Marketing, corporate functions and more. Our roots date back to 1958 when Miles Lowell Edwards, a retired engineer with a background in hydraulics and fuel pump operations, set out to build the first artificial heart. Edwards believed the heart could be mechanized and was encouraged by Dr. Albert Starr to focus on developing an artificial heart valve. After just two years, the first Starr-Edwards mitral valve was developed and successfully placed in a patient. This innovation spawned Edwards Laboratories. Miles’ fascination with healing the heart and helping patients with heart disease stemmed from his own experience with rheumatic fever as a teenager and continues to fuel our patient-first culture today. Today, we are as passionate about providing innovative solutions for people fighting cardiovascular disease as we have ever been. It's our Credo. It takes integrity, collaboration, innovation, and focus. We are leaders in the design and manufacture of tissue replacement heart valves and repair products as well as advanced hemodynamic monitoring. We partner with physicians to innovate products designed to help patients live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Our work is both rewarding and a privilege. The importance of what we do defines our approach. We work together to create an environment where ideas can flourish and we provide our people with the resources, expertise and support to bring those ideas to life. For our legal terms and trademarks, please visit: https://www.edwards.com/legal/legal-terms
