R&D Director Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
R&D Director roles qualify as specialty occupations under the H-1B visa, making them strong candidates for visa sponsorship at research-driven companies. Many employers also pursue EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship for senior R&D leaders, given the advanced degree and specialized expertise these positions require.
Find R&D Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 36+ R&D Director jobs
See all 36+ R&D Director Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new R&D Director roles.
Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Changing lives. Building Careers.
Joining us is a chance to do important work that creates change and shapes the future of healthcare. Thinking differently is what we do best. To us, change equals opportunity. Every day, our colleagues are challenging what’s possible and making headway to innovate new treatment pathways to advance patient outcomes and set new standards of care.
ABOUT THE JOB
At Integra LifeSciences, we are dedicated to restoring patients’ lives through innovative solutions in regenerative tissue technologies, neurosurgery, and surgical reconstruction. Our employees are united by a shared purpose: to improve outcomes for healthcare professionals and the patients they serve.
The Senior Director, R&D Shared Services leads critical scientific, engineering, and technical capabilities that enable innovation, product development, lifecycle management, regulatory and quality excellence, and sustainable business growth.
Position Summary
The Senior Director, R&D Shared Services is responsible for the strategy, performance, and continued development of Integra LifeSciences’ Packaging Development, Analytical Laboratories, Biocompatibility, and Preclinical Sciences organizations.
As a member of the R&D Leadership Team, this role provides the technical, scientific, and operational capabilities that enable successful execution of Innovation, New Product Development (NPD), and Lifecycle Management (LCM) portfolios. The Senior Director builds a high-performing organization with the talent, expertise, infrastructure, and operating discipline required to accelerate innovation, support regulatory and quality excellence, and drive sustainable business growth.
Principal Responsibilities
Enterprise Leadership
- Define and execute the strategy, operating model, and roadmap for R&D Shared Services.
- Lead enterprise capabilities across Packaging Development, Analytical Laboratories, Biocompatibility, and Preclinical Sciences, including strategic oversight of Packaging Development through the Director of Packaging.
- Align organizational capabilities, capacity, technologies, and investments with portfolio priorities and business objectives.
- Drive operational excellence, scalability, continuous improvement, and measurable business performance.
- Establish meaningful metrics to monitor service delivery, organizational effectiveness, and business impact.
Portfolio & Technical Enablement
- Enable successful execution of Innovation, NPD, and LCM portfolios through strong technical, scientific, and operational leadership.
- Ensure technical, scientific, quality, regulatory, and clinical requirements are effectively integrated throughout the product lifecycle.
- Align functional strategies, scientific platforms, laboratory capabilities, and technical roadmaps with current and future portfolio needs.
- Strengthen capabilities, infrastructure, technologies, and external partnerships to improve execution, quality, and speed.
- Provide leadership for product development, regulatory submissions, lifecycle management, and commercialization activities.
Talent & Organizational Development
- Attract, develop, engage, and retain top scientific, engineering, technical, and functional leadership talent across all four organizations.
- Build strong leadership teams, succession pipelines, and workforce strategies that support long-term business and portfolio needs.
- Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, continuous learning, and technical excellence.
- Optimize the deployment of people, laboratories, technologies, and external resources to maximize organizational performance.
- Partner across R&D, Program Management, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical, Medical Affairs, Operations, Commercial, Finance, and Human Resources to enable portfolio success.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field; PhD preferred.
- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in medical devices, life sciences, or another regulated industry.
- Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary technical and scientific organizations.
- Strong understanding of product development, packaging, analytical testing, biocompatibility, preclinical research, quality systems, and regulatory requirements.
- Proven ability to build high-performing teams, develop leaders, and drive organizational transformation.
- Strong strategic, operational, and business leadership skills, with the ability to influence across functions and executive leadership levels.
LEADERSHIP PROFILE
The successful candidate is a strategic and people-focused leader with a track record of building world-class technical organizations and developing exceptional talent. This leader balances scientific rigor, operational excellence, and business impact while creating an environment where innovation and high performance thrive.
WHY JOIN INTEGRA
This role offers the opportunity to shape enterprise R&D capabilities that directly enable innovation, product development, regulatory success, and portfolio growth across Integra’s global technology organization.
COMPENSATION
- Salary Pay Range: $192,050.00 - $263,350.00 USD Salary
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is determined by several factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for bonus, commission, equity or other variable compensation. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION FOR PAY TRANSPARENCY
Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees and/or eligible dependents are eligible to participate in the following Company sponsored employee benefit programs: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, business accident insurance, and group legal insurance, and savings plan (401(k)).
Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, Employees are eligible for the following Total Rewards | Integra LifeSciences.
Integra LifeSciences is an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees regardless of race, marital status, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.
This site is governed solely by applicable U.S. laws and governmental regulations. If you'd like more information on your rights under the law, please see the following notices:
EEO Is the Law | EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans
Integra LifeSciences is committed to provide qualified applicants and employees who are disabled veterans or individuals with disabilities with needed reasonable accommodations in accordance with the ADA. If you have difficulty using our online system due to a disability and need an accommodation, please email us at careers@integralife.com.
UNSOLICITED AGENCY SUBMISSION
Integra LifeSciences does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs/resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. A formal written agreement is required before engaging any agency, and it must be executed and authorized by the Vice President, Talent Acquisition. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions (the initial sharing of a candidate’s name, resume, or background) are position-specific and may only occur within the scope of that approved agreement. Please, no phone calls or emails.
INTRODUCTION
Changing lives. Building Careers.
Joining us is a chance to do important work that creates change and shapes the future of healthcare. Thinking differently is what we do best. To us, change equals opportunity. Every day, our colleagues are challenging what’s possible and making headway to innovate new treatment pathways to advance patient outcomes and set new standards of care.
ABOUT THE JOB
At Integra LifeSciences, we are dedicated to restoring patients’ lives through innovative solutions in regenerative tissue technologies, neurosurgery, and surgical reconstruction. Our employees are united by a shared purpose: to improve outcomes for healthcare professionals and the patients they serve.
The Senior Director, R&D Shared Services leads critical scientific, engineering, and technical capabilities that enable innovation, product development, lifecycle management, regulatory and quality excellence, and sustainable business growth.
Position Summary
The Senior Director, R&D Shared Services is responsible for the strategy, performance, and continued development of Integra LifeSciences’ Packaging Development, Analytical Laboratories, Biocompatibility, and Preclinical Sciences organizations.
As a member of the R&D Leadership Team, this role provides the technical, scientific, and operational capabilities that enable successful execution of Innovation, New Product Development (NPD), and Lifecycle Management (LCM) portfolios. The Senior Director builds a high-performing organization with the talent, expertise, infrastructure, and operating discipline required to accelerate innovation, support regulatory and quality excellence, and drive sustainable business growth.
Principal Responsibilities
Enterprise Leadership
- Define and execute the strategy, operating model, and roadmap for R&D Shared Services.
- Lead enterprise capabilities across Packaging Development, Analytical Laboratories, Biocompatibility, and Preclinical Sciences, including strategic oversight of Packaging Development through the Director of Packaging.
- Align organizational capabilities, capacity, technologies, and investments with portfolio priorities and business objectives.
- Drive operational excellence, scalability, continuous improvement, and measurable business performance.
- Establish meaningful metrics to monitor service delivery, organizational effectiveness, and business impact.
Portfolio & Technical Enablement
- Enable successful execution of Innovation, NPD, and LCM portfolios through strong technical, scientific, and operational leadership.
- Ensure technical, scientific, quality, regulatory, and clinical requirements are effectively integrated throughout the product lifecycle.
- Align functional strategies, scientific platforms, laboratory capabilities, and technical roadmaps with current and future portfolio needs.
- Strengthen capabilities, infrastructure, technologies, and external partnerships to improve execution, quality, and speed.
- Provide leadership for product development, regulatory submissions, lifecycle management, and commercialization activities.
Talent & Organizational Development
- Attract, develop, engage, and retain top scientific, engineering, technical, and functional leadership talent across all four organizations.
- Build strong leadership teams, succession pipelines, and workforce strategies that support long-term business and portfolio needs.
- Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, continuous learning, and technical excellence.
- Optimize the deployment of people, laboratories, technologies, and external resources to maximize organizational performance.
- Partner across R&D, Program Management, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical, Medical Affairs, Operations, Commercial, Finance, and Human Resources to enable portfolio success.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Advanced degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field; PhD preferred.
- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in medical devices, life sciences, or another regulated industry.
- Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary technical and scientific organizations.
- Strong understanding of product development, packaging, analytical testing, biocompatibility, preclinical research, quality systems, and regulatory requirements.
- Proven ability to build high-performing teams, develop leaders, and drive organizational transformation.
- Strong strategic, operational, and business leadership skills, with the ability to influence across functions and executive leadership levels.
LEADERSHIP PROFILE
The successful candidate is a strategic and people-focused leader with a track record of building world-class technical organizations and developing exceptional talent. This leader balances scientific rigor, operational excellence, and business impact while creating an environment where innovation and high performance thrive.
WHY JOIN INTEGRA
This role offers the opportunity to shape enterprise R&D capabilities that directly enable innovation, product development, regulatory success, and portfolio growth across Integra’s global technology organization.
COMPENSATION
- Salary Pay Range: $192,050.00 - $263,350.00 USD Salary
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is determined by several factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for bonus, commission, equity or other variable compensation. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.
ADDITIONAL DESCRIPTION FOR PAY TRANSPARENCY
Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees and/or eligible dependents are eligible to participate in the following Company sponsored employee benefit programs: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, business accident insurance, and group legal insurance, and savings plan (401(k)).
Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, Employees are eligible for the following Total Rewards | Integra LifeSciences.
Integra LifeSciences is an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees regardless of race, marital status, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.
This site is governed solely by applicable U.S. laws and governmental regulations. If you'd like more information on your rights under the law, please see the following notices:
EEO Is the Law | EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans
Integra LifeSciences is committed to provide qualified applicants and employees who are disabled veterans or individuals with disabilities with needed reasonable accommodations in accordance with the ADA. If you have difficulty using our online system due to a disability and need an accommodation, please email us at careers@integralife.com.
UNSOLICITED AGENCY SUBMISSION
Integra LifeSciences does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs/resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. A formal written agreement is required before engaging any agency, and it must be executed and authorized by the Vice President, Talent Acquisition. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions (the initial sharing of a candidate’s name, resume, or background) are position-specific and may only occur within the scope of that approved agreement. Please, no phone calls or emails.
See all 36+ R&D Director Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new R&D Director roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding R&D Director Jobs
Document your specialized research contributions early
Gather publications, patents, grant awards, and project outcomes before you apply. R&D Director roles often face specialty occupation scrutiny, and concrete evidence of technical leadership strengthens both your H-1B petition and any future EB-2 filing.
Target companies with active PERM history
R&D Directors are frequently sponsored for green cards through PERM labor certification. Prioritize employers in pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing, where multi-year R&D pipelines make long-term sponsorship a standard part of the hiring process.
Verify your prevailing wage tier before negotiating
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the prevailing wage for R&D Director roles in your target metro. Your employer's LCA must certify at or above that level, so knowing the threshold ahead of offer negotiations prevents misaligned expectations.
Find sponsors through Migrate Mate's verified listings
Search R&D Director roles on Migrate Mate, which shows employers with verified LCA sponsorship history. This tells you which companies have actually filed for roles at your seniority level, not just which ones list sponsorship as a vague possibility.
Align your degree field to the specific R&D function
USCIS requires a direct relationship between your degree and the job duties. An R&D Director overseeing biochemistry programs needs credentials in a life sciences field, not a general engineering or business degree, even if your experience is extensive.
Clarify green card intent before accepting an H-1B offer
Because H-1B allows dual intent, you can pursue EB-2 sponsorship from day one. Confirm during offer negotiations whether the employer will initiate PERM within a defined timeline, since R&D Director backlogs for some nationalities can span several years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an R&D Director role qualify as a specialty occupation for the H-1B?
Yes, R&D Director roles consistently qualify as specialty occupations because they require at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related technical or scientific field. USCIS evaluates the specific job duties, not just the title, so your employer's petition should document that the role requires specialized theoretical and applied knowledge rather than general management skills.
Which visa types do employers typically use to sponsor R&D Directors?
H-1B is the most common initial pathway for R&D Directors, with an initial period of up to three years, extendable to six. Employers in research-intensive industries often follow up with EB-2 green card sponsorship, citing the advanced degree requirement or, for exceptional researchers, the National Interest Waiver route, which allows self-petitioning without a PERM labor certification.
What degree does an R&D Director need to qualify for H-1B sponsorship?
USCIS requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a field directly related to the R&D function you'll oversee. For a biotech R&D Director, that typically means a degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related life science. A general business or unrelated STEM degree won't satisfy the specialty occupation standard, even with extensive industry experience.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor R&D Director roles?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for senior technical roles, so you can search specifically for companies that have sponsored R&D Director positions rather than relying on job postings that mention sponsorship without any track record. This is especially useful for identifying sponsors in niche sectors like advanced materials or defense research.
Can an R&D Director pursue a green card while on an H-1B?
Yes. H-1B status allows dual intent, meaning you can pursue permanent residence without jeopardizing your nonimmigrant status. Most R&D Directors go through the EB-2 category, which requires an advanced degree or exceptional ability. The PERM labor certification process applies in most cases, though some researchers qualify for the EB-2 National Interest Waiver and can self-petition without employer-initiated PERM.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored R&D Director jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.