Sr. Director, Advanced Biomaterials and Chemistry

Role details

Job Summary

Insulet is seeking a Senior Director, Advanced Biomaterials, Chemistry and Platform Sciences to establish and lead the enterprise biomaterials strategy for current and next-generation drug delivery platforms.

 Core Accountabilities This role is accountable for building scientific capability, technical governance, laboratory infrastructure, and organizational model needed to advance polymer science, chemistry, biocompatibility, tissue interaction, and material-related product performance across the Omnipod portfolio and future platform technologies.

This leader will partner across R&D, Clinical, Regulatory, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Product Management to serve as Insulet’s enterprise authority on biomaterials and chemistry-related decisions, shape platform strategy, and ensure the company has the scientific capabilities required to deliver safe, effective, reliable, and differentiated products for patients worldwide. Enterprise Biomaterials Strategy & Capability Development Define and execute Insulet’s long-term biomaterials strategy, aligning priorities, product roadmaps, technology investments, and future platform needs.

Build and lead an Advanced Biomaterials Center of Excellence that serves as the organization's central resource for polymer science, chemistry, biocompatibility, tissue interaction, material characterization, and emerging materials technologies. Develop multi-year capability roadmaps that support both lifecycle engineering and future platform innovation, balancing near-term product requirements with long-term technology development. Establish and scale laboratory infrastructure, analytical capabilities, testing methodologies, and scientific resources required to support current and future programs.

Determine the optimal mix of internal capabilities, contract laboratories, external research partnerships, suppliers, and academic collaborations to maximize innovation, speed, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. Develop enterprise-wide standards, specifications, material databases, design rules, testing requirements, and governance processes that enable consistent application of material science principles across all product development programs. Provide strategic recommendations to executive leadership regarding emerging technologies, competitive trends, material innovations, and future business opportunities.

Own departmental budgets, resource planning, capital investments, and external partner expenditures required to deliver organizational objectives. Lead the Global Chemistry & Biomaterials Organization Provide leadership and strategic direction for all chemistry, biomaterials, polymer science, material characterization, and materials engineering activities supporting the product portfolio. Build, develop, and retain a high-performing global organization through effective workforce planning, talent acquisition, succession planning, leadership development, and organizational design.

Create scalable operating models that enable efficient support of lifecycle engineering, new product development, platform innovation, regulatory commitments, and exploratory research. Establish clear prioritization processes and resource allocation mechanisms to ensure lifecycle support and new product development activities operate against a unified enterprise plan. Drive a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, quality, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Act as the senior escalation point for complex scientific, technical, organizational, and business decisions related to biomaterials and chemistry.

Enterprise Leadership of Materials, Polymer Science & Body Interface Technologies Serve as Insulet's technical authority for material selection, polymer science, material characterization, and performance engineering across all current and future product platforms. Lead strategy and decision-making related to patient-contact, drug-contact, and system-critical materials, ensuring performance, manufacturability, quality, safety, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory compliance. Drive innovation and scientific leadership across the two material interfaces most critical to patient experience and product performance: the skin interface and the drug or insulin interface.

Skin-Interface Materials Strategy Lead the development and advancement of skin-interface technologies, including adhesive technologies, skin-contact materials, extended-wear solutions, irritation and sensitization mitigation strategies, mechanical durability, adhesion performance, patient comfort, and wearability. Advance technologies that improve wear duration, user experience, device reliability, and market differentiation.

Drug and Insulin Interface Strategy Lead the scientific strategy for the drug and insulin interface, including insulin compatibility and stability, drug-material interactions, adsorption and potency preservation, filtration and particulate management, tissue response and inflammation, and infusion-site viability and longevity. Partner with Clinical, Medical, Regulatory, and Product organizations to translate scientific findings into meaningful platform improvements and product differentiation. Materials Engineering & Platform Architecture Leadership Provide strategic leadership for the material-driven architecture of Insulet's products and delivery systems.

Direct scientific and technical strategy for:Reservoir design and materialsFluid path constructionFiltering and filtration technologies Seals and sealing systems Polymer joining technologies Molding, extrusion, and converting processes Material processing technologies Partner closely with Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain leaders to ensure integrated decision-making regarding material selection, product architecture, manufacturability, quality, cost, reliability, and scalability.

Lead identification and mitigation of material and process-related risks throughout product development, verification, validation, design transfer, supplier qualification, and commercialization. Influence supplier strategy, technology investments, manufacturing capabilities, and long-term platform architecture decisions. Clinical & Translational Science Leadership Establish and lead the scientific strategy governing feasibility studies, translational research, and material performance evaluations. Define study objectives, scientific hypotheses, material configurations, performance endpoints, analytical methods, and interpretation frameworks required to support key platform decisions.

Provide leadership regarding:Animal feasibility studiesHuman feasibility studiesTissue-device interactionsMaterial biocompatibilityBiological response characterizationWearability and performance assessments Partner closely with Clinical Affairs and Medical Affairs to ensure study outcomes inform platform development, technical decisions, and future innovation opportunities. Serve as the senior scientific advisor to executive leadership regarding clinical and translational findings and their implications for product and platform strategy. Regulatory, Quality & Patient Safety Leadership Provide enterprise oversight of biomaterials-related regulatory, quality, and patient safety activities.

Lead organizational strategy related to:Biocompatibility programsISO 10993 complianceExtractables and leachablesChemical characterizationToxicological risk assessmentMaterial qualification and validationRegulatory submission support Ensure materials-related development activities meet global regulatory requirements while proactively addressing future regulatory expectations and evolving industry standards. Partner with Regulatory and Quality leadership to support global submissions, inspections, audits, and agency interactions. Represent Insulet as the scientific subject matter expert in external regulatory, scientific, and industry discussions.

Innovation, External Partnerships & Scientific Leadership Identify and evaluate emerging technologies, materials, and scientific advancements that may create future opportunities for Insulet. Build and manage strategic relationships with academic institutions, suppliers, contract research organizations, technology partners, and key industry experts. Drive innovation initiatives and intellectual property generation that strengthen Insulet's competitive advantage and technology leadership. Represent Insulet externally through scientific publications, conference presentations, standards participation, industry forums, and professional organizations.

Establish Insulet as a recognized leader in biomaterials innovation, wearable drug delivery technologies, and patient-centered material science. Qualifications Required Advanced degree in Polymer Science, Materials Science & Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline; PhD strongly preferred. Fifteen or more years of progressive experience in biomaterials, polymer science, chemistry, materials engineering, or related disciplines within medical devices, combination products, drug delivery systems, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or similarly regulated industries.

Demonstrated success building, scaling, and leading high-performing scientific or engineering organizations. Experience leading organizational growth, laboratory development, capability expansion, budget management, and external partnership strategies. Deep expertise in biomaterials, polymers, chemical characterization, biocompatibility, extractables and leachables, toxicology, and patient-contact materials. Strong understanding of product development, design controls, risk management, manufacturing processes, and global regulatory requirements. Proven ability to influence executive-level stakeholders and drive strategic decisions across highly matrixed organizations.

Track record of developing talent, strengthening organizational capability, and building succession pipelines. Demonstrated ability to solve complex scientific and technical problems where no established solution exists. Preferred Direct experience with insulin-contact or biologic-contact materials, including stability, adsorption, filtration, and particulate management. Experience developing wearable or skin-adhered medical devices and associated adhesive technologies. Expertise in extended-wear applications, skin irritation mitigation, and tissue-interface performance.

Experience designing, leading, or interpreting animal and human feasibility studies involving tissue interaction, biomaterials, or device performance. Experience with infusion systems, reservoirs, pumps, fluid paths, or related drug-delivery technologies. Experience leading global and cross-functional organizations. Recognized industry thought leader demonstrated through patents, publications, standards participation, conference presentations, or scientific leadership contributions.

Additional Information: 

Compensation & Benefits:

For U.S.-based positions only, the annual base salary range for this role is $222,400.00 - $333,550.00

This position may also be eligible for incentive compensation.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:
 • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
 • 401(k) with company match
 • Paid time off (PTO)
 • And additional employee wellness programs

Application Details:
This job posting will remain open until the position is filled.
To apply, please visit the Insulet Careers site and submit your application online.

Actual pay depends on skills, experience, and education.

Insulet Corporation (NASDAQ: PODD), headquartered in Massachusetts, is an innovative medical device company dedicated to simplifying life for people with diabetes and other conditions through its Omnipod product platform. The Omnipod Insulin Management System provides a unique alternative to traditional insulin delivery methods. With its simple, wearable design, the tubeless disposable Pod provides up to three days of non-stop insulin delivery, without the need to see or handle a needle.

Insulet’s flagship innovation, the Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System, integrates with a continuous glucose monitor to manage blood sugar with no multiple daily injections, zero fingersticks, and can be controlled by a compatible personal smartphone in the U.S. or by the Omnipod 5 Controller. Insulet also leverages the unique design of its Pod by tailoring its Omnipod technology platform for the delivery of non-insulin subcutaneous drugs across other therapeutic areas. For more information, please visit insulet.com and omnipod.com. We are looking for highly motivated, performance-driven individuals to be a part of our expanding team.

We do this by hiring amazing people guided by shared values who exceed customer expectations. Our continued success depends on it! At Insulet Corporation all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. ( Know Your Rights )