Head of Operations - Full time - CH

About Us

Ikerian AG (formerly Retin AI Medical, now part of Essilor Luxottica) is a fast-growing medical device software company headquartered in Bern, Switzerland.

Our mission is to enable the right decisions sooner in healthcare, through transformative AI & data management solutions to better understand patients and diseases for disease screening and monitoring.

Join our diverse team of entrepreneurs, developers, researchers, and commercial experts who are collectively shaping the future of healthcare and eyecare.

Job Description

The Head of Operations is the head of Ikerian’s operational maturity and global scaling.

Your mission is to install a high-performance 'Operating System’ that synchronizes Research, Development, and Commercial engines into a unified machine, driven by scalable organizational processes and the leadership of cross‑functional teams including Project Management, Human Resources, and Quality & Regulatory Affairs.

As the primary custodian of our external ecosystem, you will professionalize our vendor management and institutionalize our internal knowledge infrastructure and processes.

Following Ikerian’s acquisition by Essilor Luxottica, you will lead the evolution from a high‑growth startup to a world‑class subsidiary, ensuring our complex dual‑business model is anchored by a robust, compliant, and transparent operational framework.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the company’s core operational departments, providing executive leadership and mentorship to the heads of PMO, QRA, and HR.
• Implement a structured \"Operating System\" to synchronize deployment across the organization, and align technical development and commercial readiness.
• Optimize organizational design and workflows to ensure the dual‑business model can scale efficiently, professionalizing HR and operational processes without introducing inefficiencies.
• Modernize and govern the internal knowledge infrastructure and digital workspace to ensure a single, audited \"Source of Truth\" for all corporate and technical data.
• Design and lead the company‑wide objective‑setting framework, ensuring that strategic goals from the CEO and Board are translated into measurable, synchronized departmental targets that eliminate conflicting priorities.
• Professionalize the vendor management lifecycle, overseeing the selection, compliance, and performance of all external service providers and partners.
• Act as the executive lead for legal compliance, interfacing with external counsel and Essilor Luxottica legal stakeholders to manage corporate risk in collaboration with the finance and accounting department.
• Support the post-merger integration, harmonizing Ikerian’s operations with global corporate standards while maintaining the organization's agility and innovation speed.
• Direct the Project Management Office (PMO) to ensure the disciplined execution of both internal strategic initiatives and external client‑facing projects.
• Oversee the HR and Talent Acquisition strategy to scale headcount and foster a high‑performance culture that attracts and retains world‑class talent.
• Drive the high‑level Regulatory and Quality strategy, ensuring the organization is operationally equipped to achieve and maintain global product clearances (e. g., FDA 510(k)/De Novo and EU MDR).

Qualifications

• University degree in Business, Law, Engineering, or a relevant scientific field; an MBA or Ph D is preferred given the technical nature of our products.
• Proven track record in operational integration within the Med Tech Software industry, Health Information Technology.
• A minimum of 10 years of leadership experience, with a documented history of scaling a company from a small team to a mid‑sized enterprise.
• Demonstrated expertise in building and professionalizing \"Operating Systems\" to synchronize cross‑functional teams and minimize departmental silos.
• Strong foundation in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management, with experience structuring digital workspaces.
• Direct experience navigating complex regulatory pathways (such as FDA or MDR), or highly regulated environments and managing internal Quality Management Systems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi‑faceted projects involving complex technical, legal, and human resource components.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills and a collaborative mindset capable of leading diverse, international teams.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities with an eye for operational detail and financial efficiency.
• Ability to work independently as an executive leader while functioning as a core member of the company leadership.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
• Current residency in Switzerland (or willingness to relocate) with the ability to work from the Bern headquarters as needed.

Benefits

• A unique opportunity to lead the evolution of a high‑tech healthcare AI subsidiary within a world‑leading healthcare group.
• A competitive compensation package in a supportive environment that values work‑life balance.
• The chance to shape the future of digital health and AI‑driven eye care.
• A central role in a diverse, international team driving meaningful innovation for patients worldwide.
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