Chief Operations Officer

At Veltist – a Wyss Zurich project – we are reshaping post-operative care through our platform technology Anastoseal, enabling the next generation of implantable biomaterials for sealing, healing, and integration with human tissue.

Veltist is a pioneering MedTech spin-off from the ETH Domain (ETH Zurich and Empa), currently part of the Wyss Zurich Translational Center’s Portfolio Projects. We are an in-foundation startup, building upon a multi-year research and development program focused on a novel class of surgical materials.

With a strong foundation in translational science, we are now entering a phase of accelerated growth, focused on:

• Advancing our technology toward first-in-human clinical trials,
• Expanding our technical capabilities, and
• Building a team that thrives on ownership, rigor, and impact.

We work closely with leading surgeons, clinicians, and regulatory experts to ensure our innovations are not only technically sound but clinically transformative.
Joining Veltist means becoming part of a mission-oriented, interdisciplinary group that believes in science with purpose, and in the power of great teams to drive real change in the world of healthcare.

Manufacturing & Technical Operations

• Implement an agile, ISO 13485-compliant cleanroom and manufacturing process
• Oversee the fusion of quality and manufacturing into a coherent execution structure
• Lead the implementation of analytical processes and infrastructure
• Provide ideas and solutions to reach milestones as efficiently and as early as possible

Regulatory & Quality Leadership

• Coordinate the building and maintaining of a fit-for-purpose QMS aligned with MDR and FDA Class III device expectations
• Coordinate and track toxicology, verification & validation, and regulatory documentation
• Work closely with the CEO, the R&D team, and external consultants to time regulatory steps smartly

 Strategic & Commercial Readiness

• Identify potential commercial or strategic partners for sub-products and the platform
• Assist in funding applications.
• Contribute to or lead discussions with medtech industry BD teams
• Identify new opportunities based on Veltist’s platform, and create business plans on how to effectively capitalize on them with the CEO

 Team Operations & Execution

• Help with recruiting and establishing a cutting-edge team to reach the goals set across manufacturing, QA, and R&D
• Implement milestone tracking across teams
• Help bring agility and robustness to company operations

We are looking for a highly motivated individual interested in venturing into a rewarding journey: bringing life-saving technology to market while stepping into a deeper and more impactful role in medtech.

You are someone who is

• Driven by humility, motivation, and meaningful hard work
• You have a passion for smart goal oriented planning and strategy
• Excited to shape the culture of a young company into something that feels like a family
• Longing for working on something truly impactful or to reach the next level in your career—one where you influence the full lifecycle of medical innovation

You are likely someone who

• Has 10+ years of experience in leading medtech companies or successful medical device (or related) start-up, specifically in operations and/or technology development
• Has worked on implantable devices or surgical materials (understanding and experience in abdominal care is a plus)
• Possesses deep regulatory knowledge across MDR and FDA pathways
• Brings strong medtech industry connections, and understands how strategic players think and evaluate technology
• Has been involved in licensing or M&A and can assess readiness from both technical and strategic sides
• Knows how to work fast and efficiently within a regulated framework
• Is hands-on and has led diverse teams with emotional intelligence and tactical clarity

Education & Experince

• A higher education or university degree in a relevant field is required
• A PhD in a relevant field, especially in engineering, natural sciences, economics, or other relevant field is a strong plus
• An MBA or equivalent business management education from a reputable institution is an asset
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in medical devices

• Salary package based on experience and fit
• Equity participation (ESOP) based on contribution and seniority
• A clear leadership growth path within a high-impact, fast-evolving startup
• Access to exceptional resources across ETH Zurich, Wyss Zurich, Empa, and clinical networks
• Additional benefits per ETH Zurich employee policies

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• CV
• Motivation letter
• list of key reference contacts (1-3)

Please note that we exclusively accept applications submitted through our online application portal. Applications via email or postal services will not be considered.

Further information about Veltst can be found on our website . Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Alexandre Anthis, email Write an email (no applications).

We would like to point out that the pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.