Convatec, the FTSE 100 medical products company, is hiring a Project Lead for Tooling and Injection Moulding at its facility in Michalovce, Slovakia. The role sits within the Infusion Care division and carries direct responsibility for precision-moulded components used in devices that support patients living with diabetes and Parkinson's disease. The stakes are high, and the skill requirements reflect that.
Understanding exactly what Convatec expects from candidates helps you assess your readiness. This post breaks down the technical skills, soft skills, experience requirements, and practical ways to build each one.
What Convatec Does and Why This Role Matters
Convatec operates in roughly 90 countries and reported revenues exceeding $2 billion in 2024. The company focuses on chronic condition management across Advanced Wound Care, Ostomy Care, Continence Care, and Infusion Care. Its workforce exceeds 10,000 colleagues worldwide.
The Project Lead for Tooling and Injection Moulding oversees the full project lifecycle for tooling used in medical device manufacturing. That spans everything from initial concept through validation and full production. Cross-functional collaboration with R&D, Quality, Regulatory, and Global Supply Chain teams is central to the job.
Technical Skills Required for This Role
Injection Moulding and Tooling Knowledge
Deep knowledge of injection moulding processes is the foundation of this position. You need to understand tool design, mould flow analysis, material selection, and process validation. Familiarity with precision-moulded components for medical devices is especially important here.
Experience managing tooling portfolios across multiple suppliers or global locations adds significant value. Convatec's tooling operations span international supply chains, so understanding how tools are commissioned, qualified, and maintained at scale matters enormously.
Project Lifecycle Management
This role demands hands-on experience managing projects from concept through to production transfer. You should be comfortable with stage-gate development processes, milestone planning, and managing deliverables across long project timelines. Medical device projects rarely move fast, and managing complexity is part of the job.
Proficiency with project management methodologies such as PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile is a clear advantage. Convatec expects structured thinking and disciplined execution across every phase of a tooling project.
Regulatory and Quality Compliance
Working in medical device manufacturing means operating within a tightly regulated environment. ISO 13485 knowledge, the quality management standard for medical devices, is essentially non-negotiable for a role at this level. Familiarity with FDA regulations, CE marking requirements, and Design History Files strengthens your profile considerably.
Experience with validation activities including IQ, OQ, and PQ protocols is also expected. These are standard qualification steps for medical manufacturing equipment, and leading them requires both technical understanding and strong documentation discipline.
Supplier and Supply Chain Management
A significant portion of this role involves managing external tooling suppliers. You need experience evaluating supplier capabilities, negotiating contracts, managing technical audits, and driving corrective actions when quality issues arise. Supplier development skills are increasingly important as Convatec operates across a global supply base.
Risk Management
Identifying, documenting, and mitigating project risks is a core technical competency here. Familiarity with tools like FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) is strongly recommended. Risk management in medical device tooling goes beyond scheduling concerns. It directly affects patient safety.
Soft Skills That Set Candidates Apart
Leadership and Cross-Functional Influence
The Project Lead title signals that you will drive outcomes without always having direct authority. Influencing without authority is one of the most critical soft skills in any project lead role. You will coordinate R&D engineers, quality specialists, regulatory affairs professionals, and procurement teams simultaneously.
Convatec's teams span multiple countries and time zones. Strong cross-cultural communication skills help build alignment across diverse teams. The ability to lead productive meetings, manage conflict constructively, and keep stakeholders informed separates strong candidates from average ones.
Problem-Solving Under Pressure
Tooling projects encounter delays, design changes, and supplier issues regularly. Structured problem-solving using approaches like 8D, root cause analysis, or DMAIC is valuable in this environment. Candidates who stay methodical under pressure rather than reactive tend to deliver better outcomes.
Convatec's Infusion Care division supports therapies for life-altering chronic conditions. Problems that slip through can affect patient outcomes. Attention to detail and a disciplined approach to resolution matter deeply here.
Communication and Reporting
Clear, concise communication to senior leadership is part of this role. You need to translate complex tooling issues into business terms that non-engineers understand. Written and verbal communication skills in English are essential, particularly in an international company like Convatec.
Preparing project status reports, risk registers, and executive updates will be routine tasks. Presenting data clearly and honestly, even when delivering bad news, reflects the professional maturity Convatec looks for at the lead level.
Organizational and Time Management Skills
Managing multiple tooling projects simultaneously requires exceptional organization. Prioritization skills become critical when deadlines compete and resources are shared. Candidates who use structured planning tools, maintain clear documentation, and proactively communicate schedule changes will perform well in this environment.
Experience Convatec Expects You to Have
This is not an entry-level position. Convatec expects candidates to bring meaningful hands-on experience to the role from day one. The following experience types are most relevant:
- Several years of experience in injection moulding or tooling engineering roles
- Prior experience in medical device manufacturing or another highly regulated industry
- Demonstrated history of managing projects from concept through validation
- Experience working with international suppliers and managing technical audits
- Exposure to cross-functional project environments involving quality and regulatory teams
- Familiarity with ERP systems and project management software
A background in mechanical engineering, plastics engineering, or a related technical discipline is a strong foundation. Candidates with both engineering credentials and formal project management training tend to be the most competitive applicants for roles like this one.
How to Build These Skills If You Are Not There Yet
Develop Injection Moulding Expertise
Hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment remains the most effective way to build tooling knowledge. Roles in process engineering, tool room supervision, or manufacturing engineering within plastics-heavy industries provide strong grounding. Online courses from institutions like Paulson Training or RJG offer structured technical education in injection moulding fundamentals.
Pursue Formal Project Management Credentials
The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from PMI is globally recognized and directly relevant to this type of role. PRINCE2 Foundation and Practitioner certifications also carry strong weight in European manufacturing environments. Both are achievable through structured self-study combined with practical project experience.
Learn Medical Device Regulations
ISO 13485 Lead Auditor courses provide structured learning on quality management requirements for medical devices. Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) offers courses covering FDA and EU MDR compliance. These credentials signal readiness for regulated environments to employers like Convatec.
Build Supplier Management Experience
Volunteering for supplier audit teams, leading corrective action processes, or taking ownership of supplier development projects within your current role builds this competency directly. Seeking roles with explicit supplier-facing responsibilities accelerates this development significantly.
Salary and Application Details
Convatec lists a base salary starting at 1,800 EUR per month for this position in Michalovce, Slovakia. Final compensation depends on the candidate's experience and qualifications. The contract is full-time with a start date to be agreed upon. This role offers direct involvement in improving patient outcomes at a global scale, within a company generating over $2 billion in annual revenues.
Candidates who meet the technical and leadership requirements can apply directly through the official listing at https://himalayas.app/companies/convatec/jobs/project-lead-tooling-injection-moulding.
