Vice President, Marketing

About Kardion

Kardion is a cardiovascular medical device company developing next-generation mechanical circulatory support technology, with dual headquarters in Irvine, California and Stuttgart, Germany. Every moment matters. Our team is building toward a future where circulatory support gives patients and clinicians more time, more options, and more certainty.

Summary

The Vice President of Marketing builds Kardion's commercial foundation and leads us from a development-stage company to a successful US launch. Reporting to the President and CEO, you will shape corporate strategy and own market development, product positioning, and launch readiness for our catheter-based mechanical circulatory support system. You will partner with R&D, Clinical, Regulatory, Medical Affairs, Quality, Supply Chain, and the future VP of Sales. You will also build strong relationships with physician advisors, key opinion leaders, and the Medical Advisory Board.

Essential Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the marketing strategy and commercialization plan from pre-PMA market development through US launch and early adoption.
• Define the value proposition, product positioning, and messaging for interventional cardiologists, heart failure teams, cardiac surgeons, and hospital decision makers.
• Represent the voice of the customer in product development: gather user needs, translate them into requirements, and prioritize the product roadmap with R&D.
• Lead commercial planning: market sizing, customer segmentation, targeting, launch-center selection and rollout, and pricing analysis.
• Build the economic value story in partnership with Medical Affairs and reimbursement advisors, including coding, coverage, payment, and health economics evidence for hospital value analysis committees.
• Maintain a deep understanding of the mechanical circulatory support and interventional cardiology market, including competitors, clinical trends, and guidelines; lead all market research.
• Lead brand, digital, and scientific communications, including major meetings (for example TCT, SCAI, ACC, and THT), physician engagement programs, and launch campaigns.
• Develop physician training and education programs and sales training content with Clinical and the VP of Sales.
• Ensure all promotional materials comply with FDA advertising and promotion requirements through a structured review process with Regulatory and Legal.
• Participate in physician engagement activities, including the Medical Advisory Board.
• Build and lead the marketing team and agency partners; deliver programs on time and on budget.
• Report regularly to the CEO, executive team, and Board on progress, market insights, and risks to launch readiness.

Skills, Qualifications & Key Knowledge Areas

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or equivalent experience preferred.
• 12+ years of medical device marketing experience, with at least 5 years in marketing leadership.
• Experience with complex, capital- or procedure-driven devices is required; interventional cardiology, structural heart, or mechanical circulatory support experience is highly desired.
• Led at least one US product launch of a Class III / PMA device, ideally at an early-stage company.
• Working knowledge of reimbursement, health economics, and hospital value analysis processes.
• Proven ability to build strong relationships with key opinion leaders and advisory boards.
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, including market modeling, competitive dynamics, and business case development.
• Superb communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to build consensus in a data-driven team.
• Comfortable building from scratch in a lean startup with limited resources.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project) and CRM tools.

Environment

• Office: Irvine, CA
• Travel: up to 30% domestic, with regular international travel to Stuttgart, Germany and global meetings.

Compensation
The anticipated base salary range for this position is $280,000 – $315,000 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, skills, and location. Kardion offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k), and paid time off.

Equal Opportunity Statement
Kardion is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

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