About ONAKids

ONAkids is a medtech innovation project of the Brainlab-Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group at the University of Barcelona lead by Prof. Carles Escera and developed under the Industria del Coneixement Program (AGAUR: Llavor, Producte, Innovadors) in collaboration with The Collider – Mobile World Capital. The project focuses on early screening of language development disorders in newborns through a non-invasive EEG-based solution combined with data-driven analysis.

The goal of ONAKids is to validate the technology, define clinical and regulatory pathways, and prepare the project for spin-off as an independent startup within The Collider program.

The Role

We are looking for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join ONAKids at a critical early stage. The COO will work closely with the scientific team and subsequently with its CEO to translate research into a structured, executable medtech operation.

This role is focused on operations, execution, and coordination, not on sales or go-to-market leadership. The COO will ensure that clinical validation, regulatory processes, project planning, and operational workflows are executed efficiently and in line with medtech standards.

This is a hands-on role suited for someone who thrives in early-stage, regulated innovation environments.

 Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead the day-to-day operational execution of the ONAKids project.

• Translate strategic objectives defined by the ONAkids leaders into concrete operational plans and timelines.

• Coordinate internal workflows across research, clinical, regulatory, and external partners.

Clinical & Regulatory Operations

• Support and coordinate clinical validation studies in collaboration with hospitals and research partners.

• Manage operational aspects of the medical device certification process (e.g. MDR / CE marking), working with external consultants where needed.

• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, ethical, and quality requirements.

Project & Process Management

• Set up and maintain project management structures, milestones, and documentation.

• Monitor progress, risks, and dependencies across workstreams.

• Support the implementation of quality management and operational best practices appropriate for an early-stage medtech venture.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Act as a key operational interface between:

• the scientific research team
• the CEO
• clinical partners and hospitals
• external regulatory, quality, or technical advisors

• Ensure alignment and smooth collaboration across all parties.

Preparation for Spin-off

• Support the operational readiness of the project for spin-off.

• Contribute to building scalable internal processes that can grow with the company post-validation.

Profile

Required background

• University degree in life sciences, engineering, healthcare, or a related field.

• Proven experience in operations, project management, or coordination roles within medtech, biotech, digital health, or regulated healthcare environments.

• Solid understanding of regulated product development (medical devices, clinical validation, or similar).

• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams (researchers, clinicians, engineers).

Nice to have

• Experience in early-stage startups, tech transfer environments, or research-based innovation projects.

• Familiarity with quality systems, clinical study coordination, or regulatory documentation.

• Experience working with hospitals, research institutions, or public healthcare systems.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong organisational and execution skills.

• Ability to structure ambiguity and operate in early-stage environments.

• Detail-oriented, reliable, and process-driven.

• Strong communication skills with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Collaborative mindset and comfort working alongside scientific teams.

• Entrepreneurial attitude without needing to be the commercial lead.

Languages

• Spanish: fluent

• English: fluent

• Catalan: a strong plus

What We Offer

• A key leadership role in a high-impact medtech innovation project.

• The opportunity to help build a company from research to real-world clinical application.

• Close collaboration with a committed CEO, top academic researchers, and The Collider ecosystem.
• An initial 18-months contract (linked to the Programa Industria del Coneixement, INNOVADORS stage), starting in February 2026.

• Potential continuation into the spin-off phase, depending on project outcomes.

How to apply

Submit your application through the Fundació Bosch i Gimpera job offers page (Director: Carles Escera, Lloc de feina: Chief Operating Officer (COO) – ONAKids).

Job Offer COO ONAkids – Brainlab