Senior Manager of Research and Development
$190,000–$210,000 year
On-siteSan Francisco, California, United States
Job Summary
Contribute to R&D strategy and roadmap execution, balancing internal efforts with external collaborations while staying current on probiotics and microbiome trends. Lead the design and optimization of microbiome products and delivery systems, partnering with academic institutions to develop scientific roadmaps. Manage a team of scientists by establishing KPIs, mentoring staff, and troubleshooting experimental challenges to ensure project delivery within budget. Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including Marketing and Data Science, to support initiatives like consumer studies and regulatory dossiers, while harmonizing data analysis infrastructure. Present findings at industry conferences and translate discoveries into high-impact applications.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Microbiology, Immunology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or a related field (or an M.S. with equivalent additional experience)
- Minimum 5-7 years of progressive experience in R&D within the biopharma or biotech industry
- At least 2–3 years in a management or team-lead role
- Record of high-quality achievement demonstrated by increasing responsibilities, promotions, peer-reviewed publications, patents, and/or successfully developed products
- Track record of supporting effective cross-functional teams and collaborating closely with bench scientists
- Direct experience developing novel assays directly or indirectly with external academic collaborators
- Experience generating and standardizing experimental data to integrate with AI, machine learning, and predictive in silico workflows
- Hands-on expertise in microbiome research or related disciplines
- Experience contributing to products moving from concept to market in a regulated environment
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to design and interpret complex experiments, analyze large datasets (e.g., microbiome sequencing data, metabolomics), and draw meaningful conclusions
- Deep understanding of microbiome science, probiotic strains, formulation science, and biopharma product development
- Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills
- Ability to foster cross-functional collaboration and manage external partnerships
Desired Qualifications
- Publications or patents in microbiome-related fields
- Familiarity with relevant cell culture and in vitro assays critical to characterizing strains, understanding their function, and optimizing formulations
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