Senior Manager of Research and Development

Pendulum•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

Pendulum is leading a revolution in improving physical and mental health by understanding, restoring, and enhancing the human microbiome. The company has developed proprietary probiotic pipelines, a unique discovery platform, and manufacturing technology for anaerobic bacteria production. Pendulum's medical probiotics have transformed the consumer market into a therapeutic category. The company has experienced significant growth, earning a spot on Forbes Magazine’s “The Next Billion Dollar Startups” list. This role is for someone who wants to improve people's lives globally and thrives in a cross-functional, collaborative, and inspiring environment, working with a diverse team of scientists, engineers, physicians, marketers, and analysts. The company values a transparent team culture where effective communication drives success.

Requirements

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.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

Manage and execute key R&D projects and programs from early development to commercialization.
Lead project teams and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
Foster innovation and generate data to support marketing teams.
Ensure products meet regulatory and quality requirements.
Contribute to the R&D strategy and roadmap aligned with the company’s vision and business goals.
Own execution of assigned programs, balancing internal efforts with external collaborations.
Stay current on emerging trends and opportunities in probiotics, microbiome research, and related biopharma fields.
Work closely with Executive, Clinical, Revenue, Data, and Product teams to support key cross-functional initiatives.
Serve as a resource and contributor across multiple departments for cross-functional projects, including consumer studies, investigator studies, and regulatory dossiers.
Coordinate with other key departments, including Marketing, and external partners to support science-based initiatives.
Communicate R&D progress, findings, and project plans to Product leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
Attend and present at industry conferences and scientific meetings.
Lead the design, development, and optimization of assigned microbiome products, formulations, and delivery systems.
Support innovation through collaboration with academic institutions, research organizations, and industry partners.
Contribute as a scientific lead on the science team, partnering with scientific staff to develop a scientific roadmap and research strategy.
Inspire a culture of scientific rigor and innovation, translating discoveries into high-impact applications.
Establish clear goals, KPIs, and performance metrics for the team and projects.
Manage, mentor, and develop a team of scientists, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
Provide technical guidance, troubleshoot experimental challenges, and ensure successful execution of research projects.
Oversee multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery of milestones within budget.
Build and harmonize data analysis infrastructure and best practices within the team.
Align analysis and infrastructure practices with Pendulum’s Data Science and Engineering.
Coordinate with cross-functional teams to manage external partnerships, including contract research organizations (CROs) and manufacturing partners.