About Synchron
Synchron is a clinical-stage endovascular brain computer interface (BCI) company. Since 2012, the company has been developing a BCI platform that avoids the need for open brain surgery by using a minimally-invasive procedure. The Synchron Switch™ BCI received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation in 2020, and is currently in human clinical trials in the US and Australia.
The company recently announced an oversubscribed $75 million Series C financing round led by ARCH Venture Partners, with participation from Gates Frontier, Bezos Expeditions and other top-tier investors. The funds will accelerate product development, facilitate commencement of a pivotal clinical trial, and advance Synchron towards a first-in-class BCI market approval for the treatment of paralysis.
The Synchron Switch™ brain computer interface is implanted in the blood vessel on the surface of the motor cortex of the brain via the jugular vein, through a minimally-invasive endovascular procedure. Once implanted, it is designed to detect and wirelessly transmit motor intent out of the brain, restoring a capability for severely paralyzed patients to control personal devices with hands-free point-and-click. Synchron is a dynamic, multi-disciplinary and rapidly growing team.
Join our mission of developing a first-in-class commercial BCI for more than 100 million people worldwide with upper limb impairment. Help people with previously untreatable conditions regain connection to the world.
Program Director: Core Team Leader
The Core Team Leader (CTL) a member of the R&D staff. This leader is responsible for the management direction of all phases of design and development of a first in world implantable device system from product definition through development, manufacturing process characterization, production ramp, and global commercialization.
This role requires a blend of strengths in three key areas:
- Program Leadership of a complex multi-functional program, with strong interpersonal skills
- Clinical Acumen: understanding of the clinical value the new product brings into the market in the context of the current Standard of Care.
- Business Acumen with strong ties to partners in commercialization of products (Operations, Marketing, Customers, etc.)
Day in the Life:
- Accountable for overall program execution. Works with functional core/extended team members and external partners to ensure clear communication of project/program objectives, deliverables, and timing of key milestones. Proactively resolves conflict.
- Manages daily execution of project/programs including critical path tasks, resources, and risk.
- Effective use of project schedules and work breakdown to manage project critical path activities.
- Understands applicable product standards and procedures and navigates the matrix to provide the required regulatory deliverables.
- Maintains effective communication with the leadership team, team members and suppliers in all activities
- Monitors progress toward pre-established objectives, assesses risk and implements strategies to ensure successful delivery of the efforts that align with business and region goals.
- Maintains strong focus on time-to-market while solving problems creatively; cuts through complexity
- Delivers results with uncompromising quality, integrity, and ethics
- Program Leadership. The Core Team Leader will coordinate all program efforts among multiple functions to facilitate high quality, comprehensive, and efficient on time/on budget development, verification/validation efforts, clinical study phase, regulatory submissions, manufacturing ramp, and commercialization. They will also ensure the right extended team members are included within the planned budget and available when needed by the team. Regular communication with the R&D Leader and the rest of the Leadership staff is critical to ensure issues are resolved and alignment of messages are clear to maintain schedule milestones and adherence to budget.
- Clinical Acumen. The Core Team Leader will work closely with the clinical, marketing and market development organization to ensure the clinical study is on track and the learnings from the clinical trial are appropriately reflected in the commercialization plans.
- Business Acumen. The Program Director has responsibility for the entire program and will work with program team members and functional leaders on ensuring crisp and clear information exchange within the team and to stakeholders.
Must Have: Minimum Requirements
- Bachelors degree in Engineering or Scientific field
- Minimum of 10 years of technical work experience with 7+ years of managerial experience, or advanced degree with a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience with 7+ years of managerial experience
- Experience working with complex systems
- Experience in a regulated environment
Nice to Have
- MS degree in engineering or scientific field. Ten years of technical work experience; over five years of project and/or people management experience.
- Demonstrated track record in successfully leading projects to completion on time and within budget.
- Working knowledge of project management methodologies and tools, particularly on Risk Based Decision Making.
- Demonstrated strong business acumen and planning.
- Demonstrated clinical and scientific aptitude.
- Strong communication skills (written, verbal, listening (with all levels of the organization).
- Strong interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
- Influence management skills. Ability to influence both OU level leaders and individual contributors.
- Ability to facilitate team meetings, creates and delivers presentations, and drive meetings to action-oriented decisions.
- Experience supporting cross-functional teams
- Results oriented. Ability to drive to completion in adherence to aggressive project schedules.
- Enthusiasm towards process improvements and change management.
- Identifies and resolves issues in a proactive, creative, and timely fashion.
- Experience with Class III active implantable medical devices
