Research and Development Project Manager

vVARDIS; Michigan; On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Collaborative environment

Global lab access (Michigan & Zurich)

Career development

Impactful product launches

Job summary

vVARDIS in Switzerland with US operations is seeking a Project Manager in Research and Development to drive the full lifecycle of medical device projects, ensuring regulatory and quality standards are met.

You will lead a cross-functional team, define scope, schedules, budgets, and risks, and ensure timely delivery while maintaining regulatory alignment with ISO 13485 and FDA requirements. Michigan and Zurich lab facilities support cutting-edge R&D initiatives.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex R&D projects.
• Experience with regulatory requirements in dental/pharma/life sciences domains.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D projects from concept to final product development with regulatory and quality compliance.
• Define scope, schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and external stakeholders to meet objectives.
• Maintain design control documentation and ensure timely, quality deliverables.

Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Analytical thinking

Presentation skills

Regulatory knowledge

Education

PhD (preferred) in Biomedical Engineering or related

Job description

vVARDIS is a Swiss-based oral health company founded by Dr. Haley and Dr. Goly Abivardi, dentists, innovators, and award-winning entrepreneurs. vVARDIS is the result of a combined 30 years of dental and entrepreneurial experience, and 20 years of laboratory and clinical research paired with the creative vision of its founders.

At vVARDIS, we are committed to delivering innovative solutions that enhance oral health and well‑being, inspired by the vision of our founders to foster preventive rather than reparative dentistry. At the heart of our Company lies its patented, revolutionary biomimetic peptide technology. Scientifically proven in over 200 publications, this unique technology can treat early caries through enamel regeneration, like no other technology can do, offering a non‑invasive, pain‑free solution for patients of all ages. We offer a number of oral health products targeting dental professionals and their patients, as well as consumers, all based on our proprietary technology.

We value our people and believe in fostering a positive and collaborative work environment, based on our core values of innovation, excellence, integrity, and empathy.

We are located in Zug, Switzerland, with operations in Europe and the US. Join us on this exciting journey!

Purpose:

As a Project Manager in Research and Development (R&D), you will play a critical role in driving innovation and advancing our position in the medical field. This role involves overseeing the entire lifecycle of R&D projects, from conceptualization through to product development, ensuring the successful delivery of cutting‑edge medical technologies.

In this position, you will lead a cross‑functional project team, collaborating with engineers, designers, regulatory experts, and clinical stakeholders. You will be responsible for defining project scopes, schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation plans. Your leadership will ensure the alignment of project activities with the company's strategic objectives while adhering to regulatory standards and best practices in medical device development.

You will manage the project timelines and milestones, ensuring that all deliverables meet quality and compliance requirements. Your ability to identify potential risks early, analyze project performance, and make adjustments as necessary will be key to ensuring the success of each project.

Furthermore, establishing and maintaining strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders—including regulatory bodies, clinical teams, and external vendors—is essential. Regular communication regarding project progress, potential challenges, and next steps will be an integral part of this role.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead R&D projects from initial concept to final product development, ensuring compliance with medical device regulations and quality standards (e.g., ISO 13485, FDA regulations).
• Define and manage project scope, schedules, budgets, and risk mitigation strategies to meet project goals and deadlines.
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams (engineering, clinical, regulatory, etc.) and external stakeholders to achieve project objectives.
• Regularly assess project status, identify and resolve potential issues, and revise project plans as necessary to stay on track.
• Ensure effective communication with stakeholders, providing consistent updates on project progress, challenges, and risks.
• Develop and maintain detailed project and design control documentation, ensuring all regulatory and compliance requirements are met.
• Foster a collaborative and high‑performance team culture to drive the success of the R&D projects.
• Responsible for the proper escalation of issues and the preparation of decision‑making materials for management.
• Accountability for ensuring project deliverables are completed on time and within budget.

Your contributions will be pivotal in advancing our mission to develop innovative medical solutions that improve patient care and outcomes.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (PhD preferred) in Biomedical Engineering, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• 4+ years of experience in R&D project management in medical device development, ideally in the dental, pharmaceutical, or life science industry.
• Strong attention to deadlines and budgetary guidelines
• Proven success working with all levels of management
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.
• Excellent presentation skills
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements in the dental industry, OTC industry and Pharma
• Experience with peptide formulations or dental industry is a plus.

What This Role Offers You:

• Collaborative work environment with cross‑functional teams.
• Access to cutting‑edge research and global experts, including recently installed dedicated lab facilities in Michigan and Zurich.
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities.
• Contribution to impactful product launches and industry advancements.

Your Personality:

You’re excited to be a member of a new team and building a business together. You easily adapt to change, and you take an active continuous improvement. The role has many points of contacts internally and externally, so it is important that you can build collaborative relationships across teams and functions. Being a new, small and nimble organisations, you will be expected to be self‑sufficient, self‑starter individual ready to roll up your sleeves and strive for the good of the wider business at all times. Our company standards and ethics are very high, and it is imperative that you embody them with your own behaviour. You are a fast learner, a doer with a low ego personality, and you strive for excellence in execution.

vVARDIS is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons.

Join vVARDIS: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to learn more about vVARDIS and our career opportunities, join the vVARDIS Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vvardis/mycompany/

If you don’t hear from us, please know that we highly value your interest in vVARDIS and encourage you to stay connected for future opportunities.