Location: San Francisco, CA (hybrid)
Type: Full-Time
At Sanmai, we believe in a world where everyone can access safe, effective neurotherapies that empower their path to well-being and personal agency. As a Public Benefit Corporation, we strive to balance people, planet, and profit, making transformative technology accessible to all who need it, while minimizing our footprint.
We’re looking for someone who shares our commitment to innovation, collaboration, and making a positive impact on the world. If our values resonate with you, keep reading!
Company Culture is at Our Core
At Sanmai, our core values are more than just words—they guide how we work, connect, and innovate every day. Do these speak to you?
1 Compassion: We are motivated by reducing suffering for all human beings.
2 Responsibility: We take deep ownership over the ethical stewardship of technology and how we interface with it and our patients.
3 Curiosity: Open-mindedness towards each other and the hard problems we are solving.
4 Respect: Treating each other, patients, and users with dignity and fostering an inclusive workplace and technology.
5 Alignment: Aligning at all levels—within teams, with our mission, and with the people we serve.
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At Sanmai, you’ll find a community passionate about building the future of mental health through cutting edge neurotechnology, mindfulness, and compassion-driven innovation.
Role Overview
As the Science and Clinical Manager, you will lead the design, execution, and integration of Sanmai’s clinical research and scientific initiatives. You’ll ensure that our trials, protocols, and data collection are rigorous, ethical, and aligned with both regulatory requirements and Sanmai’s mission. This is a cross-functional leadership role that bridges science, clinical development, and operations. The Science and Clinical Manager will report to the Chief Clinical Officer (CCO).
Responsibilities
Clinical Research Design & Oversight
- Own the design and strategic direction of Sanmai’s exploratory, feasibility, and pivotal clinical studies.
- Ensure all research activities embody regulatory rigor, scientific integrity, and alignment with Sanmai’s mission.
- Take full accountability for protocol development, participant safety, and the credibility of study outcomes.
- Steward data collection and reporting practices that reinforce transparency, reproducibility, and clinical trust.
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Science & Protocol Development
- Shape and continuously refine Sanmai’s neurostimulation and mindfulness-based protocols to advance both clinical and non-clinical applications.
- Ensure protocols are not only scientifically grounded but also usable, scalable, and impactful for facilitators and participants.
- Hold responsibility for integrating emerging research into Sanmai’s protocol ecosystem, bridging theory with practice.
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Site & Participant Management
- Drive the success of Sanmai’s multi-site trials by ensuring sites are fully equipped, trained, and supported.
- Serve as the central point of accountability between Sanmai, investigators, and coordinators, guaranteeing trial integrity and participant wellbeing.
- Champion participant recruitment and retention, resolving barriers with foresight and agility.
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Documentation & Compliance
- Safeguard Sanmai’s reputation for rigor by ensuring all documentation is accurate, audit-ready, and compliant with IRB, HIPAA, and FDA standards.
- Own regulatory filings and submissions (IND, IDE, De Novo), orchestrating cross-functional and partner collaboration to secure approvals.
- Maintain a proactive compliance culture that anticipates rather than reacts to regulatory requirements.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Ensure scientific and clinical priorities are tightly integrated with Sanmai’s operational, engineering, and product strategies.
- Bring a scientific lens to marketing, grants, and investor engagement, shaping narratives that reflect integrity and impact.
- Embed evidence-based practices into experiential programming, ensuring retreats and trainings are aligned with the latest insights.
Leadership & Strategy
- Foster a culture of research rooted in curiosity, humility, and rigorous inquiry across Sanmai.
- Cultivate and steward strategic collaborations with leading academics, CROs, and research partners.
- Anticipate and interpret shifts in neuroscience, mindfulness, and digital therapeutics to position Sanmai at the forefront of innovation.
Qualifications
Experience:
- 5+ years in clinical research or scientific management roles, ideally within medtech, neuroscience, or mental health.
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional scientific or clinical programs, including FDA-regulated trials.
- Familiarity with neurotechnology, digital health tools, or contemplative science is a plus.
Skills:
- Strong background in experimental design, biostatistics, and scientific writing.
- Ability to manage IRB and FDA interactions.
- Exceptional project management and organizational skills.
- Clear communicator, able to synthesize complex concepts for diverse audiences.
- Familiarity with data capture tools (e.g., REDCap), protocol design platforms, and version control tools.
Education:
- Master’s or PhD in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, clinical research, or related field.
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Attributes:
- Passion for science and mental health innovation.
- Deep sense of ethics and respect for human subjects research.
- Strategic thinker who balances big-picture vision with meticulous execution.
What You Will Achieve
As Science and Clinical Manager at Sanmai, your work will directly support the translation of groundbreaking science into transformative care. Your responsibilities will drive success in the following areas:
• Pivotal Trial Readiness: Lead trial design and site coordination for FDA submissions and IRB approval.
• Protocol Integrity: Ensure all research protocols are evidence-based, clear, and replicable
across settings.
• Scientific Credibility: Contribute to a body of work that stands up to scrutiny from regulators, academics, and funders.
• Participant Safety & Experience: Uphold the highest standards of ethical and human-centered research practice.
• Cross-Functional Insight: Bring scientific clarity to product, marketing, and retreat development.
Your leadership will directly shape how Sanmai brings rigorous, meaningful, and healing innovation to the world.
Commitment to Diversity
- At Sanmai, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation and strengthen our mission to create transformative mental health solutions. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities. By embracing inclusivity, we aim to cultivate a workplace culture that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and inspires collaboration, creativity, and growth.
