Project Evaluation Manager - Torrance
About The Position
PolyPeptide is seeking a Project Evaluation Manager to partner with pharmaceutical and biotech companies in developing and manufacturing peptide-based therapies. This role requires bridging science, operations, and business development to create competitive proposals. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in peptide chemistry, API development, or CDMO operations, with the ability to translate complex technical requirements into project scopes, timelines, and cost evaluations. The Project Evaluation Manager will collaborate with clients and internal teams including subject-matter experts, operations, quality, regulatory, and commercial teams to assess customer needs and develop technical evaluations that drive business growth. This position is a key link between Business Development, Sales, Process R&D, GMP Manufacturing, QA, QC, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and Project Management.
Requirements
- Master’s degree or PhD in Organic Chemistry, Peptide Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related scientific field.
- 5 or more years of experience in peptide synthesis, process research and development, CMC development, or CDMO operations.
- Strong scientific understanding of peptide chemistry, development pathways, and manufacturing constraints.
- 3 or more years of experience in proposal development, technical evaluations, tech transfer, project design, or a similar client-facing technical role.
- Strong understanding of SPPS, LPPS, peptide purification, RP-HPLC, IEX, analytical development, and GMP manufacturing requirements.
- Ability to evaluate technical feasibility, identify project risks, and support practical execution strategies.
- Experience with peptide/API development and manufacturing in a regulated environment.
- Ability to translate complex technical information into clear, accurate, and client-friendly proposals.
- Strong project scoping, risk assessment, and cost-modeling skills.
- Effective communication skills across scientific, operational, commercial, and client-facing teams.
- High attention to detail, analytical thinking, and strong organizational skills.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and tight timelines in a fast-paced CDMO environment.
- Customer-focused mindset with strong presentation, negotiation, and collaboration skills.
- Ability to work cross-functionally in a global, matrixed organization.
Nice To Haves
- MBA or additional business degree is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Review and pre-evaluate client RFIs, RFPs, process descriptions, analytical packages, and quality requirements.
- Assess peptide sequence complexity, synthesis feasibility, purification strategy, scale-up risks, and manufacturing considerations.
- Partner with internal subject-matter experts to define technical scope and execution strategy.
- Deliver draft proposal evaluation reports to Sales, including technical scope, timeline, and cost assumptions.
- Translate technical assessments into comprehensive and client-friendly proposals.
- Develop proposal content related to work packages, including PR&D, scale-up, GMP manufacturing, analytical development, method qualification, regulatory support, CMC support, timelines, pricing, and project milestones.
- Support cross-functional costing exercises to align operational effort with financial and commercial targets.
- Ensure proposals are consistent, compliant, competitive, and aligned with PolyPeptide’s capabilities and strategic priorities.
- Participate in client calls, scientific discussions, and due diligence meetings.
- Clarify project scope, explain technical rationale, and refine proposal content based on client feedback.
- Support Business Development in positioning PolyPeptide’s technical capabilities.
- Serve as the technical counterpart to Business Development and Sales during client interactions.
- Facilitate internal review meetings with Manufacturing, Quality, Project Management, and other key stakeholders.
- Ensure quotations are aligned with capacity planning, equipment availability, operational readiness, and strategic business priorities.
- Support the development, implementation, and execution of global commercial processes and tools.
- Ensure evaluation and proposal activities comply with applicable legal, compliance, regulatory, quality, finance, and pricing standards.
Benefits
- Equal opportunity employer status
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
