Project Evaluation Manager

Location: Torrance, CA | Employment Type: Full-Time

Are you ready to turn complex science into clear, compelling project proposals?

At PolyPeptide, we partner with pharmaceutical and biotech companies around the world to support the development and manufacturing of peptide-based therapies. We are looking for a Project Evaluation Manager who can bridge science, operations, and business development to help shape high-quality, competitive proposals for our customers.

This role is ideal for someone with a strong technical background in peptide chemistry, API development, or CDMO operations who enjoys translating complex technical requirements into clear project scopes, timelines, and cost evaluations. You will work closely with clients, internal subject-matter experts, operations, quality, regulatory, and commercial teams to assess customer needs and develop strong technical evaluations that support business growth.

About the Role

As Project Evaluation Manager, you will be responsible for reviewing customer requests for peptide/API development and manufacturing, assessing technical feasibility, and supporting the creation of proposal packages. You will play a key role in helping customers understand how PolyPeptide can support their projects while ensuring proposals are technically sound, commercially competitive, and aligned with our internal capabilities.

This position serves as a critical connection point between Business Development, Sales, Process R&D, GMP Manufacturing, QA, QC, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and Project Management.

What You Will Do

Technical Evaluation of Client Requests

• Review and pre-evaluate client RFIs, RFPs, process descriptions, analytical packages, quality requirements, and other technical documentation.

• Assess peptide sequence complexity, synthesis feasibility, purification strategy, scale-up risks, and manufacturing considerations.

• Partner with internal subject-matter experts across Process R&D, GMP Manufacturing, QA, QC, Supply Chain, and Regulatory to define the technical scope and execution strategy.

• Deliver draft proposal evaluation reports to Sales, including technical scope, timeline, and cost assumptions.

Proposal Development and Costing

• 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.

Client Engagement and Pre-Sales Support

• 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, including SPPS, LPPS, hybrid synthesis, complex modifications, purification strategies, and HPAPI handling.

Internal Collaboration and Alignment

• 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.

What We Are Looking For

Education

• Master’s degree or PhD in Organic Chemistry, Peptide Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related scientific field.

• MBA or additional business degree is a plus.

Experience

• 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.

Technical Knowledge

• 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.

Skills and Competencies

• 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.

Why Join PolyPeptide?

At PolyPeptide, your work directly supports the development and manufacturing of peptide-based therapies that can make a meaningful impact for patients. In this role, you will be at the center of technical strategy, customer engagement, and business growth.

You will have the opportunity to work with highly skilled scientific, operational, and commercial teams while contributing to proposals that help bring complex peptide projects from concept to execution.

If you are motivated by technical problem-solving, cross-functional collaboration, and helping customers move important therapies forward, we encourage you to apply.

Join PolyPeptide and help shape the future of peptide development and manufacturing.

Salary: $90k-$130k

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.