Senior Technical Manager

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 126,000 - 177,000; Full time

Job summary

USP in Rockville, MD seeks a Senior Technical Manager to lead donor- and program-funded initiatives across supply chain technical assessment and lab-based advanced manufacturing. You will translate complex manufacturing and chemistry questions into practical workplans, lab activities, and clear deliverables.

As a technically strong, execution-focused leader, you will guide cross-functional teams, drive process development, tech transfer, and technoeconomic analyses to improve global access to

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry with 5+ years in API or fine chemicals.
• Alternative MSc with 10+ years in API or fine chemicals.
• Strong matrix leadership across execution-focused technical programs.
• Hands-on lab-based process development, route assessment, and scale-up.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical implementation workstreams for supply chain and lab-based projects.
• Plan and coordinate laboratory activities including route assessment and scale-up.
• Apply process chemistry, API development, CMC, and manufacturing expertise.
• Develop technical plans, protocols, reports, and project documentation.

Skills

Matrix leadership

Process development

Route assessment

Scale-up

Technical communication

Education

PhD in Organic Chemistry

MSc in Organic Chemistry

Tools

CMC

GMP

Technoeconomic analysis

Job description

Description

Who is USP?

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is an independent scientific organization that collaborates with the world’s leading health and science experts to develop rigorous quality standards for medicines, dietary supplements, and food ingredients. At USP, we believe that scientific excellence is driven by a commitment to fairness, integrity, and global collaboration. This belief is embedded in our core value of Passion for Quality and is demonstrated through the contributions of more than 1,300 professionals across twenty global locations, working to strengthen the supply of safe, high-quality medicines worldwide.

At USP, we value inclusive scientific collaboration and recognize that attracting diverse expertise strengthens our ability to develop trusted public health standards. We foster an organizational culture that supports equitable access to mentorship, professional development, and leadership opportunities. Our partnerships, standards, and research reflect our belief that ensuring broad participation in scientific leadership results in stronger, more impactful outcomes for global health.

USP is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer (EEOE) and is committed to ensuring fair, merit-based selection processes that enable the best scientific minds—regardless of background—to contribute to advancing public health solutions worldwide. We provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and uphold policies that create an inclusive and collaborative work environment.

Brief Job Overview

The Senior Technical Manager will serve as a technical lead for donor- and program-funded initiatives across supply chain technical assessment and lab-based advanced manufacturing. This role will support execution through route scouting, process development, scale-up, technology transfer support, technical assessment, workstream coordination, and high-quality project deliverables. The position is suited for a technically strong, execution-oriented professional who can translate complex manufacturing, process chemistry, and supply chain questions into practical workplans, laboratory activities, technical assessments, and clear deliverables.

How will YOU create impact here at USP?

As part of our mission to advance scientific rigor and public health standards, you will play a vital role in increasing global access to high-quality medicines through public standards and related programs. USP prioritizes scientific integrity, regulatory excellence, and evidence-based decision-making to ensure health systems worldwide can rely on strong, tested, and globally relevant quality standards.

Additionally, USP’s People and Culture division, in partnership with the Equity Office, invests in leadership and workforce development to equip all employees with the skills to create high-performing, inclusive teams. This includes training in equitable management practices and tools to promote engaged, collaborative, and results-driven work environments.

The Senior Technical Manager has the following responsibilities:

Technical Implementation and Lab-Based Project Execution

• Lead technical implementation workstreams for supply chain technical assessment and lab-based advanced manufacturing projects.
• Plan and coordinate laboratory-based activities, including route assessment, process development, scale-up, troubleshooting, purification, characterization, and technology evaluation.
• Apply process chemistry, API development, CMC, and advanced manufacturing expertise to practical project challenges.
• Develop and review technical plans, protocols, reports, briefing materials, and project documentation to support high-quality execution and decision-making.

Supply Chain Technical Assistance and Advisory Support

• Conduct structured technical, market, literature, and database reviews to assess API and KSM manufacturing routes, suppliers, technologies, cost drivers, and supply vulnerabilities.
• Evaluate manufacturing processes, sourcing structures, technical feasibility, supply-market dynamics, and risk factors to identify practical mitigation options.
• Contribute to technoeconomic analyses, due diligence, supplier and route evaluations, and risk-based assessments that support supply chain resilience decisions.
• Translate complex scientific, manufacturing, and supply chain information into clear recommendations, implementation approaches, and decision-support materials.

Project Leadership and Matrixed Team Coordination

• Serve as the technical implementation lead for defined project workstreams, with responsibility for coordinating scope, timelines, quality expectations, and deliverables.
• Lead matrixed technical contributors, including internal subject matter experts, external collaborators, and project management partners.
• Translate project priorities into actionable workplans that are technically credible, operationally feasible, and aligned with resources and constraints.
• Track progress, manage follow-up actions, monitor risks and dependencies, elevate issues, and support timely completion of project milestones.

Who is USP Looking For?

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry with minimum 5 years of industrial experience in API or fine chemical industries; or M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry with minimum 10 years of industrial experience in API or fine chemical industries.
• Demonstrated independence, broad workstream ownership, and strong matrix leadership across execution-focused technical programs.
• Hands‑on experience in laboratory-based process development, route assessment, optimization, scale‑up, characterization, or troubleshooting for APIs, fine chemicals, NCEs, or related target molecules.
• Strong foundation in synthetic organic chemistry, modern analytical techniques, reaction monitoring, process optimization, and practical route selection for API or fine chemical development.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct independent literature reviews, design or assess synthetic routes, evaluate reagents and raw materials, and develop technically feasible experimental or implementation plans.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize scientific, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, and supply chain information into practical recommendations and implementation plans.
• Experience planning and delivering technical work in accordance with project scope, quality requirements, timelines, budgets, and applicable documentation standards.
• Ability to lead matrixed teams, influence without direct authority, and integrate technical, operational, and programmatic perspectives.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports, briefing materials, SOPs, protocols, and project deliverables.

Additional Desired Preferences

• Experience in one or more funded technical programs, including donor‑funded, government‑funded, or internally funded initiatives.
• Experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing and supply chains, API process development, route scouting, scale‑up, technology transfer, CMC, quality, GMP manufacturing, or advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Exposure to relevant technical areas such as flow chemistry, process analytical technologies, continuous manufacturing, catalysis, biocatalysis, green chemistry, data science, cheminformatics, or technoeconomic analysis.
• Experience with technical due diligence, risk‑based evaluations, supplier assessments, route evaluations, scientific reports, publications, patents, presentations, or other high-quality technical documentation.
• Demonstrated interest and capability to take on increasing responsibility across complex technical programs and execution‑focused initiatives.

Supervisory Responsibilities

No.

Benefits

USP provides the benefits to protect yourself and your family today and tomorrow. From company‑paid time off and comprehensive healthcare options to retirement savings, you can have peace of mind that your personal and financial well‑being is protected.

Compensation:

Base Salary Range: USD $ 126,250 – $176,509.00 annually.

Target Annual Bonus: % Varies based on level of role.

Individual compensation packages are based on various factors unique to each candidate’s skill set, experience, qualifications, equity, and other job‑related reasons.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

Job Category Technical Programs

Job Type Full‑Time