Project Manager, Contract Manufacturing

Location: San Diego, CA (Headquarters)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Compensation: $75,000 – $95,000 per annum (base) + performance-based incentives, commensurate with experience

Reports To: VP of Commercial Operations

Summary

Debut is the unconventional innovation lab spearheading the next generation of big business. Only Debut has a scalable, integrated, climate-positive creation model powered by biotechnology that puts human wellbeing at the center of everything we do, setting the new standard for profitable business and a new pace for an ever-changing world.  Our hybrid biotechnology approaches unlock latent markets, providing access to sustainably produced, natural ingredients with health benefits that cannot be obtained through other methods. We are committed to traversing the entire process, from ingredient discovery to the scaling of these products, for consumer markets. If you are passionate, enjoy fast-paced innovation and collaborative teams, then Debut is for you.  

The Project Manager, Contract Manufacturing owns the project lifecycle from technology transfer to contract manufacturing (CM) partners through final product delivery. This role is the single point of accountability once a finalized formulation moves from Research & Development (R&D) into production, connecting formulation sales, R&D scientists, the Account Manager, and external CM partners to ensure every project moves smoothly through manufacturing and into the client's hands on time, on spec, and on budget.

Essential Functions

• Own the project lifecycle from technology transfer to contract manufacturing partners through final product delivery, serving as the primary point of accountability across sales, R&D, and CM partners.
• Own commercial and financial coordination with contract manufacturing partners, including preliminary and final production pricing, quote review, cost changes, rework costs, PO alignment, payment dependencies.
• Receive finalized formulations and technical packages from R&D and confirm production readiness with contract manufacturing partners.
• Lead technology transfer to contract manufacturers, including scale-up trials, process validation, and pilot batch approval.
• Manage the end-to-end CM relationship: partner selection and qualification, Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ), and lead-time negotiation, purchase orders, and production scheduling.
• Own Bill of Materials (BOM) documentation, version control, and raw material sourcing and traceability through manufacturing.
• Work closely with Quality team on in-process quality checks, batch record review, and Certificate of Analysis (COA) approval prior to release.
• Partner with Quality and contract manufacturing teams throughout production and finished-good release, including in-process quality review, batch documentation, COAs, deviations, waivers, analytical testing, release documentation, and resolution of quality-related production issues.
• Coordinate packaging, labeling, and finished-goods logistics to ensure on-time delivery to brand clients.
• Monitor developmental and production milestones, proactively identify risks (schedule, quality, supply), and drive timely resolution.
• Own and continuously maintain commercialization and production timelines, proactively identifying risks related to raw materials, components, testing, approvals, quality, capacity, and logistics; develop recovery plans and escalate critical issues to protect customer launch dates.
• Partner with the Account Manager to keep customers informed on project status, timelines, and milestones throughout production.
• Plan and lead brand-facing reviews and facility site visits, including production status updates.
• Maintain end-to-end project documentation and timelines in Monday.com.
• Support continuous improvement of CM onboarding, production, and delivery processes. Coordinate finished-good release and allocation requirements, including customer-specific quantities, shipment splits, palletization, packing requirements, retains, samples, and expedited or partial shipments when required.

Education and Experience

The successful candidate will be highly organized, process-oriented, and deeply familiar with beauty product development and contract manufacturing whether through hands-on formulation experience, a background in New Product Development (NPD), or commercial sales roles where they worked closely with formulation and development teams. They understand how a product moves from bench to tech transfer to full-scale production, and they know how to keep complex multi-party projects on track without losing detail. A bachelor's degree is required; a background in cosmetic science, chemistry, beauty/skincare sales, or NPD is a strong plus.

• 3+ years of experience in formulation project management, NPD, or beauty/skincare sales with meaningful involvement in tech transfer, scale-up, and manufacturing execution. Direct exposure to contract manufacturing (CM) environments is strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of the beauty formulation development process including prototype iterations and stability and compatibility testing and deep familiarity with tech transfer documentation, production scale-up, and regulatory/quality requirements sufficient to engage credibly with formulation scientists and CM production teams.
• Experience managing or coordinating Bill of Materials (BOM) documentation through production, including tracking component changes, version control, and communicating updates to manufacturing and commercial stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to manage relationships across internal teams, external CM partners, and brand customers simultaneously; organized, proactive, and solutions-oriented under pressure.
• Turnkey manufacturing experience, including component sourcing and supplier coordination, is a plus. Working knowledge of domestic and international shipping logistics, including commercial invoicing and freight documentation, is preferred.
• Proficiency with project management tools (Monday.com preferred) and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Based in San Diego, CA at Debut's HQ, with willingness and ability to travel up to 25% for regular on-site visits to Debut's co-use CM partner facility in Riverside, CA, and occasional travel to other CM partner facilities and brand offices.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, early-stage company environment where processes are still being built. Self-motivated, detail-obsessed, and calm under pressure.
• PMP certification or equivalent project management training is a plus but not required.

Essential Physical Characteristics:

• The physical characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.
• Continuous upward and downward flexion of the neck.
• Frequent sitting, repetitive use of hands to operate computers, printers and copiers.
• Occasional walking, standing, bending and twisting of neck, bending and twisting of waist, squatting, simple grasping, reaching above and below shoulder level, and lifting and carrying of files weighing up to 15 pounds.
• The performance of this position will present exposure to an industrial environment and requires support and compliance with the published Company PPE policy including but not limited to the use of personal protective equipment as needed.

Condition of Employment

As part of Debut’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check prior to beginning employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position.

Debut is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Salary: $75,000-$95,000