Customer Quality Partner
PolyPeptide Belgium – Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium
About PolyPeptide
PolyPeptide is a specialized CDMO supporting pharmaceutical and biotech companies with the development and manufacturing of peptide- and oligonucleotide-based active pharmaceutical ingredients. The Group operates an international network of cGMP-certified sites across Europe, the U.S. and India, and supports customers from development through to commercial supply. By serving leading pharma and biotech companies worldwide, PolyPeptide contributes to therapies that reach millions of patients.
The Belgian site in Braine-l’Alleud plays a key role within this network. Located near Brussels, it has a long-standing track record in peptide manufacturing and strong expertise in both solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and liquid phase peptide synthesis (LPPS). The site has recently expanded its large-scale SPPS manufacturing capabilities, reinforcing its strategic importance for international customer programs.
As the site continues to strengthen its quality maturity and customer partnership model, we are recruiting a Customer Quality Partner to act as the senior quality lead for strategic client relationships.
The opportunity
This is a senior, business-critical Quality role with high internal and external visibility.
As Customer Quality Partner, you will be the primary QA point of contact for an assigned portfolio of customers. You will secure projects from a quality standpoint across the product lifecycle, while building professional, fact-based and trusted customer relationships.
You will operate at the intersection of quality, operations and client interface, ensuring that customer expectations are managed with clarity, rigor and credibility, and that quality decisions remain robust, defendable and aligned with GMP, regulatory and operational realities.
Key responsibilities
Lead the QA relationship with customers
* Act as the main Quality contact for assigned clients
* Build trusted and professional relationships with demanding international customers
* Provide structured, proactive communication in case of deviations, delays, risks or sensitive quality issues
* Manage customer expectations in high-pressure environments with maturity, diplomacy and clarity
Secure projects and product quality governance
* Ensure quality oversight from development phases through product follow-up
* Lead and approve Quality Agreements and support their implementation
* Oversee key quality documentation linked to projects and products
* Coordinate and critically review Product Quality Reviews (PQRs), ensuring robustness, consistency and compliance of customer quality files
Manage complex quality issues and complaints
* Handle customer complaints end-to-end, from issue assessment to final response
* Coordinate root cause analyses with internal stakeholders
* Drive corrective and preventive actions to protect projects and reinforce customer confidence
* Present conclusions, decisions and action plans in a factual, credible and reassuring way
Support audits and inspections
* Represent the quality system during customer audits
* Contribute to inspection readiness and support regulatory interactions where relevant
* Help strengthen quality processes through continuous improvement
Enable cross-functional decision-making
* Work closely with Production, QC, Supply Chain, Projects and Sales
* Assess the feasibility of customer requests against GMP requirements, operational constraints and industrial realities
* Escalate and frame quality issues clearly to support sound business decisions
* Set clear boundaries when needed, while maintaining the right balance between customer satisfaction, compliance and execution feasibility
What we are looking for
We are looking for a senior QA professional who combines strong GMP credibility with the ability to manage complex customer interactions in a calm, structured and assertive way.
Background
* Master’s degree in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Bioengineering or a related scientific field
* Significant experience in pharmaceutical or biotech GMP environments
* Strong understanding of regulated manufacturing and/or biopharmaceutical development
* Previous exposure to customer-facing quality activities is highly desirable
* Knowledge of process validation, change controls, deviations, CAPAs, product documentation and quality agreements is a strong advantage
Key capabilities
* Excellent stakeholder management and customer communication skills
* Ability to structure, simplify and explain complex quality topics
* Strong judgement, decision-making capability and personal accountability
* Assertiveness with diplomacy
* High professional maturity and emotional intelligence
* Ability to perform under pressure and navigate sensitive situations with credibility
* Fluent English is essential
Why join PolyPeptide Belgium?
This is an opportunity to join a recognized international CDMO at a pivotal moment for its Belgian operations and quality organization.
You will take on a role that offers:
* A strategic position with direct business impact
* Exposure to international clients and high-value programs
* A senior level of autonomy and visibility
* A stimulating GMP environment combining technical complexity, operational reality and customer proximity
* The chance to play a defining role in strengthening the site’s quality credibility and long-term customer partnerships
Interested?
If you are a senior QA professional looking for a role that combines quality leadership, customer exposure and strategic influence, this could be an excellent next step.