Careers

As Manager, R&D Formulation, you will lead the day-to-day operations of the formulation lab and manage a team of chemists and technicians responsible for developing personal care products (e.g., skincare, haircare, oral care, etc). You will oversee project execution across categories, manage lab operations, and ensure formulation readiness from initial brief to customer delivery. You’ll serve as the key link between lab execution and strategic innovation by supporting customer projects, managing testing documentation, and driving lab-based initiatives including safety and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities (Updated & Integrated):

Team & Lab Leadership

• Direct lab activities and supervise a team of chemists and technicians across multiple personal care categories.
• Lead onboarding and formulation briefing of new project wins across skin, hair, and oral care.
• Manage staffing, workload balancing, and team productivity across active and upcoming projects.
• Serve as the Lab Safety Lead: ensure compliance with internal protocols and regulatory safety standards.
• Act as Waste Management Lead: oversee proper handling, labeling, and disposal of lab-generated waste in line with environmental and corporate policies.
• Resolve day-to-day lab issues, resource constraints, and equipment troubleshooting.

Formulation Execution & Project Ownership

• Guide the development of formulas aligned with innovation strategy, customer requirements, and technical feasibility.
• Manage the Formula Lock process: confirm stability, performance, required testing completion, and documentation (e.g., specifications, test results, lab reports).
• Ensure accuracy and consistency across lab notebooks, development reports, and batch records.
• Design and maintain formulations to support trend decks and marketing initiatives, including sample creation and stability testing.

Customer & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Support customer calls on active development projects as the technical lead; provide updates, address questions, and capture feedback.
• Partner with Sales, Project Management, and Regulatory to align on timelines, technical expectations, and documentation needs.
• Coordinate with Manufacturing and Quality to support successful tech transfer and scale-up activities.

Innovation Support & Ingredient Scouting

• Execute innovation strategies set by the Vice President of Innovation by translating concepts into stable, tested prototypes.
• Attend ingredient presentations and vendor meetings to identify materials for current or future projects.
• Maintain a dynamic library of trend-forward formulations across categories to support brand growth and concept pitching.

Operational Oversight & Reporting

• Maintain lab equipment, inventory, and workflows for efficient operation.
• Track lab spending and ensure adherence to operational budgets.
• Collaborate with the Director of R&D on process improvements and lab capability enhancement

Minimum Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific field.
• 7–10 years of formulation experience in personal care (skin care, hair care, oral care, etc.), preferably in a contract manufacturing or brand R&D setting.
• Proven track record of managing technical teams and delivering commercially successful formulations.

Skills & Competencies

• Deep technical knowledge of formulation science across multiple product types.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and scale-up processes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and lead a high-performing lab team.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to present technical content internally and externally.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, formulation databases, and lab systems.

Physical Requirements:

• Standing or walking on hard surfaces for up to 50% of the day.
• Lifting or carrying up to 40 pounds; pushing/pulling up to 75 pounds.
• Ability to perform hands-on lab work with standard equipment and tools.
• Standard visual and auditory capabilities in lab and office environments.