R&D Formulation Manager

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

Responsibilities

• 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 to ensure compliance with internal protocols and regulatory safety standards.
• Act as Waste Management Lead, overseeing 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.
• Guide the development of formulas aligned with innovation strategy, customer requirements, and technical feasibility.
• Manage the Formula Lock process, confirming stability, performance, required testing completion, and documentation.
• 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.
• Support customer calls on active development projects as the technical lead by providing updates, addressing questions, and capturing 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.
• 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.
• 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 enhancements.

• Formulation expertise in personal care products.
• Experience in research and development, specifically in new product development.
• Strong background in chemistry.
• Proven track record in managing technical teams and delivering commercially successful formulations.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific field.
• 7–10 years of formulation experience in personal care products, preferably in a contract manufacturing or brand R&D setting.

The role involves managing a dynamic formulation lab, where you will utilize state-of-the-art equipment and collaborate with cross-functional teams. The work environment encourages innovation and requires strict adherence to safety and regulatory standards. You will engage with external vendors and internal stakeholders to ensure the successful execution of projects, all while maintaining a focus on sustainability and operational efficiency.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Mainland, PA.

The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $135000.00/yr.

Aetna Medical, dental and vision - 401K with match and pet insurance 2 weeks PTO plus company paid holidays

This is a hybrid position in Mainland,PA.

This position is anticipated to close on May 20, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.