About the Opportunity
Our beauty client is doubling down on their growth by leading innovation — and we are supporting a key role to drive their next phase of growth. Partnering with leading brands across the hair care and skincare space, this role will shape collections featuring the latest ingredients and technology, and collaborate with brands on new innovation concepts from concept through commercialization. It is a critical, visible position that carries a clear path to broader leadership based on performance. This position is based in Los Angeles, and the client is offering relocation support for the right candidate.
What You Will Drive
Own & Elevate the Innovation Pipeline Lead end-to-end formula development across skincare, body care, and hair care — from hands-on bench experimentation with novel emulsification systems and raw materials, to setting the technical standard across the entire R&D team.
Be the Senior Technical Voice at the Table This isn't a back-of-house role. You'll partner directly with Sales and C-suite executives, presenting formulas to beauty brand clients as the senior technical expert — leading discussions on key ingredients, cutting-edge technology, and true points of market differentiation.
Drive White Space Strategy & Business Growth Take the lead on identifying untapped market opportunities, aligning innovative formulas to key account needs, and directly shaping the company's growth direction — all while staying ahead of trends through Cosmoprof, SCC, and strategic vendor partnerships.
Key Responsibilities
- Spearhead end-to-end development of current library formulas into physical products to be showcased and evaluated by internal team members, executives, and beauty brand clients. Ensure all safety testing is completed, partner with compounding for the scale-up process, and manage all troubleshooting through to successful delivery.
- Partner with the Sales team to interface with clients and present product formulas as the technical expert — highlighting key ingredients, innovative technology, features, and benefits to underscore points of difference in the market.
- Take the lead on identifying and developing innovative, consumer-relevant technology and formulas for body care, skincare, and hair care products, including contributions to the client's private label brand.
- Own innovation through the formula development process, creating 1+ new products each week. Write formulas and create product specifications for new formulations, modify existing formulas, and track all documentation through the Decom system.
- Provide technical direction on prototypes throughout development to ensure aesthetics, effectiveness, target cost, stability, and overall quality.
- Conduct root cause analysis to determine formula parameters and solve stability issues. Make critical observations, troubleshoot proactively, and drive decisions to keep projects on timeline.
- Partner with the R&D Director to create a system to label and track all new product samples from the formula library for easy reference and documentation. Track changes to fragrances, actives, and viscosity.
- Stay in tune with evolving trends and technology by attending industry trade shows (Cosmoprof), networking with the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, and meeting with raw material vendors to drive new innovation based on breakthrough technologies.
- Partner with the R&D Director to review weekly project spreadsheets, provide updates on successful completions, and maintain fluid communication on formula challenges and/or delays.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry or a related discipline required, with a minimum of 7 years of experience in cosmetic formulation and development.
- Demonstrated track record of innovating on-trend personal care products.
- In-depth knowledge of the principles of cosmetic science.
- Strong knowledge of personal care ingredients, skincare formulations, chemistry, product stability, and manufacturing processes.
- Excellent critical thinking, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.
- Strong organization and exceptional attention to detail.
- Flexible and agile — able to adjust to shifting priorities based on evolving business needs.
- Outstanding oral and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into compelling presentations.
- Self-sufficient and able to work independently as well as collaboratively within team settings.
- Comfortable with ambiguity; capable of exploring innovative ideas and transforming them into deliverable beauty concepts.
