Associate Manager, Research & Development - Personal Care
About The Position
SC Johnson Lifestyle Brands (LSB) in San Francisco is home to some of the most innovative and purpose‑driven names in the industry, including Method®, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day®, babyganics®, and Ecover®. As part of SC Johnson, LSB blends creativity, sustainability, and cutting‑edge science to create products that genuinely improve life for people and the planet. In this Associate Manager role, you’ll play a key part in shaping the future of sustainable personal care products. You’ll drive product development from the earliest ideas through full commercialization, applying your formulation expertise and hands‑on lab experience to bring high‑performing, cost‑effective products to market. You’ll collaborate closely with cross‑functional partners, serve as a trusted technical voice in team discussions, and help turn big ideas into meaningful consumer experiences. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast‑moving environment where experimentation, creative problem‑solving, and collaboration are essential. Success comes from combining technical rigor with curiosity, communication strength, and a passion for sustainable innovation.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of experience in formulation or product development, including at least 3+ years in the Personal Care industry or Advanced degree with 3+ years of relevant experience
- Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship for full-time employment
Nice To Haves
- Understanding of SAP and PLM data managements systems
- Intermediate to advance experience with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Responsibilities
- Develop new formulations and line extensions using green chemistry tools that meet our consumer and technical objectives.
- Conduct performance and stability studies to ensure products deliver on quality, on budget and on the product experience.
- Work with your manager and project teams to understand project criteria and build plans for developing new products, executing line extensions and enabling cost savings.
- Develop and support compelling, consumer-noticeable claims for our products, conduct competitive analysis studies and collaborate with sales and marketing teams to develop label copy, graphics, usage instructions and claims substantiation.
- Develop test methodologies to support product development and quality assurance/control activities, assist QA team with physical standard production and maintenance
- Utilize SAP/PLM to manage product setup, product specifications, documentation and enable global collaboration
- Work independently in the lab and help maintain lab hygiene, lab safety, processes and documentation
- Work with suppliers to evaluate sustainable chemistries through testing and timely feedback, iterative material improvements and incorporation into products
- Continually assess and upgrade formulation capabilities, including technical knowledge base, test methods and formulation skills
- Stay abreast of new competitive launches, emerging trends and regularly survey the competitive landscape
- Communicate effectively in project settings and provide timely updates to team on progress, developments, risks and opportunities
Benefits
- Subsidized health insurance benefits package
- Competitive vacation + holiday bundle
- Generous retirement match + pre-tax savings options
- Dedicated volunteer time, to be a force for good
- Pioneering events + experiences that build team connection (...ask us about the Packaging Olympics, Bubble Bash, Ping Pong Tournament + more!)
- Access to discounted/free products
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
