Head of R&D

Dr. Squatch•Marina del Rey, CA

5d•$190,000 - $210,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Dr. Squatch is seeking a Head of R&D to lead the next phase of technical and product innovation across the organization. We are seeking a hands-on technical leader who can help scale and evolve the organization's product development capabilities while navigating the increasing operational complexity that comes with rapid growth across retail and omnichannel channels. The ideal candidate combines deep formulation expertise with strong operational judgment and an entrepreneurial mindset. This person should be equally comfortable evaluating ingredient systems, troubleshooting manufacturing realities, influencing executive stakeholders, and making practical decisions in fast-moving environments. Success in the role will require balancing speed, scalability, quality, cost, and formulation integrity without creating unnecessary process or bureaucracy. Reporting into executive leadership, the Head of R&D will oversee a multidisciplinary technical organization spanning formulation, product development, and manufacturing/process engineering. They will serve as a key strategic and technical partner internally and with Unilever stakeholders as the company continues expanding across categories and channels. The mandate is not simply to support the current business — it is to help build the technical foundation, team, and operating capabilities needed for the next stage of growth.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive R&D leadership experience within personal care, beauty, or adjacent consumer products categories
Deep hands-on formulation experience; candidates must have meaningful time spent "at the bench," not solely in oversight positions
Proven experience scaling formulations through external manufacturing partners and co-manufacturers
Demonstrated success leading and developing technical teams
Strong ability to communicate effectively with executive, commercial, and technical stakeholders
Experience operating effectively in high-growth, fast-paced environments
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific discipline; advanced degree preferred
Willingness to relocate to or work in the Los Angeles area on a hybrid basis

Nice To Haves

Experience within natural, naturally derived, or clean formulation systems
Familiarity with standards such as ISO 16128
Experience operating within a founder-led or entrepreneurial brand that later scaled within a larger enterprise environment
OTC or sunscreen category experience
Exposure to cost optimization and margin improvement initiatives
Experience balancing innovation speed with technical rigor and operational scalability

Responsibilities

Own technical strategy and decision-making across the full product development lifecycle
Lead formulation development across soaps, deodorants, body care, hair care, skincare, and adjacent categories
Evaluate ingredient systems, raw materials, and manufacturing processes to ensure product performance, scalability, and brand alignment
Serve as the company's senior technical authority across formulation, quality, and product performance discussions
Translate complex scientific concepts into clear, actionable recommendations for commercial and executive stakeholders
Ensure speed-to-market without compromising formulation integrity, product quality, or technical rigor
Lead the innovation pipeline from concept through commercialization across new products, reformulations, and adjacent category expansion
Partner cross-functionally to identify whitespace opportunities and prioritize future growth platforms
Drive a consumer- and insight-led innovation agenda while balancing operational feasibility and regulatory considerations
Build scalable development processes and ways of working that improve agility, execution, and cross-functional collaboration
Help evolve the organization's long-term R&D and innovation capabilities as the business continues to scale
Lead technical relationships with contract manufacturers, raw material suppliers, and external development partners
Oversee manufacturing scale-up and troubleshooting activities across co-manufacturing networks
Support cost optimization and continuous improvement initiatives without compromising consumer experience or product quality
Navigate technical tradeoffs and stakeholder alignment with strong judgment and influence
Lead, mentor, and develop a team spanning formulation, product development, and manufacturing/process engineering
Foster a culture of accountability, technical excellence, curiosity, and collaboration
Help attract, develop, and retain high-potential technical talent
Operate as a player-coach leader capable of moving fluidly between strategic leadership and hands-on problem solving