Lab Manager
ZO Skin Health•Irvine, CA
•Hybrid
About The Position
The Lab Manager is responsible for leading the R&D laboratory, formulation development activities, and execution of product innovation initiatives for ZO Skin Health. This role oversees a team of Chemists while driving the development, optimization, and commercialization of ZO products. The Lab Manager serves as the technical leader, working alongside the VP of R&D for formulation strategy, laboratory operations, external development partnerships, and cross-functional project execution, ensuring products meet efficacy, aesthetic, quality, regulatory, and cost objectives.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, or related scientific discipline required
- Minimum 8+ years of skincare formulation and product development experience, including cosmetics, OTC, and/or Rx products.
- Previous experience leading technical teams and mentoring scientific staff.
- Strong expertise in skincare formulation, ingredient technologies, stability, and product development.
- Experience managing scale-up, technology transfer, and commercialization activities.
- Proven ability to manage external partners, including contract manufacturers, testing laboratories, and development partners.
- Strong understanding of regulatory requirements, product safety, and quality standards.
- Demonstrated success leading cross-functional projects and delivering results on time.
- Excellent leadership, communication, problem-solving, and project management skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Nice To Haves
- advanced degree preferred
Responsibilities
- Lead the R&D laboratory and manage a team of Chemists, providing coaching, development, performance management, and technical guidance.
- Drive formulation innovation by developing and overseeing the creation of new product prototypes, reformulations, and product enhancements aligned with brand strategy and consumer needs.
- Provide scientific leadership for skincare, OTC and Rx product development programs from concept through commercialization.
- Establish laboratory priorities, allocate resources, and manage project timelines to ensure successful execution of R&D initiatives.
- Serve as the primary technical resource for formulation troubleshooting, manufacturing challenges, stability concerns, and product quality improvements.
- Direct stability programs and interpret data to ensure product robustness, performance, and shelf-life requirements are achieved.
- Lead scale-up and technology transfer activities, ensuring formulations are successfully transitioned from laboratory development to commercial manufacturing.
- Manage relationships with external formulation partners, contract manufacturers, testing laboratories, CROs, and other development partners to support project execution and commercialization.
- Collaborate closely with Product Development, Marketing, Regulatory, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing teams throughout the product development lifecycle.
- Evaluate emerging technologies, ingredients, and market trends to identify opportunities for innovation and competitive differentiation.
- Ensure compliance with global regulatory requirements, ingredient policies, safety standards, and GMP requirements.
- Review and approve technical documentation, development reports, specifications, protocols, and laboratory records.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on laboratory efficiency, innovation, data integrity, and process optimization.
- Manage laboratory budgets, equipment maintenance, inventory planning, and capital expenditures.
- Lead laboratory readiness for audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews.
- Lab manager is expected to spend 25% on the bench and 75% on managerial tasks
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
