NA Brand R&D Lead - Topical Pain

Opella • Morristown, TN

13d

About The Position

Lead end-to-end R&D strategy, innovation pipeline, and execution for North America Topical Pain brands. Translate science and technology into consumer-focused products in partnership with Marketing, Sales, Regulatory, and Medical, driving business growth and successful product launches. Develop and execute a 1–5-year innovation and portfolio strategy using consumer insights, scientific expertise, external partnerships, and patent strategies to deliver differentiated products, support timely project execution and regulatory and sustainability objectives, and strengthen brand competitiveness. The role also involves advancing brand reputation, mentoring emerging talent, modeling a challenger mindset, and contributing to an ambitious, collaborative culture focused on recognition and belonging. Opella describes its mission as making self-care simple and bringing health into people’s hands, and states that it is a globally certified B Corp company active in the journey toward healthier people and planet.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline required.
• At least 5 years of R&D experience leading innovation pipelines and delivering successful product development for consumer health brands.
• Experience developing OTC and NDA products, supporting FDA submissions, and managing multiple brands across regulatory pathways.
• Ability to translate consumer insights into brand strategies, explain complex science to technical and business stakeholders, and identify portfolio growth opportunities.
• Demonstrated ability to coach cross-functional technical teams, allocate resources, manage budgets, assess project risks, and lead innovation from concept through commercial launch.
• Experience building and leveraging partnerships with suppliers, research organizations, and key opinion leaders.
• Ability to manage a broad innovation portfolio, including business development opportunities, product development, clinical programs, product claims, and commercialization with Project Management.
• Fluent written and spoken English, with strong collaboration and influencing skills across R&D, Regulatory, Marketing, Commercial, and executive leadership teams.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or Ph.D.
• Experience identifying emerging industry trends, novel ingredients, formulation technologies, and sustainable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the R&D innovation pipeline for assigned brands, delivering products and innovations that meet growth and sales objectives and sharing best practices across the portfolio.
• Drive short-, medium-, and long-term R&D projects, including formulations, product claims, clinical studies, packaging innovations, and sustainability initiatives; accelerate decisions and delivery.
• Partner with Marketing, Sales, Consumer Science, and Project Management on consumer-driven innovation programs and ensure timely, complete project execution.
• Develop patent strategies and use external technology partnerships and scientific expertise to create differentiated products and strengthen the innovation pipeline.
• Collaborate with Brand Leadership, Development, Packaging, Finance, and other cross-functional teams to develop business cases, manage project risks, and deliver innovation.
• Prioritize and lead base business protection initiatives to maintain product quality, regulatory compliance, and supply continuity while balancing business risks.
• Lead and coach cross-functional teams, foster collaboration and bold decision-making, and drive accountability for innovative solutions and long-term business growth.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior