Part Time Color Product Development Specialist

MERIT•New York, NY

About The Position

MERIT is a minimalist beauty brand that makes impossible to mess up products for a multi-generational community. Designed by makeup consumers — not artists — MERIT was created as the antidote to the overwhelming world of beauty. We simplify what it takes to get ready by creating only well-edited essentials that help you do more with less. With minimalism at its core, MERIT remains intentional in the products it creates, spending years perfecting every detail to ensure it’s not just another product, but one that you can live with for years to come. MERIT is a minimalist beauty brand that makes it impossible to mess up products for a multi-generational community. Designed by makeup consumers — not artists — MERIT was created as the antidote to the overwhelming world of beauty. We simplify what it takes to get ready by creating only well-edited essentials that help you do more with less. With minimalism at its core, MERIT remains intentional in the products it creates, spending years perfecting every detail to ensure it’s not just another product, but one that you can live with for years to come. This is an hourly, part-time role supporting Color Product Development. The Color Specialist will focus on batch color evaluation, standards review, and vendor communication to ensure production shades meet brand expectations. This role requires strong cosmetic pigment expertise, independent color judgment, and the ability to work cross-functionally with internal teams and external manufacturing partners.

Requirements

Strong experience in cosmetic color development and production shade evaluation (5+ years).
Deep knowledge of cosmetic pigments and color behavior in formulations.
Experience communicating directly with production labs and vendors.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage physical samples and logistics.
Excellent communication skills with ability to deliver clear, decisive color feedback.
Comfort working independently while collaborating cross-functionally.
Experience participating in or leading shade testing and focus groups preferred.

Nice To Haves

Assist in clinical perception & safety testing kickoffs, including vendor coordination, quote management, and progress follow-ups.
Work directly with vendors/labs to acquire materials required for testing (bulk samples, submissions, etc.).
Ability to read and interpret stability reports and flag potential defects or risks.
Familiarity with safety and clinical testing processes, including tracking timelines and interpreting received data.

Responsibilities

Evaluate color accuracy of ongoing production batches with strong understanding of cosmetic pigments and how color behaves within formulas.
Review shade submissions against approved standards and provide expert feedback (primary responsibility).
Conduct finished goods (FG) production reviews and flag minor deviations or concerns.
Be in office a minimum of 2+ times per week to receive and review incoming production batches.
Communicate color feedback directly and independently to contract manufacturers and production labs in a timely manner.
Maintain clear, actionable vendor communication focused on achieving accurate execution in production.
Support in-person color development, shade testing, and focus group evaluations.
Lead or assist with in-office shade testing sessions, collecting feedback while maintaining expert grading perspective.
Coordinate internal testing groups and scheduling for shade evaluations.
Maintain and organize the product closet, benchmarks, and shade standards.
Manage UPS and shipment coordination for samples, batches, and materials to internal stakeholders and external vendors.