Sr Principal / Principal Scientist Personal Care Formulation & Implementation

Colgate•Piscataway, NJ

41d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an enthusiastic Principal Scientist to lead a segment of our dynamic Handsoap Personal Care R&D team. You will own the end-to-end product development lifecycle from concept to commercialization within the personal care category for North America. Your primary mission will be exploring and integrating cutting-edge material science and formulation fundamentals to drive next-generation innovations. This is an exceptional opportunity to scale global brands, influence technical strategies, and foster a high-performance culture of creativity and collaboration.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline
At least 12 years of Research and Development experience within the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry
Minimum of 2 years of proven experience in direct people management and team leadership
Demonstrated technical experience in the formulation, evaluation, and scale-up of personal care or cleansing products

Nice To Haves

Masters Degree or PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field
Advanced technical knowledge of ingredient chemistry, surfactant interactions, emulsions, and OTC drug requirements
Proficiency in statistical Design of Experiments (DOE) and measurement science
Strong functional competencies in cross-organizational communication, with a proven ability to succinctly present complex technical details to non-technical business partners
Familiarity with intellectual property management and a track record of supporting manufacturing plants in solving complex technical production challenges

Responsibilities

Lead, motivate, and develop the R&D team to foster a high-performance culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous technical growth
Drive the exploration, integration, and scaling of new surfactant chemistry, rheology, and formulation innovations into body cleansing products
Manage the entire product design and full development lifecycle, effectively leveraging both internal and external resources to ensure flawless execution
Collaborate closely with cross-functional stakeholders—including Marketing, Supply Chain, Legal, and Regulatory—to validate new products and support business priorities
Oversee critical technical documentation, including formula databases, claims support, standard operating procedures, and tech transfer checklists