R&D Associate Manager US HUB Unilever Fragrance House

Unilever • Trumbull, CT

21h • $86,080 - $129,120 • Onsite

About The Position

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty, Personal and Home Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, Sure, TRESemmé, Sunsilk, Vaseline, Comfort, Persil, Surf and Lynx. We want to move towards a connected world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is “to make sustainable living commonplace”. As one of the world’s largest users of Fragrances, we recognise that creating exceptional fragrances is at the heart of delivering extraordinary consumer experiences and driving desire at scale. Superior fragrances play a critical role in the delivery of unmissable superiority for Unilever. To support this, we have embarked on a fragrance transformation journey with expert inhouse fragrance teams, designing and formulating affordable winning fragrances for our Personal Care, Beauty & Wellbeing and Home Care Business Groups.

The R&D Associate Manager – Fragrance Compounding Lab is responsible for end-to-end operational leadership of the Unilever Fragrance House (UFH) laboratory in Trumbull, CT. This role ensures the timely, high‑quality, and compliant execution of fragrance creation workflows, including sample preparation, fragrance compounding, technical testing, and sensory study support. The position is the primary owner of UFH Trumbull lab operations—driving continuity, resilience, safety, and excellence across all fragrance development activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, or related scientific discipline preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in fragrance compounding, applications, and laboratory operations.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and delivery excellence.
• Ability to prioritize effectively and seek support when needed.
• Proficiency with lab equipment and analytical techniques.
• Strong independent working style combined with effective teamwork.
• High accountability for personal and team delivery standards.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills.
• Proactive approach to anticipating risks, obstacles, and delays.
• Strong lab operations and safety competency.
• Familiarity with olfactive and visual characteristics of fragrance raw materials.
• Understanding of fragrance performance across product formats.
• Hands-on experience with fragrance application and compounding of raw materials.
• Working knowledge of formulation principles and stability testing.
• Understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements (e.g., IFRA, SDS, Unilever standards

Nice To Haves

• Experience with statistical tools for DoE (e.g., JMP, Minitab) preferred.
• Passion for fragrance and sensory science.
• Growth mindset and adaptability in a fast-paced innovation environment.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Operational Ownership
• Own and make decisions on established sampling workflows.
• Oversee sample preparation processes and escalate risks when required.
• Drive the operational structure of the US Fragrance Lab and provide mentorship for junior team members as needed.
• Demonstrate technical maturity in interpreting formula–fragrance interactions, understanding raw materials, and designing studies.
• Define best practices for lab operations and sampling workflows.
• Act as the primary point of contact for audits and internal reviews.
• Fragrance Application & Sample Preparation
• Prepare fragrance‑applied samples accurately across multiple product categories, including: Personal Care: Body wash, bar soap, deodorant sticks & roll-ons, aerosols, whole body deodorants, mists, and innovative formats.
• Beauty & Wellbeing: Shampoo, conditioner, stylers, lotions, creams, dry shampoo, mists, and innovation formats.
• Home Care: Liquid laundry detergents, fabric softeners, surface cleaners, dishwashing liquids, and formats supported by site capabilities.
• Other Formats: Candles and innovative UFH Engagement Program formats.
• Ensure fragrance–base compatibility and stability.
• Fragrance Compounding
• Independently compound complex fragrance oils with accuracy and consistency.
• Calculate ingredients, weigh components, and blend to exact specifications.
• Maintain familiarity with odor profiles and appearance of key raw materials.
• Technical Scope
• Prepare samples for sensory evaluations and olfactive panels.
• Perform QC testing for all compounded oils.
• Conduct measurement science tests (pH, viscosity, color, appearance) per study requirements.
• Perform basic olfactive evaluations of applied samples.
• Execute stability studies following Unilever protocols.
• Maintain accurate and complete records of preparations, results, and observations.
• Design and execute DoE studies (full formulation or raw materials) and present recommendations.
• Lab Operations & Maintenance
• Ensure all lab equipment is maintained and calibrated.
• Maintain centralized, up‑to-date laboratory documentation.
• Manage inventory of unfragranced bases and consumables with focus on minimizing waste.
• Plan and ensure base availability in collaboration with the Technical Project Lead.
• Uphold all safety and quality standards; maintain lab readiness for inspections.
• Develop a best‑in-class sampling process ensuring on‑time, high‑quality, cost‑efficient delivery.
• Propose improvements for facility standards, including space optimization.
• Collaboration & Communication
• Partner closely with formulation teams, compounders, perfumers, evaluators, and the Technical Project Lead.
• Participate in cross‑functional project meetings and contribute technical insights.
• Communicate clearly and consistently while delivering with excellence.
• Prepare and present study reports, including hypotheses, analyses, and recommended next steps.

Benefits

• Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

What This Job Offers

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