Research & Development Chemists Manager

Voyant Beauty • Los Angeles, CA

8d

About The Position

The R&D Chemist Manager is responsible for leading formulation development and reverse engineering of skin, body, and hair care products, applying advanced cosmetic science and laboratory principles. This role builds upon technical expertise by adding people leadership, project ownership, and cross-functional collaboration. The position oversees formulation strategy, lab-scale development, scale-up, and transfer to manufacturing while ensuring alignment with customer expectations, regulatory standards, and business objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree Chemistry or related discipline (Required)
• 4-6 years Cosmetic formulation and product development (Required)
• 1-3 years Leading or mentoring technical teams (Required)
• Advanced knowledge of cosmetic science and formulation principles (High proficiency)
• People leadership, coaching, and talent development capability (High proficiency)
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment (High proficiency)
• Cross-functional communication and stakeholder engagement skills (High proficiency)
• Scale-up, process troubleshooting, and manufacturing knowledge (High proficiency)
• Analytical, documentation, and technical writing skills (High proficiency)
• Business acumen and customer-centric decision making (High proficiency)

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or related field (Preferred)
• 1-3 years In contract manufacturing and FDA/OTC regulatory environments (Preferred)

Responsibilities

• Formulate and reverse engineer skin, body, and hair care products utilizing cosmetic science principles across emulsions, surfactants, gels, and OTC systems.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of R&D chemists and laboratory personnel, including prioritization, technical mentorship, and performance management.
• Drive laboratory scale-up, process development, and technology transfer in partnership with Operations and Quality.
• Manage R&D project portfolios, timelines, and resources to support customer programs and innovation pipelines.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Commercial, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to ensure commercialization readiness.
• Identify and evaluate new ingredients, technologies, and competitive products to support innovation and new business.
• Ensure compliant documentation, data integrity, and adherence to laboratory and regulatory standards.

What This Job Offers

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