Sr. Director, Product Development

Tatcha•San Francisco, CA

2h•$185,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

As the Sr. Director of Product Development at Tatcha, you will lead the development of all Tatcha products, helping to bring innovative, efficacious, and quality formulas to market. You will serve as the connective thread between science, heritage, and market innovation, building a pipeline that is as rooted in Tatcha's Japanese heritage as it is responsive to the evolving needs of our global consumer.

Requirements

10+ years of beauty industry experience in a senior (head of) product development role, or 8+ years with an advanced degree. Luxury beauty experience preferred.
BA/BS required; MS in cosmetic science, chemistry, or a related field a plus
3+ years of people management experience with a track record of developing high-performing teams.
Hands-on experience with claims development, consumer testing design, and clinical substantiation.
Experience developing products for global markets with a working knowledge of global skincare regulations.
Deep knowledge of the competitive beauty landscape, with a genuine personal passion for luxury skincare and the craft of formulation.
Understanding of skin biology, emulsion science, and cosmetic physical chemistry.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
Must be based in the San Francisco Bay Area and willing to work from our San Francisco HQ a minimum of two days per week.

Nice To Haves

First-hand experience with Japanese culture, heritage, beauty rituals, or Japanese beauty ingredient traditions is a huge plus.

Responsibilities

Partner closely with Product Marketing, R&D, and cross-functional partners to develop NPD concepts that honor Tatcha's Japanese heritage while addressing unmet consumer needs.
Drive ideation and end-to-end development of new formulas from concept brief through final approval, owning each stage gate with precision and creative intent.
Investigate breakthrough textures, finishes, and sensorial experiences; establish rigorous competitive benchmarks and white-space analyses.
Foster relationships with vendors and partners. Identify exclusive active ingredients, novel delivery systems, and innovative technologies that support differentiated storytelling.
Drive IP strategy, identifying opportunities for proprietary ingredient blends, unique emulsion architectures, and innovation that cannot be easily replicated.
Evaluate every formula submission and provide clear, timely feedback to R&D labs and manufacturers, maintaining Tatcha's uncompromising quality standards.
Ensure all development projects continuously meet goals, milestones, and launch timelines; proactively surface risks and lead cross-functional resolution.
Develop and lead product briefs, claims platforms, and comprehensive testing plans, including stability, compatibility, safety, efficacy, clinical, and consumer panel testing.
Partner with Regulatory to ensure all formulas and claims meet global compliance standards across regions.
Oversee claims substantiation programs, working with testing partners to design studies that generate compelling, defensible proof points.
Monitor and track formula testing parameters through all required phases, proactively identifying and resolving risks before they impact timelines.
Create product profiles and development narratives that articulate unique positioning within the Tatcha portfolio and the competitive landscape, serving as the foundation for marketing, education, and PR materials.
Collaborate with Marketing on product naming, copy, and claims messaging, ensuring all communications authentically reflect the science and heritage behind each formula.
Support the development of key presentations for leadership meetings, global strategy sessions, and retailer product reviews.
Proactively research the global beauty landscape, tracking launches, ingredient trends, consumer sentiment, and scientific developments to inform Tatcha's innovation pipeline.
Analyze competitive products, pricing, and claims to guide strategic positioning and differentiate Tatcha formulas in prestige retail environments.
Synthesize insights from global markets to ensure Tatcha's innovation pipeline remains globally relevant, while still authentic to brand heritage and purpose.
Manage, mentor, and inspire a small team of product development professionals, fostering a culture of creativity, scientific rigor, and genuine passion for beauty.
Contribute to building inclusive, collaborative cross-functional ways of working that reflect Tatcha's multicultural identity.