Director of Product Development

Director of Product Development

Responsibilities:

• The Director of R&D Operations will play a vital role in the development, scale-up, and eventual manufacturing of color/skincare cosmetic products.
• Will be responsible for raising flags if the processes are not being followed and have a razor-sharp eye for even the most minute detail.
• Report to the VP of R&D Operations.
• Will clearly and effectively collect project status, adhere to strict timelines, and provide direction to the entire group.
• Responsible for delivering on promised dates and must back up all statements of fact with data in detailed form.
• The Director of Product Development Operations will be responsible for the creation of formulas for the generation of new business and existing business opportunities.
• Take direction from the VP of R&D Operations in creating new formulas as well as working from client benchmarks to match texture, color, and performance as presented.
• Must have the flexibility to manage both powder and liquid color cosmetics as well as skincare formulations. Interface with partner suppliers to communicate needs, acquire innovative materials, obtain formulating knowledge, and to formulate stable, state of the art products that comply with any client restrictions, as well as federal and international restrictions as necessary.
• Provide direction to direct reports and follow-up to ensure projects are completed or are on the proper trajectory to be completed in a timely fashion.
• Must have strict adherence to company guidelines, SOP’s, and good laboratory practices.
• Write and enter formulas into the R&D formula system, write clear processes that can be readily replicated, write notes for manufacturing for ease of scale-up, and have the necessary skills to test all finished products in lab using applicable test instrumentation.
• Have the flexibility to work in both powder and liquid color cosmetics as well as skincare formulations. Interface with partner suppliers to communicate needs, acquire innovative materials, obtain formulating knowledge, and to formulate stable, state of the art products that comply with any client restrictions, as well as federal and international restrictions as necessary.
• Guide and lead a large team of chemists. Provide them technical support, viewing their formulations and procedures, and providing guidance.
• Meet with new vendors to source raw materials, innovative materials and gain knowledge in expanding areas of industry research.

Required Skills:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in food technology, Chemistry or Biology (or related field).
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience working within a technical field in the color cosmetics industry including product development and research experience.
• 8+ years of leadership responsibility.
• People Management Skills - interpersonal leadership, coaching, feedback, career development, performance assessments, objective setting, business goal alignment, hiring & disciplinary action as required.
• Leadership Skills - Communication within R&D, Engineering and peers across Business, conflict resolution, meeting management, change management, adheres Leadership Standards.
• Department level business goal development and alignment to higher level goals.
• Significant track record of partnering with People and Culture on performance management and performance improvement plans.
• Stimulate department cooperation to successfully complete their goals and objectives.
• Foster a high-performance environment with a diverse set of resources.
• Promote teamwork, collaboration, continuous process improvement, and an adaptive development environment.
• Resolve cross department (Compounding) conflicts with a cool head, finesse and focus on business goals.
• Objective analysis and resolution of complex people / customer / and business issues.
• Ability to effectively convey defined vision on the department level.
• Ability to manage through significant change that majorly impacts the department.

Pay: $120k+ DOE