Senior Scientist, Beauty and Care

dsm-firmenich; Kaiseraugst; On-site; CHF 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Multicultural team

Beauty & Care innovation

Global collaboration

Job summary

dsm-firmenich in Kaiseraugst, Switzerland seeks a Senior Scientist to lead design and execution of scientific strategies for skin actives and vitamins. You will collaborate across Marketing, Regulatory, and Commercial teams to translate science into credible product claims.

The role involves driving in vitro, ex vivo, and clinical studies within a global R&D context, with opportunities for leadership and cross-border collaboration in Beauty & Care innovation.

Qualifications

• PhD in Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Pharmacie, or a related discipline, with deep expertise in skin biology.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and execution of scientific strategies to expand the skin actives and vitamins portfolio.
• Drive R&D projects within the Applied Sciences Biology group, ensuring scientific excellence and timely delivery.
• Generate high-quality scientific data packages to substantiate product claims across skin actives, hair actives, and vitamins.
• Design and oversee in vitro and in vivo studies, including clinical collaborations, to deliver robust evidence for product performance.
• Act as a senior scientific partner to Marketing and Sales, providing multi-level support from concept to customer engagement.

Skills

Skin biology

Dermocosmetics

Leadership

Clinical studies

Scientific communication

Education

PhD in Life Sciences / Biochemistry / Pharmacie

Job description

Job title- Senior Scientist, Beauty and Care (82107)

Location– Kaiseraugst, Switzerland

Are you an experienced scientist with a proven track record of delivering impactful results? Do you thrive as a collaborative team player, willing to go the extra mile in a dynamic and forward-looking business environment? Are you energized by translating cutting-edge science into meaningful applications?

Join a global leader at the forefront of innovation and become part of a pioneering field where your ideas can truly make a difference. We offer a highly collaborative R&D environment with strong cross-functional integration, enabling you to work closely with diverse teams to bring science to life.

We are seeking a Senior Scientist/Associated Principal Scientist to join our R&D B&C team, based at our Global Headquarters in the Basel area.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of scientific strategies and projects to strengthen, differentiate, and expand the skin actives and vitamins portfolio, with clear linkage to business impact.
• Drive R&D projects within the Applied Sciences Biology group, ensuring scientific excellence, timely delivery, and alignment with innovation priorities.
• Generate high-quality scientific data packages to substantiate product claims across skin actives, hair actives, and vitamins, translating complex biology into compelling and credible narratives.
• Design and oversee in vitro and in vivo studies, including clinical collaborations, to deliver robust, publication-ready evidence supporting product performance.
• Act as a senior scientific partner to Marketing and Sales, providing multi-level support from concept development to customer engagement and technical positioning.
• Represent R&D in cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams, contributing to strategic discussions and influencing decision-making.
• Author claim substantiation dossiers, scientific publications, and high-impact presentations for internal stakeholders, customers, and external platforms (e.g., conferences, trade shows).
• Serve as a scientific ambassador in customer interactions, supporting regional teams with expertise in tailored projects and technical discussions.
• Build strong connections with global and regional stakeholders, delivering scientific training and ensuring consistent, high-level communication of product benefits.
• Provide expert responses to technical and product-related inquiries, ensuring accuracy, credibility, and alignment with regulatory and commercial frameworks.

We Offer

• Highly motivated, professional, and multicultural team environment.
• Opportunity to work at the forefront of Beauty & Care innovation and contribute to science-driven solutions with global impact.
• Exposure to cutting-edge research and collaboration with leading experts across multidisciplinary teams worldwide.
• An empowering and entrepreneurial culture that encourages curiosity, ownership, and innovation.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to our business success.
• Continuous learning and development through our in-house training programs.
• Be part of a company with a strong heritage of industrial innovation and cutting-edge technology.

You Bring

• PhD in Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Pharmacie, or a related discipline, with deep expertise in skin biology and a strong understanding of cosmetic or dermatological mechanisms.
• Strategic thinker with a clear innovation mindset, capable of identifying emerging scientific trends and translating them into actionable opportunities and platforms.
• Extensive industry experience in Personal Care, dermocosmetics, or adjacent fields, with a proven track record of leading scientific projects that resulted in differentiated, market-relevant innovations.
• Recognized expertise in translating mechanistic science into compelling product claims, with a strong ability to connect biological insights to consumer-relevant benefits.
• Demonstrated leadership in designing and orchestrating complex in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo (clinical) studies, including external partner management and end-to-end ownership of claim substantiation strategies.
• Strong scientific credibility, evidenced by peer reviewed publications, conference contributions (e.g., IFSCC, SID or similar), and the ability to represent the organization externally as a thought partner.
• Proven ability to operate and influence at senior levels within a matrix organization, effectively bridging R&D, Marketing, Regulatory, and Commercial teams.
• Experience in customer-facing roles, with confidence in engaging key accounts, supporting business development, and translating science into persuasive technical narratives.
• High level of ownership, resilience, and drive; comfortable navigating ambiguity and raising the bar for scientific excellence and impact.
• Strong collaborative mindset combined with the confidence to challenge, shape direction, and lead through expertise.

About Dsm-firmenich

At dsm-firmenich, we don’t just meet expectations – we go beyond them.

Join our global team powered by science, creativity, and a shared purpose: to bring progress to life.

From elevating health to making fortified food and sustainable skincare, the impact of your work here will be felt by millions – every single day. Whether it’s fragrance that helps you focus, alternative meat that’s better for the planet, or reducing sugar without losing flavor, this is where you help shape the future of nutrition, health, and beauty for everyone, everywhere.

And while you’re making a difference, we’ll make sure you’re growing too. With learning that never stops, a culture that lifts you up and the freedom to move across businesses, teams, and borders. Your voice matters here. And your ideas? They’re essential to our future.

Because real progress only happens when we go beyond, together.

Inclusion, belonging and equal opportunity statement

At dsm-firmenich, we believe being a force for good starts with the way we treat each other. When people feel supported, included, and free to be themselves, they do their best work – and that’s exactly the kind of culture we’re building. A place where opportunity is truly equal, authenticity is celebrated, and everyone has the chance to grow, contribute, and feel they belong.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we’re serious about making our hiring process as fair and inclusive as possible. From inclusive language and diverse interview panels to thoughtful sourcing, we’re committed to reflecting the world we serve.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds — no matter your gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes you, you.

And if you have a disability or need any support through the application process, we’re here to help – just let us know what you need, and we’ll do everything we can to make it work.

www.dsm-firmenich.com