Innovation & NPD Director - Interim Consultant - 3-6 months

Trinny London Limited.; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Trinny London is seeking an experienced Innovation & NPD Director on an interim basis to lead our NPD and Innovation function. You will steer the product pipeline, ensure priority launches stay on track and collaborate with the Founder and senior stakeholders to translate vision into market-ready skincare and makeup products.

You will bring deep beauty expertise, commercial judgement, and hands-on delivery to strengthen processes, governance, and cross-functional delivery across global teams,

Qualifications

• Senior-level experience in Innovation, NPD or Product Development within beauty/skincare/cosmetics.
• Ability to enter complex environments quickly and deliver impact.
• Strong understanding of skincare/cosmetic formulation, testing and commercialization.
• Experience managing large product pipelines and moving projects to launch.
• Knowledge of global cosmetics regulations and claims testing.
• Experience working with Founders and senior leadership.
• Hands-on, pragmatic and collaborative with momentum.
• Leadership roles such as Innovation Director, NPD Director or VP Innovation would be relevant.

Responsibilities

• Lead and protect the active NPD roadmap to keep launches on track.
• Partner with Founder and senior leadership to align concepts with brand vision.
• Provide expert direction across formulation, performance, testing and claims.
• Identify risks, unblock challenges and drive clear decisions.
• Review and streamline NPD workflows and stage-gate processes.
• Improve cross-functional ownership and delivery.
• Oversee regulatory strategy and global compliance with experts.
• Review external innovation and manufacturing networks for balance of quality and pace.
• Establish documentation and playbooks for ongoing Innovation operation.
• Capture recommendations for longer-term improvements.
• Ensure a seamless handover to permanent leadership.

Skills

Innovation

NPD

Product Development

Cosmetics Regulations

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Skincare knowledge

Leadership experience

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Innovation & NPD Director on an interim basis to provide senior leadership and hands-on support across our NPD and Innovation function. This interim assignment will provide immediate expertise and direction across our product pipeline, ensuring priority launches remain on track while identifying opportunities to strengthen our innovation processes, ways of working and cross-functional delivery. Working closely with our Founder, Trinny Woodall, and senior stakeholders across the business, you will combine deep technical beauty and skincare expertise with strong commercial judgement and a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach to bringing signature Trinny London skincare and makeup products to market. Welcome to Trinny London! Here at Trinny London, we're changing the face of makeup and demystifying skincare, and we're only just getting started. Founded in 2017 by Trinny Woodall, Trinny London is challenging people all over the world to rethink their routines. We have achieved tremendous growth since 2017 and we're proud to be one of Europe's fastest-growing beauty brands. We're generating millions in sales by developing innovative products, acquiring hundreds of thousands of supporters and customers all over the world, and more importantly, building a talented and motivated team to support our fantastic growth.

Our Values

We live by three core values: we bring fearless passion, we act with smart intent and we all wear yellow. We always go the extra mile, working together to push boundaries and celebrate our wins and learnings as a team. We listen to every idea, big or small, and make considered decisions. We support each other to achieve our goals and thrive on collaboration.

The Role

• Lead and protect the active NPD roadmap, ensuring key launch milestones, critical paths and project deadlines remain firmly on track.
• Partner closely with Founder Trinny Woodall and senior leadership to ensure product concepts and execution remain aligned with our brand vision and product standards.
• Provide expert direction across formulation development, performance, testing and claims across active skincare and makeup projects.
• Identify risks quickly, unblock challenges and drive clear decision-making across priority projects.
• Review and streamline NPD workflows, lifecycle governance and stage-gate processes to improve efficiency, accountability and speed to market.
• Assess current ways of working and identify practical opportunities to strengthen project ownership and cross-functional delivery.
• Oversee regulatory strategy, technical safety assessments and global compliance in partnership with relevant internal and external experts.
• Review our external innovation and manufacturing network, including formulators, laboratories, suppliers and contract manufacturers, ensuring the right balance of quality, capability, pace and commercial effectiveness.
• Establish clear documentation, processes and practical playbooks to strengthen the ongoing operation of the Innovation and NPD function.
• Capture recommendations and opportunities for longer-term improvements across structure, process, capability and external partnerships.
• Ensure a seamless handover to permanent leadership at the end of the assignment.

• Significant senior level experience across Innovation, NPD or Product Development within beauty, skincare and cosmetics.
• Experience stepping into complex environments quickly, assessing priorities and delivering impact within a short timeframe.
• Strong technical understanding of skincare and/or cosmetic formulation, product development, testing and commercialisation.
• Proven ability to manage complex product pipelines, identify risks and move projects through development to launch.
• Strong knowledge of global cosmetics regulations, claims testing, product cost considerations and scaling formulations from concept through to commercial production.
• Confidence working directly with Founders, senior leadership teams and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Hands-on, pragmatic and highly collaborative, with the ability to bring clarity and momentum in fast-moving environments.
• Previous experience as an Innovation Director, NPD Director, Product Development Director, VP Innovation, Chief Innovation Officer or senior Innovation/NPD Consultant would be highly relevant.