Interim Innovation & NPD Director

Go Fractional; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Go Fractional is seeking an experienced Innovation Director to lead the NPD roadmap for skincare and cosmetics, partnering with the Founder and senior leadership to ensure product concepts align with brand vision and standards. You will direct formulation, testing and regulatory aspects to drive products from concept to launch.

The role requires hands-on, pragmatic leadership, rapid prioritisation, and the ability to manage cross-functional teams in a fast-moving environment.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead and protect the active NPD roadmap, ensuring key launch milestones, critical paths and project deadlines remain on track.
• Partner with Founder Trinny Woodall and senior leadership to align concepts with brand vision and product standards.
• Provide expert direction across formulation development, performance, testing and claims for skincare and makeup projects.
• Identify risks, unblock challenges and drive clear decision-making across priority projects.
• Review and streamline workflows, lifecycle governance and stage-gate processes to improve efficiency and speed to market.

Skills

NPD leadership

Skincare formulation knowledge

Regulatory knowledge cosmetics

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder management

Job description

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.

Requirements

• 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.

Location: On-site, London, England, United Kingdom Duration: 3-6 months (Interim Consultant)