New Product Development Manager

KJ Talent & Partners; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

KJ Talent & Partners partners with a premium skincare brand to recruit a Product Development Manager. This role leads end-to-end development from concept to launch, collaborating with labs, manufacturers and internal teams to ensure high-performance, compliant skincare products.

The ideal candidate brings skincare product development experience, solid project management, and strong stakeholder acumen to influence product strategy and portfolio direction.

Qualifications

• Experience in skincare or cosmetic product development.
• Understanding of cosmetic formulations, ingredients and product testing.
• Experience managing multiple NPD projects.
• Knowledge of cosmetic regulations and product compliance.
• Excellent organisational and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and an eye for emerging skincare trends.
• A proactive, collaborative approach with attention to detail.
• A degree in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Biology or related field is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of skincare products from concept through to launch.
• Manage multiple product development projects with timelines and budgets.
• Collaborate with laboratories and manufacturing partners to create high-performance products.
• Research emerging ingredients, technologies and market trends to drive innovation.
• Assess formulations through testing, consumer feedback and performance evaluations.
• Work with Regulatory and Quality teams to ensure compliance with UK and international cosmetic legislation.
• Partner with Marketing and Commercial teams to support product positioning and launches.
• Develop technical product specifications and maintain accurate documentation.
• Build and manage supplier and manufacturing relationships.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve product performance and development processes.

Job description

We're partnering with an exciting, fast-growing premium skincare brand to recruit a Product Development Manager. This is a fantastic opportunity to join an ambitious business that's committed to creating innovative, science-led skincare products that deliver exceptional results.

With an exciting pipeline of new product launches ahead, we're looking for an experienced product development professional who is passionate about skincare innovation and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

If you're driven by bringing high-performing skincare products to market and enjoy working across the full product development lifecycle, we'd love to hear from you.

The Role

As Product Development Manager, you'll lead the end-to-end development of new skincare products, from concept through to launch.

Working closely with internal stakeholders and external formulation laboratories, manufacturers and suppliers, you'll ensure every product meets the highest standards of performance, quality and regulatory compliance.

This is a hands-on role offering genuine influence over innovation, product strategy and the future direction of an expanding skincare portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of new skincare products from concept through to commercial launch.
• Manage multiple product development projects, ensuring timelines, budgets and critical paths are met.
• Collaborate with formulation laboratories and manufacturing partners to create high-performance skincare products.
• Research emerging ingredients, technologies and market trends to drive innovation.
• Assess formulations through testing, consumer feedback and performance evaluations.
• Work closely with Regulatory and Quality teams to ensure products comply with UK and international cosmetic legislation.
• Partner with Marketing and Commercial teams to support product positioning and launch activity.
• Develop technical product specifications and maintain accurate product documentation.
• Build and manage strong supplier and manufacturing relationships.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve product performance and development processes.

About You

We're looking for someone who combines technical skincare knowledge with excellent project management skills.

You’ll ideally have:

• Experience in skincare or cosmetic product development.
• A strong understanding of cosmetic formulations, ingredients and product testing.
• Experience managing multiple NPD projects simultaneously.
• Knowledge of cosmetic regulations and product compliance.
• Excellent organisational and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and an eye for emerging skincare trends.
• A proactive, collaborative approach with exceptional attention to detail.
• A degree in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Biology or a related scientific discipline is advantageous.