Product Development Manager – Makeup

Tropic Skincare; Croydon; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Pension scheme

Wellbeing support

Discounted skincare

Job summary

Tropic Skincare is seeking a Product Development Manager – Makeup to own end-to-end development from concept to launch. You’ll coordinate with Product Innovation, R&D, Packaging, Operations and Marketing to ensure timely, budget-conscious delivery of high-quality makeup products.

This role requires strong project management, packaging development experience, and a passion for beauty innovation. Hybrid work, with a focus on collaboration across functions and suppliers.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in makeup product development or cosmetic product management.
• Experience managing end-to-end development and launches of makeup products.
• Strong project management skills with multiple concurrent projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end development of multiple makeup products from concept to launch.
• Create and maintain detailed project plans in Asana with milestones, risks and dependencies.
• Own the critical path for makeup development projects and manage risks proactively.

Skills

Makeup development

Project management

Asana

Packaging development

Supplier management

Formulation testing

Cross-functional leadership

Regulatory awareness

Tools

Asana

Job description

About The Role

Tropic is on an exciting journey to expand its award‑winning beauty portfolio into makeup. With our first launches underway and an ambitious pipeline of innovation ahead, we’re looking for an experienced Product Development Manager – Makeup to take ownership of the end‑to‑end product development process and ensure projects are delivered successfully from concept through to launch.

This is a highly collaborative role that combines product development, project management and cross‑functional leadership. You’ll work closely with our Founder, Product Innovation, R&D, Operations, Marketing and our lab to keep multiple development projects moving, balancing creativity with commercial priorities, timelines and quality.

As the central point of coordination for our makeup development pipeline, you’ll ensure products are delivered on time, within budget and to the exceptionally high standards Tropic is known for. You’ll also support the development process and help to bring innovative, high‑performing products to market.

As the category continues to grow, you’ll play an important role in shaping ways of working, strengthening supplier partnerships and contributing to the long‑term success of Tropic’s makeup portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end‑to‑end development of multiple makeup products, from concept approval through to commercial launch.
• Create and maintain detailed project plans in Asana, ensuring milestones, actions, risks and dependencies are accurately tracked while coordinating cross‑functional teams across Product Innovation, R&D, Packaging, Operations, Supply Chain and Marketing.
• Own the critical path for all makeup development projects, ensuring risks, dependencies and decisions are identified early and managed proactively to deliver successful launches.
• Lead the development of primary and secondary packaging, working closely with the Design team, suppliers and manufacturers. Manage tooling, component sourcing, artwork approvals and packaging specifications, while building strong supplier relationships to ensure commercially viable, brand‑aligned and launch‑ready solutions.
• Negotiate pricing, minimum order quantities (MOQs) and commercial terms with packaging suppliers to achieve the best balance of innovation, quality and value.
• Oversee formulation development, product testing and evaluations to ensure products meet Tropic’s high standards for quality, performance and customer experience.
• Champion innovation across formulations, textures, shades, packaging and ingredients while keeping up to date with market trends and competitor activity.
• Partner with R&D to ensure products meet UK and international cosmetic compliance requirements.
• Support testing programmes, claims substantiation and launch readiness activities.
• Prepare and communicate project updates, timelines, budgets and recommendations to key stakeholders and senior leaders.
• Continuously review and improve product development processes, implementing best practices to build a scalable, efficient and commercially successful makeup development function.

What We're Looking For

We’re looking for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced product development environment and enjoys bringing complex projects together through excellent organisation, collaboration and attention to detail.

You’ll Bring

• At least 5 years' experience in makeup product development or cosmetic product management.
• Proven experience managing the end‑to‑end development and launch of makeup products.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and competing priorities.
• Experience using project management software (ideally Asana) to manage projects, timelines and cross‑functional workflows.
• Experience leading packaging development, including tooling, supplier management, artwork approvals and commercial negotiations.
• Experience working with formulation laboratories, manufacturers and packaging suppliers.
• Excellent organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across multiple teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience balancing innovation, quality, timelines and cost to deliver commercially successful products.
• A passion for makeup, beauty innovation and delivering exceptional customer experiences.

Desirable

• A recognised Project Management qualification (such as PRINCE2, Agile, APM or equivalent).
• Experience working within premium beauty or cosmetics brands.
• Knowledge of UK and international cosmetic regulations.
• Experience mentoring or supporting junior team members.

What We Offer

• Employment Type: Full‑time, Monday to Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm.
• Location: Tropic HQ is a short walk from Beddington Lane Tram Stop, with direct links to East Croydon and Wimbledon.
• Hybrid Working: Enjoy a blend of office (4 days) and remote (1 day) working.
• Salary: Competitive.
• Benefits: Generous annual leave, 24/7 wellbeing support, discounted gym membership, pension scheme, enhanced maternity/paternity leave (available after a qualifying period), exclusive skincare collection, 50% discount for family and friends, annual product allowance, free breakfast bar, access to retailer discounts, social events, wellbeing treats, on‑site parking and a Cycle to Work scheme.
• Start Date: Immediate.

About Tropic

Susie, our Founder and CEO, started Tropic Skincare as a teenager, selling homemade body scrubs at Greenwich Market to help her mum pay the bills. She sold out on her first day, and the incredible response made her realise she had started something quite special. We still sell that iconic body scrub, and it sits alongside an extensive range of award‑winning skincare and beauty products that have made us one of the UK's fastest‑growing beauty businesses.

Our brand is certified vegan, cruelty‑free and CarbonNeutral®, and our infinite purpose is to create a healthier, greener, more empowered world.

And that's where you come in!

We’re looking for creative and ambitious people who share our vision and get excited about beauty that's both innovative and sustainable. If you're passionate about beauty and have a genuine desire to empower communities across the globe, you could be a great fit.

Tropic's Commitment to Equal Opportunities

Our team is as diverse as it is talented because at Tropic, we go the extra mile to cultivate a culture of respect and belonging. We value every candidate, respect protected characteristics and never discriminate.

We also provide reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities at every stage of the hiring process, so if this is something you need, please let our Recruitment team know at the earliest opportunity.

Ultimately, the most important thing for us is hiring the best person for the job. We focus on skills, experience and qualifications to ensure our recruitment process is fair, inclusive and provides every candidate with a positive experience.