Chinese-speaking R&D Formulator Manager

MatchaTalent; Surabaya ꦱꦸꦫꦧꦪ; On-site; IDR 900,000,000 - 1,500,000,000; Full time

Job summary

MatchaTalent is seeking a Senior R&D Formulation Manager – Personal Care to lead formulation research and product innovation in Tangerang, Indonesia. You will direct a local team, establish development processes, and oversee trials, stability testing, and scale-up from lab to mass production.

The role requires strong expertise in emulsion technology, surfactants, active ingredients, and Asian ingredient supply chains, with Mandarin fluency and willingness to relocate to Indonesia if needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required in a relevant scientific discipline.
• Minimum 7–10 years of hands-on formulation experience in cosmetic/personal care manufacturing.
• Proven track record of developing new formulations from scratch.
• Experience leading an R&D formulation team at a managerial level.

Responsibilities

• Lead formulation research and product innovation from concept to production-ready formulas.
• Identify opportunities via raw material trends and active ingredients.
• Design and oversee laboratory trials, stability testing, and validation.
• Manage scale-up from pilot to mass production with consistent formulas.
• Develop skincare formulations (serums, moisturizers, sunscreens) and hair/body care products.
• Ensure alignment with BPOM Indonesia and relevant safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem-solving

Fluent Mandarin

Project management

Entrepreneurial mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry/Cosmetic Science/Pharmaceutical Sciences/Cosmetology/Chemical Engineering

Job description

The candidate required to work at BSD City, Tangerang, Indonesia.

Open to candidates currently based in Mainland China who are willing to relocate to Indonesia.

Client Overview

Our client is a rapidly expanding cosmetic and personal care manufacturing company headquartered in Tangerang, Indonesia. The company operates modern manufacturing facilities producing a broad range of personal care products, including skincare, haircare, body care, fragrances, body mists, and specialized home care products.

Supported by strong R&D capabilities and continuous investment in manufacturing and formulation technology, the organization focuses on developing high-performance products that respond to evolving consumer needs across regional markets.

Operating under direct entrepreneurial leadership, the company emphasizes fast execution, genuine formulation innovation, efficient product development, and strong integration with Asian raw material supply chains.

Job Role

The R&D Formulation Manager – Personal Care is a senior technical leadership role responsible for formulation research, ingredient innovation, and product development across skincare, haircare, and body care categories.

Reporting directly to the Innovation Director and Company Owner, you will lead the development of original formulations from concept through production-ready products, with a strong focus on scratch formulation and genuine product innovation rather than routine reformulation or minor product modifications.

You will also build and lead the local R&D formulation team in Indonesia, establish formulation development processes, oversee laboratory trials and stability testing, and manage technical scale-up from pilot batches to mass production.

The role requires strong expertise in emulsion technology, surfactant chemistry, active ingredient incorporation, raw material evaluation, and Asian personal care ingredient supply chains. You will work closely with Innovation, Marketing, Production, QA/QC, and other stakeholders to ensure new products meet technical, commercial, quality, regulatory, and manufacturing requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead formulation research and product innovation from initial concept through production-ready formulas, with a strong focus on developing new formulations from scratch.
• Identify new product opportunities through raw material trends, active ingredients, consumer insights, and emerging formulation technologies.
• Design and oversee laboratory trials, formula optimization, compatibility testing, and technical validation.
• Manage accelerated and real-time stability testing and ensure formulation performance meets defined quality standards.
• Lead technical scale-up from laboratory and pilot batches to mass production while ensuring formula consistency and manufacturing feasibility.
• Develop high-performance formulations across skincare, including serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, and related products.
• Develop formulations for haircare, including shampoos, conditioners, treatments, and other hair care products.
• Support formulation development for body care, fragrance, body mist, and other personal care categories as required.
• Evaluate, test, and recommend new raw materials, active ingredients, functional ingredients, and formulation technologies.
• Maintain strong knowledge of Asian raw material suppliers, particularly Mainland China ingredient sources and technical partners.
• Build, lead, mentor, and develop the local R&D formulation team in Indonesia.
• Establish R&D roadmaps, formulation protocols, testing standards, documentation systems, and project timelines.
• Ensure formulation documentation, formula master files, laboratory records, stability data, and technical specifications are properly maintained.
• Ensure new formulations comply with applicable Indonesian BPOM requirements and relevant international cosmetic safety standards.
• Work closely with QA/QC, Production, Marketing, Procurement, and other functions to ensure successful product commercialization.
• Provide technical recommendations to the Innovation Director and Company Owner regarding formulation feasibility, raw materials, product performance, cost targets, and manufacturing capabilities.

Candidate Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cosmetology, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 7–10 years of hands-on formulation experience within cosmetic or personal care manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrable track record of developing new formulations from scratch, rather than primarily optimizing existing formulas or base products.
• Proven portfolio of successful formulation innovation across skincare, haircare, body care, or related personal care categories.
• Proven experience leading an R&D formulation team or establishing an R&D formulation function at managerial level.
• Strong technical expertise in emulsion technology, surfactant chemistry, active ingredient incorporation, and formulation optimization.
• Strong experience in accelerated and real-time stability testing, product compatibility, and formulation validation.
• Proven experience managing technical scale-up from laboratory/pilot batches to commercial mass production.
• Familiarity with Asian personal care raw material supply chains, particularly suppliers and technical partners in Mainland China.
• Working knowledge of cosmetic regulatory and safety requirements, including BPOM Indonesia and/or NMPA China standards.
• Strong technical reasoning, problem-solving, and product development capabilities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with strong ownership and willingness to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership and team-building capabilities.
• Strong cross-functional and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Professional fluency in Mandarin Chinese is mandatory, both spoken and written.
• Local Indonesian candidates are welcome provided they have strong professional Mandarin proficiency.
• Mainland Chinese candidates are highly preferred and must be willing to relocate to Indonesia if required.

Job Code: #881