Head of Product Research & Innovation

Kanara; Tangerang; On-site; IDR 600,000,000 - 1,000,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Kanara is seeking a Head of Product Research & Innovation to lead R&D, Product Innovation, and Packaging Development with a strong emphasis on skincare and cosmetics. The role combines hands-on formulation leadership with strategic product development and cross-functional collaboration to deliver innovative, high-quality products.

The ideal candidate will have deep cosmetic formulation expertise, extensive leadership experience, and a track record of scaling products from concept to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 15+ years of experience in R&D, Formulation, Product Development, or Innovation, preferably within skincare, cosmetics, personal care, or FMCG.
• Strong and proven expertise in skincare, cosmetic formulation and R&D is preferred.
• Experience managing or leading packaging development is preferred.
• Proven experience taking products from formulation and prototype development through testing, optimization, scale-up, and commercialization.
• Experience leading an R&D, Product Development, Packaging Development, or/and Formulation team.
• Strong understanding of cosmetic ingredients, formulation principles, product stability, compatibility, testing, and product performance.
• Experience in product innovation, including developing new product concepts, exploring new ingredients or technologies, renovating and improving existing products.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, priorities, and resources.
• Strong technical problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Experience working with third-party manufacturers, laboratories, suppliers, or external R&D partners.
• Good understanding of relevant cosmetic regulatory and quality requirements.
• Experience with supplements/nutraceutical products is a strong plus.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and people management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the R&D, Product Innovation, and Packaging Development functions, providing technical direction and setting priorities across the teams.
• Act as the key technical lead for formulation R&D and product development, from research and formulation through testing, optimization, scale-up, and commercialization, for skincare, cosmetics, personal care, & nutrition.
• Lead the development and improvement of skincare, cosmetics, & personal care formulations, ensuring product performance, stability, safety, quality, and cost requirements are met.
• Research and evaluate new ingredients, formulation technologies, product formats, and development approaches to support both new product development and product improvement.
• Review and challenge formulations, raw materials, product specifications, testing results, stability data, and other technical development outputs.
• Provide technical direction and recommendations on formulation feasibility, product performance, ingredient selection, testing, and development trade-offs.
• Lead the overall product development pipeline, ensuring projects are prioritized appropriately and progress according to agreed timelines and business priorities.
• Work closely with Marketing and Commercial teams to translate product briefs and market requirements into technically feasible and differentiated product concepts.
• Lead collaboration with third-party manufacturers, laboratories, ingredient suppliers, packaging suppliers, and other external R&D partners.
• Work closely with Regulatory and Quality teams to ensure products meet applicable quality, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the Packaging team and oversee packaging development, including material selection, functionality, product compatibility, specifications, testing, quality, and development timelines.
• Ensure packaging solutions are technically compatible with the product and suitable for manufacturing, scalability, consumer use, and cost requirements.
• Oversee product testing, stability, compatibility, optimization, and technical troubleshooting throughout the development process.
• Support and provide technical direction during scale-up, manufacturing trials, and commercialization.
• Identify technical risks, development challenges, potential delays, and provide direction on appropriate solutions.
• Prioritize projects and allocate resources across R&D, Innovation, and Packaging based on business priorities, technical complexity, and timelines.
• Develop and continuously improve R&D, product development, innovation, and packaging processes and standards.
• Lead, develop, and coach R&D, Product Innovation, and Packaging Development teams, including setting technical standards (Process Workflow, SOPs, & Work Instructions), reviewing performance, and building team capabilities.
• Stay updated on cosmetic & nutrition ingredients, formulation technologies, packaging innovations, and industry developments to continuously strengthen the company’s product development capabilities.

Skills

Leadership

RD management

Cosmetic formulation

Packaging development

Project management

Regulatory & quality

Supplier collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Pharmacy/Chemistry/Chemical Eng.

Job description

We are looking for a Head of Product Research & Innovation to lead our R&D, Product Innovation, and Packaging Development functions, with a strong focus on skincare, cosmetics, personal care, & nutrition product development.

This role will be the technical lead for formulation R&D, overseeing product development from initial research and formulation through testing, optimization, and commercialization. Beyond core R&D. The role will also lead the Packaging team, ensuring packaging development is aligned with product requirements, functionality, quality, cost, and development timelines.

This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone with strong technical expertise in cosmetic formulation and product development, combined with the ability to lead teams, manage development priorities, and turn technical opportunities into commercially viable products.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the R&D, Product Innovation, and Packaging Development functions, providing technical direction and setting priorities across the teams.
• Act as the key technical lead for formulation R&D and product development, from research and formulation through testing, optimization, scale‑up, and commercialization, for skincare, cosmetics, personal care, & nutrition.
• Lead the development and improvement of skincare, cosmetics, & personal care formulations, ensuring product performance, stability, safety, quality, and cost requirements are met.
• Research and evaluate new ingredients, formulation technologies, product formats, and development approaches to support both new product development and product improvement.
• Review and challenge formulations, raw materials, product specifications, testing results, stability data, and other technical development outputs.
• Provide technical direction and recommendations on formulation feasibility, product performance, ingredient selection, testing, and development trade‑offs.
• Lead the overall product development pipeline, ensuring projects are prioritized appropriately and progress according to agreed timelines and business priorities.
• Work closely with Marketing and Commercial teams to translate product briefs and market requirements into technically feasible and differentiated product concepts.
• Lead collaboration with third‑party manufacturers, laboratories, ingredient suppliers, packaging suppliers, and other external R&D partners.
• Work closely with Regulatory and Quality teams to ensure products meet applicable quality, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the Packaging team and oversee packaging development, including material selection, functionality, product compatibility, specifications, testing, quality, and development timelines.
• Ensure packaging solutions are technically compatible with the product and suitable for manufacturing, scalability, consumer use, and cost requirements.
• Oversee product testing, stability, compatibility, optimization, and technical troubleshooting throughout the development process.
• Support and provide technical direction during scale‑up, manufacturing trials, and commercialization.
• Identify technical risks, development challenges, potential delays, and provide direction on appropriate solutions.
• Prioritize projects and allocate resources across R&D, Innovation, and Packaging based on business priorities, technical complexity, and timelines.
• Develop and continuously improve R&D, product development, innovation, and packaging processes and standards.
• Lead, develop, and coach R&D, Product Innovation, and Packaging Development teams, including setting technical standards (Process Workflow, SOPs, & Work Instructions), reviewing performance, and building team capabilities.
• Stay updated on cosmetic & nutrition ingredients, formulation technologies, packaging innovations, and industry developments to continuously strengthen the company’s product development capabilities.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• 15+ years of experience in R&D, Formulation, Product Development, or Innovation, preferably within skincare, cosmetics, personal care, or FMCG.
• Strong and proven expertise in skincare, cosmetic formulation and R&D is preferred.
• Experience managing or leading packaging development is preferred.
• Proven experience taking products from formulation and prototype development through testing, optimization, scale‑up, and commercialization.
• Experience leading an R&D, Product Development, Packaging Development, or/and Formulation team.
• Strong understanding of cosmetic ingredients, formulation principles, product stability, compatibility, testing, and product performance.
• Experience in product innovation, including developing new product concepts, exploring new ingredients or technologies, renovating and improving existing products.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, priorities, and resources.
• Strong technical problem‑solving and analytical skills.
• Experience working with third-party manufacturers, laboratories, suppliers, or external R&D partners.
• Good understanding of relevant cosmetic regulatory and quality requirements.
• Experience with supplements/nutraceutical products is a strong plus.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and people management skills.

The Ideal Candidate

Someone who is strong in cosmetics formulation R&D, but also has the ability to think beyond individual formulations and drive product innovation.

You should be comfortable going deep into technical formulation and product development & manufacturing process discussions, while also being able to identify opportunities for new products, product improvements, new ingredients, and new technologies.

At the same time, you will be responsible for leading the Packaging team, ensuring that product and packaging development work together effectively from development through commercialization.

We are looking for someone who can lead the R&D, Product Innovation, and Packaging Development functions, strengthen technical capabilities, and build a stronger product innovation pipeline — while remaining close enough to the technical details to provide meaningful direction and make sound development decisions.