Manager - Formulation Development (Hair Care)

Purplle.com; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Job summary

Purplle is seeking a Formulation Value Engineering Manager to optimize existing formulations via cost-effective alternatives, raw material and packaging substitutions, and value engineering without compromising quality, performance or compliance.

The role requires strong formulation expertise and hands-on experience in stability, compatibility, and performance evaluation, with cross-functional collaboration across R&D, sourcing, and marketing.

Qualifications

• 7–8 years of experience in cosmetic, personal care, or pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Cost engineering and technical reformulation expertise.
• Strong stability testing and compatibility evaluation experience.
• Knowledge of global cosmetic regulations (BIS, FDA, EU, ISO).
• Excellent documentation, problem-solving and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyze formulations and packaging to identify cost-reduction opportunities.
• Evaluate alternate materials or processes to cut cost while preserving quality.
• Lead stability, compatibility, and performance studies on revised formulations.
• Ensure compliance with internal standards and global regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with sourcing, regulatory, QA, packaging, and manufacturing teams.
• Partner with marketing to align optimization with brand claims.
• Document trials and results with detailed records.

Skills

Cost engineering

Formulation development

Stability testing

Regulatory knowledge

Documentation & communication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Cosmetic Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or related field

Job description

Job Title: Manager - Formulation Development (Hair Care)

Experience Required: 7–8 Years

Location: Mumbai

Department: R&D / Product Development

Reports To: Head – R&D / Innovation

Role Overview

We are seeking a Formulation Value Engineering Manager who will lead initiatives to optimize existing formulations through cost-effective alternatives, raw material and packaging material substitutions, and value engineering without compromising product quality, performance, or compliance. This role requires strong formulation expertise, deep technical understanding of ingredient functionalities, and hands‑on experience in stability, compatibility, and performance evaluation.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze existing formulations and packaging materials to identify high-cost contributors and opportunities for optimization.
• Evaluate and implement alternate raw materials and packaging material, technologies, or processes to reduce formulation / packaging cost while maintaining product integrity.
• Lead and execute comprehensive stability studies, compatibility tests, and performance validation on revised formulations / packaging.
• Ensure all modifications meet internal quality standards and regulatory requirements.
• Raw Material & PM Benchmarking & Supplier Management:
• Work with sourcing and procurement to identify, screen, and qualify alternate suppliers, ingredients & packaging.
• Assess technical equivalency and impact of substitutions on product attributes and shelf-life.
• Cross-functional Collaboration:
• Liaise with regulatory, quality assurance, packaging, and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless implementation of formulation changes.
• Partner with marketing and commercial teams to align optimization efforts with brand positioning and claims.
• Documentation & Compliance:
• Maintain detailed records of trials, formulation adjustments, evaluation protocols, and outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with global regulatory frameworks and internal product standards.
• Continuous Improvement:
• Monitor market trends, ingredient innovations, and competitor activity to identify strategic cost‑saving opportunities.
• Contribute to formulation knowledge databases, libraries, and internal best practices.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Cosmetic Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or related field.
• 7–8 years of experience in cosmetic, personal care, or pharmaceutical formulation development.
• Proven expertise in cost engineering, technical reformulation, and raw material evaluation.
• Strong background in stability testing, compatibility studies, and analytical interpretation.
• Familiarity with global cosmetic regulations (e.g., BIS, FDA, EU, ISO).
• Excellent documentation, problem‑solving, and communication skills.

Preferred Attributes

• Strong technical acumen and a solution-oriented mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple reformulation projects with minimal supervision.
• Experience working with cross-functional and vendor teams.
• Agile, self‑motivated, and proactive in identifying and executing optimization opportunities.
• High sense of ownership and accountability over assigned projects.
• Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Comfortable managing multiple projects in a dynamic, evolving environment.
• Collaborative approach
• Fast and quick learners

About Company

Founded in 2011, Purplle has emerged as one of India’s premier omnichannel beauty destinations, redefining the way millions shop for beauty. With 1,000+ brands, 60,000+ products, and over 7 million monthly active users, Purplle has built a powerhouse platform that seamlessly blends online and offline experiences. Expanding its footprint in 2022, Purplle introduced 6,000+ offline touchpoints and launched 100+ stores, strengthening its presence beyond digital. Beyond hosting third‑party brands, Purplle has successfully scaled its own D2C powerhouses—FACES CANADA, Good Vibes, Carmesi, Purplle, and NY Bae—offering trend‑driven, high‑quality beauty essentials. What sets Purplle apart is its technology driven hyper‑personalized shopping experience. By curating detailed user personas, enabling virtual makeup trials, and delivering tailored product recommendations based on personality, search intent, and purchase behavior, Purplle ensures a unique, customer‑first approach. In 2022, Purplle achieved unicorn status, becoming India’s 102nd unicorn, backed by an esteemed group of investors including ADIA, Kedaara, Premji Invest, Sequoia Capital India, JSW Ventures, Goldman Sachs, Verlinvest, Blume Ventures, and Paramark Ventures. With a 3,000+ strong team and an unstoppable vision, Purplle is set to lead the charge in India’s booming beauty landscape, revolutionizing the way the nation experiences beauty.