Manager – Product Development (Beauty)

SUGAR Cosmetics; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent cosmetic company in Mumbai is seeking a professional to oversee end-to-end new product development, managing cross-functional teams and ensuring product readiness for launch. Key responsibilities include translating strategy into actionable plans, running a stage-gate process, and guaranteeing regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will possess strong skills in packaging engineering and advanced Excel, and will lead a small team, effectively communicating with stakeholders throughout the process.

Qualifications

• readiness
• advanced Excel skills required for data analysis and reporting
• packaging engineering knowledge for development and packaging decisions

Responsibilities

• Own the roadmap and translate strategy into briefs and business cases.
• Run the stage-gate and build cross-functional timelines.
• Drive formulation and packaging iterations with labs.
• Align benefits with ingredient dossiers and ensure compliance.
• Ensure regulatory readiness as per FDA and CDSCO guidelines.
• Source and benchmark vendors while managing costs.
• Lead a small team of 2–5 reportees and assign projects.
• Manage quality control holds and corrective actions.
• Communicate regularly with stakeholders through exec snapshots.

Skills

readiness

advanced excel skills

packaging engineering

Job description

Role Summary

Own end-to-end new product development (NPD) across makeup/skin-first hybrids: from brief to ATS (Available-to-Ship) while leading a small team. You’ll run the stage-gate, land launches on time/at cost, and ensure regulatory/claims compliance where applicable.

What You’ll Do

• Own the roadmap: Translate category strategy into briefs, business cases and a sequenced launch calendar; prioritize by impact vs. effort and capacity.
• Run the stage-gate: Build & track cross-functional timelines (R&D, Packaging, Sourcing, Quality, Planning, Brand, E-com, Finance) with clear gates for lab sample, stability, compatibility, micro/PET, pre-prod, and ATS.
• Formulation & packaging stewardship: Drive iterations with labs; lock INCI & specs; pressure-test pack–formula fit (wipes, oozing, migration, applicators) and transit readiness.
• Claims & substantiation: Align benefit hierarchy and back with ingredient dossiers, in-vitro/in-vivo, HRIPT, consumer tests, SPF/UV if relevant; ensure pack & PDP claims are compliant.
• Regulatory readiness: Ensure dossiers/labels/notifications as required as per FDA and CDSCO guidelines, working with RP/consultants where needed.
• Vendor & cost management: Source/benchmark fillers, actives, and packs; negotiate MOQs/lead times; track PPV and cost-to-land (FOB, freight, duty).
• Leadership: Manage 2–5 reportees; assign projects, unblock issues, build SOPs, coach for speed + detail.
• Issue response: Triage QC holds, Corrective & Preventive Action with suppliers, and post-launch stability/CS escalations within SLA.
• Stakeholder comms: Weekly exec snapshots (timeline risk, cost variance, gate status); decision memos with trade-offs.

Skills

• readiness
• advanced excel skills
• packaging engineering