Senior Manager - R&D (Colour Cosmetics)

Purplle.com; Mumbai; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 2,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Purplle.com in Mumbai seeks a Senior Manager - R&D (Colour Cosmetics) to lead formulation development from concept to market-ready products. You will bridge global sourcing with internal development, ensuring speed, quality, and consumer delight across lipsticks, foundations, eyeliners, mascaras, and nails.

The role requires 7–10 years in color cosmetic formulation with hands-on R&D leadership, regulatory knowledge, and demonstrated success in launching products globally.

Qualifications

• Master’s in Cosmetic Science / Chemistry / Pharmaceutical Sciences or related discipline.
• 7–10 years of experience in formulation development, with at least 3 years in color cosmetics.
• Strong hands-on experience in formulation design for lipsticks, foundations, eyeliners, mascaras, nail products.
• Knowledge of global regulations.
• Track record of launching successful color cosmetic products with speed-to-market.
• Experience in global collaboration, tech transfer, or "shop & deploy" innovation models preferred.

Responsibilities

• Formulation Development & Adaptation: Scout and evaluate novel formulations and chassis from global labs and partners; customize for local regulatory and brand needs; ensure performance, sensory, safety, and stability.
• Shop & Deploy Strategy: Build a pipeline of ready-to-deploy formulations; collaborate with global partners to transfer technology; conduct gap analyses between sourced formulations and brand requirements.
• Technical Excellence & Compliance: Lead lab trials, shade development, and sensory evaluations; ensure ISO, GMP, and regulatory compliance; partner with QA for stability testing.
• Project Leadership & Stakeholder Management: Manage multiple NPD projects from concept to scale-up; coordinate with Marketing, Packaging and Regulatory; drive cost optimization.
• People & Capability Building: Mentor junior scientists; establish best practices in shade development and accelerated launch models; foster innovation and consumer-first mindset.

Skills

Pigments

Emulsions

Film-formers

Color cosmetics

Project management

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Master’s in Cosmetic Science / Chemistry / Pharmaceutical Sciences

Job description

Job Title

Senior Manager - R&D (Colour Cosmetics)

Role Title

Manager – Formulation Development, Color Cosmetics

Department

R&D / Product Development

Location

Mumbai

Role Purpose

The Sr Manager– Formulation Development (Shop & Deploy) will lead the end‑to‑end process of scouting, adapting, and deploying innovative color cosmetic formulations into market‑ready products. This role bridges global formulation sourcing ("Shop") and internal development/scale‑up ("Deploy"), ensuring speed to market, quality, and consumer delight. The role requires a strong blend of formulation expertise, project management, and collaboration with global partners, local vendors, and internal cross‑functional teams (Marketing, Regulatory, Packaging, QA, Manufacturing).

Key Responsibilities

• Formulation Development & Adaptation
  • Scout and evaluate novel formulations, technologies, and chassis from global labs, partners, and innovation hubs.
  • Customize and adapt formulations for local consumer needs, regulatory compliance, and brand positioning.
  • Ensure formulations meet performance, sensory, safety, and stability standards for color cosmetics (face, lips, eyes, nails).
• Shop & Deploy Strategy
  • Build and maintain a pipeline of "ready‑to‑deploy" formulations to accelerate launch timelines.
  • Collaborate with global formulation partners to transfer technology effectively.
  • Conduct gap analysis between sourced formulations and brand requirements, bridging through rapid adaptation.
• Technical Excellence & Compliance
  • Lead lab trials, shade development, and sensory evaluations.
  • Ensure ISO, GMP, and regulatory compliance for all developed formulations.
  • Partner with Analytical/QA teams for stability, compatibility, and performance testing.
• Project Leadership & Stakeholder Management
  • Manage multiple NPD projects simultaneously, from concept to scale‑up.
  • Work closely with Marketing and Design teams to translate concepts into feasible products.
  • Liaise with Packaging teams to ensure product‑pack interaction stability and compatibility.
  • Drive cost optimization without compromising performance and quality.
• People & Capability Building
  • Guide and mentor junior formulation scientists and interns.
  • Establish best practices in shade development, sensory testing, and accelerated launch models.
  • Foster a culture of innovation, agility, and consumer‑first thinking within the team.

Key Interfaces

• Internal: Marketing, Packaging, QA/QC, Manufacturing, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain.
• External: Global formulation labs, OEM , ODM, external R&D partners

Qualifications & Experience

• Master’s in Cosmetic Science / Chemistry / Pharmaceutical Sciences (or related discipline).
• 7–10 years of experience in formulation development, with at least 3 years in color cosmetics.
• Strong hands‑on experience in formulation design for lipsticks, foundations, eyeliners, mascaras, nail products.
• Knowledge of global regulations.
• Track record of launching successful color cosmetic products with speed‑to‑market.
• Experience in global collaboration, tech transfer, or "shop & deploy" innovation models preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Technical expertise in pigments, emulsions, suspensions, and film‑formers, color cosmetics and make‑up.
• Strong project management and multitasking ability.
• Creative problem‑solving and innovation mindset.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercial acumen and ability to balance cost, quality, and speed.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Number of successful product launches (On Time, In Full).
• Reduction in NPD cycle time through effective shop & deploy execution.
• Consumer satisfaction scores (sensory & performance).
• Cost optimization achieved without quality compromise.
• Compliance track record (no regulatory recalls/defects).

Growth Pathway

This role offers progression toward Senior Manager / Head of Color Cosmetics Formulation, with opportunities to lead global innovation programs, establish formulation COEs, and mentor larger teams.

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 8 exclusive 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.