Associate Director, Hair, Bath and Body Formulation

The Estée Lauder Companies; Blaine (MN); On-site; USD 93,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Paid holidays and vacation

Wellness programs

Education-related programs

Job summary

The Estée Lauder Companies is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. This role leads development and enhancements across projects, ensuring timely formulation work, scale-up, and ongoing maintenance.

You will supervise scientists, coach teams, and collaborate with R&I and external partners to drive innovative ingredients and technologies that support future growth.

Qualifications

• Leadership and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Excel, SOP training and development, quality compliance requirements, and GMP/GLP protocols.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development from concept through commercialization.
• Oversee project timelines, formulation data integrity, and cross-functional alignment with R&I and business partners.
• Train, coach, and supervise scientists and laboratory technicians.
• Collaborate with external partners, including raw material suppliers and testing laboratories, to advance ideas and execute responsibilities.
• Ensure scale-up, production, and ongoing product maintenance.
• Provide data-driven technical guidance and identify risks across projects.
• Lead cross-functional teams in planning and execution of special projects.
• Maintain strong working relationships across R&I, QA, Technical Services, and Manufacturing.
• Communicate progress, risks, and setbacks to management.

Skills

Leadership

Excel

Quality compliance

GMP/GLP

SOP development

Education

BA or BS in Scientific field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers, marketers, and sellers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products, and is a steward of luxury and prestige brands globally. The company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, M·A·C, La Mer, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin Paris, TOM FORD, Smashbox, AERIN Beauty, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, KILIAN PARIS, Too Faced, Dr.Jart+, the DECIEM family of brands, including The Ordinary and NIOD, and BALMAIN Beauty.

Description

Leads the development of new products and enhancements to existing products across projects of varying complexity. Oversees project timelines, formulation data integrity, and cross-functional alignment with Research & Innovation (R&I) and business partners to achieve key milestones. Ensures formulation development activities are completed on schedule and supports successful scale-up, production, and ongoing product maintenance. Trains, coaches, and supervise scientific professionals and may direct work across teams. Uses scientific expertise and creativity to develop innovative products, concepts, technologies, and raw materials that support future business growth.

Leadership, Accountability, and Collaborative Relationships

• Build organizational capability by coaching, mentoring, and developing scientists and laboratory technicians.
• Lead product development from concept through commercialization and provide ongoing formulation support.
• Apply scientific expertise and data-driven judgment to identify non-obvious connections across projects and technologies and anticipate technical risks.
• Set team priorities, direct work, and ensure appropriate resources are available to meet business needs, project timelines, and development calendars.
• Collaborate with external partners, including raw material suppliers, consultants, and independent testing laboratories, to advance product-development ideas and execute project responsibilities.
• Conduct performance reviews and career-development discussions with team members.
• Lead cross-functional teams in the planning and execution of special projects.
• Maintain strong working relationships across R&I, Quality Assurance, Technical Services, Manufacturing, and other teams.
• Align team activities and communicate project progress, risks, and setbacks to R&I management.
• Serve as a technical and organizational resource for colleagues at all levels.

Excellence in Execution

• Maintain proficiency in established procedures and comply with all data integrity policies and initiatives.
• Partner with the process laboratory to align formulation and process requirements and support successful scale-up; coordinate timing based on resource and material availability.
• Use R&I formula-management systems and other required corporate applications effectively and accurately.
• Analyze consumer insights to identify emerging trends and technologies, and collaborate with external vendors to create novel ingredients, differentiated technologies, compelling marketing stories, and unique product performance.

Problem-Solving and Agility

• Provide ongoing support for existing products by investigating and resolving Quality Assurance and production issues.
• Design and execute studies, analyze results, and recommend next steps that balance speed, scientific rigor, and robust delivery of project objectives.
• Coach team members on best practices and effective approaches to technical problem-solving.

Builds Collaborative Relationships

• Partner directly with cross-functional stakeholders, including Marketing, Creative, R&I, Claims, Innovation, and other site teams, to align priorities and deliver project objectives.

Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

• BA or BS in Scientific field
• 10 years of experience
• Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills. Required experience in personal care formulation, with working knowledge of laboratory equipment and safety practices. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, research systems, SOP training and development, quality compliance requirements, and GMP/GLP protocols.

Pay Range:

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $93,000.00 to $120,000.00. Exact salary depends on several factors such as experience, skills, education, and budget. Salary range may vary based on geographic location. In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for participation in a highly competitive bonus program as well as participation in the share incentive plan. In addition, In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for participation in a highly competitive bonus program with the possibility for overachievement based on performance and company results. In addition, The Estée Lauder Companies offers a variety of benefits to eligible employees, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance), wellness and family support programs, life and disability insurance, retirement savings plans, paid leave programs, education-related programs, paid holidays and vacation time, and many others. Many of these benefits are subsidized or fully paid for by the company.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is Company's policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. The Company will endeavor to provide a reasonable accommodation consistent with the law to otherwise qualified employees and prospective employees with a disability and to employees and prospective employees with needs related to their religious observance or practices.

Michigan Applicants: Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for employment must notify the company in writing of the need for an accommodation within 182 days after the date the person with a disability knew or reasonably should have known that an accommodation was needed.

Philadelphia Applicants: Philadelphia's Fair Chance Hiring Law

Rhode Island Applicants: The company is subject to chapters 29-38 of title 28 of the general laws of Rhode Island and is therefore covered by the state's workers' compensation law.