Business Development Associate

Kuri Products; Riverdale (NJ); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing cosmetic raw materials startup is seeking a Business Development Associate to support various commercial and operational initiatives. This role involves working closely with senior leaders, managing multiple tasks, and contributing across business functions like marketing and product development. Ideal candidates should have a strong interest in cosmetics and a collaborative mindset, with opportunities to learn directly from industry experts in a fast-paced startup environment.

Qualifications

• Some experience or internship exposure in cosmetics or business operations preferred.
• No prior experience required, but curiosity and willingness to learn are essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist with business development initiatives and market research.
• Support commercial activities like customer follow-ups and CRM updates.
• Help with operational tasks including documentation and scheduling.
• Participate in quality-related tasks and document control.

Skills

Strong interest in the cosmetic industry

Highly organized and detail-oriented

Good written and verbal communication skills

Proactive and reliable

Adaptable in a startup environment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Science, Engineering, Business, Chemistry, Biology, or Cosmetic Science

Job description

Kuri Products is an innovation-driven cosmetic raw material supplier inspired by curiositas — the desire to know. We bring globally sourced, science-driven ingredient technologies to beauty brands, formulators, and manufacturers, helping enable innovation across skincare, haircare, and color cosmetics. As a growing startup built by industry experts, Kuri Products offers a collaborative and entrepreneurial environment where curiosity, initiative, and learning are highly valued.

Position Overview

Kuri Products is seeking a Business Development Associate to support a wide range of commercial, operational, and business growth initiatives. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys wearing multiple hats, working across different functions, and contributing to the growth of a startup. You will work closely under the Vice President, with frequent exposure to the CEO & Founder, and contribute across multiple areas of the business, including administrative, commercial, operational, marketing, and business development activities. This is a unique opportunity to learn directly from industry experts and gain hands-on experience in cosmetic science, raw materials, formulation, new product development, sales operations, and startup entrepreneurship.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Commercial Support

• Assist with business development initiatives including market research, supplier coordination, and partnership preparation
• Support commercial activities such as preparing product information, customer follow-ups, lead tracking, and CRM updates
• Assist with basic customer service communications, inquiries, and follow-ups
• Support customer calls, meetings, and visits when needed
• Assist with marketing activities including content preparation, outreach initiatives, and social media support
• Support trade show preparation, event coordination, and marketing materials
• Help coordinate product samples and marketing campaigns

Technical & Product Support

• Support R&D and technical functions by helping gather raw material data and organize technical information
• Assist with preparing product information sheets and technical documentation
• Participate in training sessions and supplier presentations to build industry knowledge

Operational & Administrative Support

• Assist with day-to-day operational activities including documentation, scheduling, and data organization
• Help prepare and ship product samples
• Maintain project documentation and internal records
• Assist with general office administrative work such as ordering supplies and coordinating logistics

Quality & Compliance Support

• Participate in quality-related tasks such as document control, supplier information tracking, and compliance organization

Startup & Cross-Functional Contributions

• Support coordination with external partners, consultants, and freelancers
• Help improve internal processes, SOPs, and operational efficiency
• Attend industry trainings, meetings, supplier presentations, and trade shows when needed
• Perform general cross-functional tasks to help the startup operate smoothly

This role offers opportunities to learn and assist in additional areas such as product development, marketing, R&D, operations, quality, regulatory, and commercial strategy as the company grows.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Science, Engineering, Business, Chemistry, Biology, Cosmetic Science, or related fields

Experience

• Some experience or internship exposure in cosmetics, raw materials, chemicals, sales, marketing, or business operations preferred but not required
• No prior experience required but curiosity, passion, and willingness to learn are essential

What We’re Looking For

• Strong interest in the cosmetic industry, formulation science, or new product development
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple tasks independently
• Proactive, reliable, and strong at following up without close supervision
• Comfortable navigating uncertainty and working with limited information or guidance
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Self-motivated, proactive, and adaptable in a startup environment
• Great personality, collaborative mindset, and eagerness to contribute
• Technical background or comfort with scientific concepts is a plus (but not required)
• Direct mentorship from industry experts
• High visibility and exposure to leadership and strategic decisions
• Hands-on experience across multiple business functions
• Opportunity to grow and evolve into various roles as the company expands

Kuri Products is a small but growing startup where curiosity, initiative, and collaboration are highly valued. This role provides an opportunity to gain broad exposure to the cosmetic raw materials industry while learning directly from experienced professionals. You will have the chance to develop skills across business development, marketing, operations, and technical product knowledge, while helping build a company from the ground up.