Cosmetic R&D Manager — Formulation & Team Leadership

Voyant Beauty; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Voyant Beauty is seeking an experienced R&D Chemist Manager to lead formulation development and reverse engineering of skin, body, and hair care products. The role blends cosmetic science expertise with people leadership, project ownership, and cross-functional teamwork.

You will oversee formulation strategy, lab development, scale-up, and transfer to manufacturing while aligning with customer expectations, regulatory standards, and business objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry or related discipline (Required).
• Master's Degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or related field (Preferred).

Responsibilities

• Formulate and reverse engineer skincare, body, and hair care products using cosmetic science principles across emulsions, surfactants, gels, and OTC systems.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of R&D chemists and laboratory personnel, including prioritization, technical mentorship, and performance management.
• Drive laboratory scale-up, process development, and technology transfer in partnership with Operations and Quality.
• Manage R&D project portfolios, timelines, and resources to support customer programs and innovation pipelines.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Commercial, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to ensure commercialization readiness.
• Identify and evaluate new ingredients, technologies, and competitive products to support innovation and new business.
• Ensure compliant documentation, data integrity, and adherence to laboratory and regulatory standards.

Skills

Cosmetic science

People leadership

Project management

Cross-functional communication

Scale-up knowledge

Analytical writing

Business acumen

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry or related discipline

Master's Degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or related field

Job description

Voyant Beauty is seeking an experienced R&D Chemist Manager to lead formulation development and reverse engineering of skin, body, and hair care products. The role blends cosmetic science expertise with people leadership, project ownership, and cross-functional teamwork.

You will oversee formulation strategy, lab development, scale-up, and transfer to manufacturing while aligning with customer expectations, regulatory standards, and business objectives.