Director of R&D: Absorbent Hygiene & Product Innovation

CPS, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 200,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

CPS, Inc. is seeking a Director of Research & Development to lead technical product development for our core portfolio and future adjacencies, owning materials science, product design, and claims substantiation from concept through commercialization.

You’ll work with suppliers, co-manufacturers and medical advisors to ensure products deliver on consumer expectations for comfort, absorbency, and clean ingredients, and you’ll report to the Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer.

Qualifications

• BS to PhD in Material Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or related degree.
• 8-10 years of R&D experience, ideally in absorbent hygiene or a closely related consumer products category.
• Hands-on technical depth in materials relevant to tampons, pads, and liners - nonwovens, absorbent core design, superabsorbent materials, plastics / injection molding, and organic / natural fiber sourcing
• Working knowledge of the US regulatory landscape for menstrual products (FDA medical device requirements for tampons, pads, and liners)
• Experience designing or overseeing lab and consumer testing protocols and translating results into defensible product claims
• Experience managing relationships with suppliers and co-manufacturers through the product development lifecycle, ideally including experience working with international partners

Responsibilities

• Lead technical product strategy and roadmap in support of their 3-year product pipeline.
• Evaluate the technical feasibility of new product concepts across nonwoven materials, absorbent core design, and applicator design, in partnership with suppliers and their network of R&D experts and medical advisors.
• Maintain close working relationships with material suppliers and manufacturing partners to drive development of new raw materials and proprietary components, and to optimize the performance of materials already in use.
• Monitor the technical and competitive landscape in absorbent hygiene - fibers, superabsorbent materials, organic cotton sourcing, plastics/injection molding, and adjacent innovations - to recommend technologies for their strategic pipeline.
• Proactively stay ahead of trends and technical developments.
• Lead technical workstreams for their annual new product pipeline. Partner with innovation to translate concepts into actionable product briefs for our partners; advising on material selection and product design to meet consumer needs and project timelines.
• Translate product briefs into technical specifications for suppliers, including the development of proprietary materials and components.
• Oversee rigorous laboratory evaluations, including fluid retention, strike-through, and absorbency testing, to ensure products clear all launch hurdles. Translate consumer insights and clinical trial data into actionable product optimizations.
• Spearhead clinical testing initiatives to support new item launches where relevant.
• Assess technical and manufacturing risk throughout the development process; build mitigation plans and elevate to the executive team as needed.
• Keep the Customer Service team current on product information and monitor customer feedback for optimization opportunities. Support CS with answering product-related inquiries.
• Substantiate consumer-relevant product claims that drive trial, grounded in lab data and clinical/consumer testing, including ingredient-level claims.
• Lead third party product certifications across their portfolio; partner with Marketing to prioritize and manage certification portfolio.
• Oversee the technical documentation and testing required for regulatory submissions. Collaborate with Regulatory and Quality to ensure all products comply with US standards, including FDA regulations for medical devices (where applicable), ISO standards, and state hygiene mandates.
• Maintain working knowledge of their quality management system as it relates to innovation launches and medical device-related documentation.

Skills

R&D experience

Materials knowledge

Lab testing protocols

Supplier relationship management

FDA regulatory knowledge

Education

BS to PhD in Material Science

Chemistry or Engineering degree

Job description

CPS, Inc. is seeking a Director of Research & Development to lead technical product development for our core portfolio and future adjacencies, owning materials science, product design, and claims substantiation from concept through commercialization.

You’ll work with suppliers, co-manufacturers and medical advisors to ensure products deliver on consumer expectations for comfort, absorbency, and clean ingredients, and you’ll report to the Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer.