Manager, Research & Development (R&D) Formulation

Scientific Search; Montgomeryville (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus plan

Strong benefits

Job summary

Scientific Search is seeking a Manager, R&D Formulation to lead the day-to-day operations of the formulation lab and manage a team of chemists and technicians responsible for developing personal care products across skincare, haircare, and oral care.

You will oversee project execution, ensure formulation readiness from brief to customer delivery, drive safety and sustainability initiatives, and partner with Sales, Project Management, and Regulatory to align on timelines and documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in chemistry, biology, chemical engineering, or related field.
• 7–10 years of formulation experience in personal care (skin care, hair care, oral care).
• Proven track record of managing technical teams and delivering commercially successful formulations.

Responsibilities

• Direct lab activities and supervise a team of chemists and technicians.
• Lead onboarding and formulation briefing of new project wins across skin, hair, and oral care.
• Manage staffing, workload balance, and team productivity across active and upcoming projects.
• Serve as Lab Safety Lead: ensure compliance with internal protocols and regulatory safety standards.
• Act as Waste Management Lead: oversee proper handling, labeling, and disposal of lab-generated waste.
• Guide the development of formulas aligned with innovation strategy and customer requirements.
• Coordinate with Sales, Project Management, and Regulatory to align on timelines and documentation needs.
• Maintain lab notebooks, development reports, and batch records.
• Maintain a dynamic library of trend-forward formulations across categories.

Skills

Formulation science

Team leadership

Project management

Documentation

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in chemistry

Tools

MS Office

Laboratory systems

Job description

Overview

Our client is a global contract development and manufacturing partner for beauty, personal care and healthcare brands. They develop and manufacture some of the world’s greatest products for global CPGs, emerging brands.

Overview

Our client is a global contract development and manufacturing partner for beauty, personal care and healthcare brands. They develop and manufacture some of the world’s greatest products for global CPGs, emerging brands.

As Manager, R&D Formulation, you will lead the day-to-day operations of the formulation lab and manage a team of chemists and technicians responsible for developing personal care products (e.g., skincare, haircare, oral care, etc.). Ideal candidate will oversee project execution across categories, manage lab operations, and ensure formulation readiness from initial brief to customer delivery. You’ll serve as the key link between lab execution and strategic innovation by supporting customer projects, managing testing documentation, and driving lab-based initiatives including safety and sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Direct lab activities and supervise a team of chemists and technicians across multiple personal care categories.
• Lead onboarding and formulation briefing of new project wins across skin, hair, and oral care.
• Manage staffing, workload balance, and team productivity across active and upcoming projects.
• Serve as the Lab Safety Lead: ensure compliance with internal protocols and regulatory safety standards.
• Act as Waste Management Lead: oversee proper handling, labeling, and disposal of lab-generated waste in line with environmental and corporate policies.
• Resolve day-to-day lab issues, resource constraints, and equipment troubleshooting.
• Guide the development of formulas aligned with innovation strategy, customer requirements, and technical feasibility.
• Manage the Formula Lock process: confirm stability, performance, required testing completion, and documentation (e.g., specifications, test results, lab reports).
• Ensure accuracy and consistency across lab notebooks, development reports, and batch records.
• Design and maintain formulations to support trend decks and marketing initiatives, including sample creation and stability testing.
• Support customer calls on active development projects as the technical lead; provide updates, address questions, and capture feedback.
• Partner with Sales, Project Management, and Regulatory to align on timelines, technical expectations, and documentation needs\Coordinate with Manufacturing and Quality to su
• Execute innovation strategies set by the Vice P
• resident of Innovation by translating concepts into stable, tested prototypes.
• Attend ingredient presentations and vendor meetings to identify materials for current or future projects.
• Maintain a dynamic library of trend-forward formulations across categories to support brand growth and concept pitching.
• Maintain lab equipment, inventory, and workflows for efficient operation.
• Track lab spending and ensure adherence to operational budgets.
• Collaborating with the Director of R&D on process improvements and lab capability enhancement

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in chemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific field.
• 7–10 years of formulation experience in personal care (skin care, hair care, oral care, etc.), preferably in a contract manufacturing or brand R&D setting.
• Proven track record of managing technical teams and delivering commercially successful formulations.

Skills & Competencies

• Deep technical knowledge of formulation science across multiple product types.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing and scale-up processes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and lead a high-performing lab team.
• Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to present technical content internally and externally.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, formulation databases, and lab systems.

Travel Requirements: Up to 20%

Benefits & Compensation

• The client offers a competitive salary package that is dependent on qualifications and experience, as well as a strong benefit package, plus participation in a company-wide bonus plan.

Please note that all candidates applying must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident. Client will NOT sponsor.