Product Development Lead

Koala Eco Company; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Koala Eco is seeking a Product Development Lead to own day-to-day development and commercialization of new and existing products across our home and personal care portfolio. You will coordinate formulation, packaging, testing, and manufacturing partners from brief to production readiness.

This senior individual contributor role requires translating product vision into clear development briefs, timelines, and decisions while working closely with founders and operations to move projects forward in

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years of experience in product development within personal care, home care, beauty or similar CPG category.
• Experience bringing formulated consumer products from concept through commercial production.
• Experience working with chemists, laboratories, ingredient suppliers, packaging suppliers and contract manufacturers.

Responsibilities

• Manage new product development from initial brief through commercialization.
• Translate Founder product direction into clear development briefs, specifications, timelines and deliverables.
• Coordinate formulation development with external chemists, laboratories and contract manufacturers.
• Manage formula submissions, feedback rounds, samples, testing and approvals.
• Lead reformulations and improvements to existing products.
• Evaluate ingredients, formulas and product performance against established requirements.
• Balance performance, ingredient standards, quality, cost, manufacturability and launch timing.
• Identify development risks and keep projects moving toward agreed launch dates.
• Research and identify new ingredients, packaging components, suppliers, formulators and manufacturing partners.
• Coordinate packaging development, component sampling, compatibility testing and artwork readiness.
• Assess supplier and co-manufacturer capabilities, initial cost, MOQ and lead-time considerations.
• Support alternate ingredient, formula or packaging options when needed.

Skills

Product development

R&D commercialization

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemistry / cosmetic science / chemical engineering / product development

Job description

About the Role

Koala Eco is looking for a Product Development Lead to own the day-to-day development and commercialization of new and existing products across our home and personal care portfolio.

Working closely with our Co-Founders and National Operations Manager, this role will translate product vision into commercially viable products—coordinating formulation, ingredients, packaging, testing, suppliers and manufacturing partners from initial brief through production readiness.

This is a senior individual-contributor role for someone who understands the technical side of product development but also knows how to drive projects forward. You do not need to be the bench chemist, but you should be comfortable working directly with chemists, formulators and manufacturers, evaluating technical information and translating it into clear decisions and next steps.

What You’ll Do

Product Development & Formulation

• Manage new product development from initial brief through commercialization
• Translate Founder product direction into clear development briefs, specifications, timelines and deliverables
• Coordinate formulation development with external chemists, laboratories and contract manufacturers
• Manage formula submissions, feedback rounds, samples, testing and approvals
• Lead reformulations and improvements to existing products
• Evaluate ingredients, formulas and product performance against established requirements
• Balance performance, ingredient standards, quality, cost, manufacturability and launch timing
• Identify development risks and keep projects moving toward agreed launch dates

Sourcing & Packaging Development

• Research and identify new ingredients, packaging components, suppliers, formulators and manufacturing partners during product development
• Coordinate packaging development, component sampling, compatibility testing and artwork readiness
• Assess supplier and co‑manufacturer capabilities, initial cost, MOQ and lead‑time considerations in partnership with Supply Chain Operations
• Support alternate ingredient, formula or packaging options when performance, compliance, availability or cost requires a change

Quality, Regulatory & Compliance

• Coordinate with manufacturers, laboratories, quality resources and external regulatory partners to ensure formulas, ingredients, packaging and finished products meet applicable quality and regulatory requirements
• Technical and regulatory review of ingredient declarations/INCI where applicable, directions, warnings, claims and label/artwork content
• Support required product registrations/listings and compliance updates for applicable product categories and markets, including U.S. cosmetic requirements under MoCRA where relevant
• Lead product certification documentation, renewals and change notifications for relevant third‑party certifications and retailer requirements
• Ensure required safety, stability, compatibility, microbiological/preservative‑efficacy and other product‑specific testing is completed and documented before commercialization
• Escalate technical or regulatory questions requiring specialist review while maintaining ownership of the development timeline and required follow‑up
• Build and maintain product files for new and reformulated products.
• Maintain controlled formula and version history, BOMs, finished‑goods specifications, packaging specifications and approved artwork
• Collect and organize supporting supplier/manufacturer documentation such as raw‑material specifications, SDS, technical data sheets, COAs, allergen or fragrance statements, test reports and certificates, as applicable
• Maintain development records including testing results, claims substantiation, approvals, master samples and key product decisions
• Manage change control for formula, ingredient, supplier and packaging changes so current specifications and documentation remain aligned
• Complete a clear handoff to Supply Chain Operations with approved BOMs/specifications, supplier and co‑manufacturer information, cost/MOQ/lead‑time inputs and required quality/compliance documentation.

Project Management

• Maintain clear NPD timelines, milestones, and status reporting/visibility
• Coordinate multiple projects and external partners simultaneously
• Coordinate launch readiness with Founders, Operations, Marketing and external partners
• Proactively surface risks, delays and decisions required
• Establish scalable product‑development processes and documentation as the portfolio grows

What We’re Looking For

• 5–7+ years of experience in product development, R&D commercialization or a related function within personal care, home care, beauty or a similar CPG category
• Demonstrated experience bringing formulated consumer products from concept through commercial production
• Experience working directly with chemists, laboratories, ingredient suppliers, packaging suppliers and contract manufacturers
• Strong understanding of formulation development, testing, packaging development, scale‑up and commercialization workflows
• Working familiarity with product quality and compliance requirements, including labeling, claims, SDS/GHS concepts, product testing and technical documentation
• Experience coordinating with regulatory/quality specialists is strongly preferred
• Experience maintaining product specifications, BOMs and controlled development documentation
• Experience with ingredient and packaging development and sourcing
• Strong project‑management skills and the ability to manage multiple launches or reformulations at once
• Ability to communicate technical information clearly to non‑technical stakeholders
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented and comfortable working in a fast‑moving entrepreneurial environment
• Strong commercial judgment and an understanding of the relationship among product requirements, cost, MOQ and manufacturability
• Resourceful self‑starter who works through ambiguity, finds answers independently, and keeps projects moving in a lean environment
• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, cosmetic science, chemical engineering, product development or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience considere

What Success Looks Like

• New products and reformulations move from concept to commercial production with clear ownership, timelines and documentation
• Founders have a strong product‑development partner who can translate ideas into executable development work
• Development issues are identified and resolved early rather than becoming launch delays
• Supply Chain receives commercially ready products with clear formulas, BOMs, specifications, suppliers and requirement
• Products remain compliant as regulatory and retailer requirements evolve
• Product documentation and SOPs are organized, current, and consistently maintained