Product Development Manager

YISE Beauty; Brentwood (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

YISE Beauty is seeking a full-time Product Development Manager to lead a diverse portfolio from concept through launch, including shade extensions, holiday kits, minis, travel sizes, and sampling programs.

You will partner with the Sr. Director, Product Development & Innovation on complex, regulated initiatives and guide junior team members and external partners through execution. Strong cross-functional collaboration and attention to detail are essential.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years of product development experience in beauty, skincare, personal care, or related consumer-products category.
• Skincare experience strongly preferred; color cosmetics experience is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience managing products from concept and briefing through scale-up, commercialization, and launch.
• Experience working cross-functionally with product development, regulatory/quality, marketing/creative, operations, logistics, and project management partners.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers, packaging suppliers, and other external vendors.
• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, business, or related field, or equivalent relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive a diverse portfolio of product development initiatives from concept through launch, including shade extensions, holiday kits, minis, travel sizes, and sampling programs.
• Set clear priorities, timelines, decision points, and success criteria for assigned programs; maintain visibility to risks, costs, and key milestones.
• Guide and review work completed by junior product development team members and external partners, providing clear direction and timely feedback.
• Partner with the Sr. Director, Product Development & Innovation on complex, highly regulated, high-risk, or accelerated development initiatives.
• Provide clear, timely progress updates and recommendations to the Sr. Director, Product Development & Innovation and other stakeholders.
• Translate approved brand briefs, marketing concepts, and consumer insights into actionable product and formulation requirements.
• Direct external formulators and contract manufacturers through assigned development programs and evaluate formula submissions for efficacy, stability, texture, sensory attributes, and alignment with product claims.
• Review and guide stability, compatibility, safety, and clinical testing plans; elevate material risks or decisions to the Sr. Director as appropriate.
• Monitor ingredient trends, emerging technologies, competitive products, and new actives; recommend relevant opportunities for the product pipeline.

Skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Prioritization

Independence

Risk assessment

Adaptability

Curiosity about ingredients

Passion for skincare

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Reports to: Senior Director, Product Development & Innovation

Company Overview

At YISE Beauty, we create perfectly edited, can't-live-without skincare products that help people stop worrying about their skin and start living life. Our team is small but mighty, made up of highly collaborative, creative individuals who value each other and work together to make our big vision a reality.

If you have hands-on experience bringing beauty products to market, thrive in fast-paced, high-growth environments, and enjoy turning product ideas into well-executed launches, we'd love to speak with you.

The Opportunity

YISE Beauty is seeking a full-time Product Development Manager to support our growing brand. Reporting to the Sr. Director, Product Development & Innovation& Innovation, this person will independently manage assigned product development projects from concept and briefing through commercialization and launch.

The Product Development Manager will lead a diverse portfolio of product initiatives from concept through launch, including shade extensions, holiday collections, minis, travel sizes, and sampling programs. Working closely with the Sr. Director, Product Development, this role will also contribute to highly regulated, accelerated, and strategically complex projects while driving strong execution across the broader product pipeline.

The Manager will set direction for assigned programs, make recommendations, review key deliverables, manage vendor and cross-functional risks, and guide junior team members and external partners through execution.

Our ideal candidate has practical experience managing the product lifecycle, coordinating cross-functional partners and vendors, and keeping multiple workstreams on track. This person combines strong follow-through and attention to detail with the judgment to identify risks, solve problems, and escalating when appropriate.

Program Ownership & Team Guidance

• Own and drive a diverse portfolio of product development initiatives from concept through launch, including shade extensions, holiday kits, minis, travel sizes, and sampling programs.
• Set clear priorities, timelines, decision points, and success criteria for assigned programs; maintain visibility to risks, costs, and key milestones.
• Guide and review work completed by junior product development team members and external partners, providing clear direction and timely feedback.
• Partner with the Sr. Director, Product Development & Innovation on complex, highly regulated, high-risk, or accelerated development initiatives.
• Provide clear, timely progress updates and recommendations to the Sr. Director, Product Development & Innovation and other stakeholders.
• Translate approved brand briefs, marketing concepts, and consumer insights into actionable product and formulation requirements.
• Direct external formulators and contract manufacturers through assigned development programs and evaluate formula submissions for efficacy, stability, texture, sensory attributes, and alignment with product claims.
• Review and guide stability, compatibility, safety, and clinical testing plans; elevate material risks or decisions to the Sr. Director as appropriate.
• Monitor ingredient trends, emerging technologies, competitive products, and new actives; recommend relevant opportunities for the product pipeline.

Packaging Development

• Lead packaging development for assigned programs, including primary components, cartons, shippers, promotional packaging, and sampling formats.
• Evaluate packaging options against brand aesthetic, functionality, sustainability, quality, cost, and customer-experience requirements.
• Manage supplier development, sample reviews, stakeholder feedback, compatibility testing, and approval milestones.
• Partner with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve technical, quality, timeline, or cost challenges while protecting the brand's premium positioning.

Cross-Functional Launch Support

• Work cross-functionally with marketing, sales, creative, regulatory, quality, operations, logistics, and project management teams to meet milestones and launch timelines.
• Support accurate product animations, digital assets, sell sheets, ingredient stories, claims, gift-with-purchase programs, promotional kits, and limited-edition packaging.
• Build productive relationships with contract manufacturers, suppliers, packaging partners, and consultants; obtain and manage costing, minimum order quantities, lead times, and price breaks.

Quality & Compliance

• Partner with regulatory and quality teams to confirm that assigned products meet applicable FDA, safety, retailer, and international requirements.
• Review product specifications, certificates of analysis, safety assessments, batch documentation, and other technical records for completeness and accuracy.
• Support quality investigations and corrective actions; proactively identify, communicate, and help resolve product-development issues.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong organizational, project-management, and communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and consistent follow-through.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and execute against timelines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across functions.
• Practical, solution-oriented judgment and the confidence to ask questions or escalating risks.
• A flexible, can-do attitude and the ability to adapt as priorities change.
• Curiosity about ingredients, product innovation, customer needs, and beauty trends.
• A passion for creating thoughtful, effective skincare products.

Qualifications & Experience

• 4-6 years of product development experience in beauty, skincare, personal care, or a related consumer-products category.
• Skincare experience strongly preferred; color cosmetics experience is a plus.
• Demonstrated experience managing products from concept and briefing through scale-up, commercialization, and launch.
• Experience working cross-functionally with product development, regulatory/quality, marketing/creative, operations, logistics, and project management partners.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers, packaging suppliers, and other external vendors.
• Working knowledge of product testing, compatibility, stability, safety, and regulatory considerations.
• Experience with specialty beauty retail, OTC products, tech transfers, or product certifications is a plus.
• Experience in a fast-paced, early-stage or high-growth environment preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, business, or a related field preferred, or equivalent relevant experience.

YISE Beauty is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity.