Research And Development Manager

TH Daniels; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

TH Daniels, a premium personal care brand in California, seeks an experienced R&D Manager to lead development from formulation to launch, blending science and consumer insight.

You will work cross-functionally with Marketing, Product Development, Quality, Regulatory and Supply Chain to bring innovative concepts to market and ensure scalability.

This role rewards entrepreneurial spirit and hands-on formulation leadership in a fast-moving beauty environment.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in R&D, formulation or product development within beauty or personal care.
• Hands-on knowledge of skincare, haircare or body care.
• Experience taking products from concept through scale-up and commercialization.
• Understanding of raw materials, formulation principles and manufacturing.
• Experience with contract manufacturers and external development partners.
• Proactive, entrepreneurial mindset for a fast-evolving environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead NPD and reformulation from concept to launch.
• Translate consumer insights into viable formulations.
• Oversee external labs, formulators and suppliers.
• Ensure stability, safety and performance testing.
• Manage multiple development programs and timelines.
• Collaborate with Quality and Regulatory to meet standards.
• Mentor internal R&D talent and external resources.
• Stay ahead of ingredient innovation and regulatory developments.

Skills

R&D Leadership

Formulation Expertise

Beauty & Personal Care

Scale-Up & Commercialization

Contract Manufacturers

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Job description

R&D Manager | Premium Personal Care Brand

Location: California

Employment Type: Full-time

Industry: Beauty & Personal Care

The Opportunity

I’m partnering with a growing premium personal care brand that is building its next generation of high-performance, science-led and more sustainable products.

They are looking to appoint an experienced R&D Manager to take a leading role in bringing new product concepts to life, from early-stage formulation and ingredient innovation through scale-up, commercialization and launch.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys being close to the product, combining strong formulation expertise with creativity, consumer thinking and commercial awareness.

Working cross-functionally with Marketing, Product Development, Quality, Regulatory and Supply Chain, you’ll help turn consumer insights, emerging technologies and market trends into products that genuinely stand out.

The Role

You’ll lead technical development across categories including skincare, haircare, body care and wider personal care, managing both new product development and the optimization of existing formulations.

The role has significant exposure to external formulators, laboratories, ingredient suppliers and manufacturing partners, making it particularly well suited to someone who thrives in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial brand environment.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead new product development and reformulation from initial concept through commercialization and launch.
• Translate consumer insights, product briefs and market trends into innovative, commercially viable formulations.
• Explore and evaluate new ingredients, technologies, formats, claims and product concepts.
• Manage formulation development alongside external laboratories, formulators and manufacturing partners.
• Oversee stability, compatibility, safety and performance testing.
• Drive multiple development programs simultaneously, managing technical priorities, timelines and deliverables.
• Lead technical relationships with contract manufacturers, laboratories and ingredient suppliers.
• Support scale-up, pilot batches, first production runs and troubleshooting.
• Partner closely with Quality and Regulatory to ensure products meet relevant requirements and internal standards.
• Review formulas, specifications, technical documentation and manufacturing records.
• Investigate and resolve formulation, performance, quality and manufacturing challenges.
• Support claims development and substantiation, ensuring product benefits are backed by appropriate technical evidence.
• Help strengthen R&D systems, processes and ways of working as the business continues to grow.
• Mentor and develop internal R&D talent and external technical resources.
• Stay ahead of ingredient innovation, emerging technologies, regulatory developments and consumer trends.

What Will Make You Successful

You’ll likely bring:

• Strong experience in R&D, formulation or product development within beauty or personal care.
• Hands-on knowledge of skincare, haircare, body care or adjacent categories.
• Experience taking products from concept through scale-up and commercialization.
• Strong understanding of raw materials, formulation principles, testing and manufacturing.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers and external development partners.
• The ability to combine technical depth with a consumer and commercially minded approach.
• A proactive, entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to operate effectively in a rapidly evolving environment.

Work Authorization Requirement

Candidates must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States. No visa sponsorship or employment-based immigration support is available for this position, now or in the future.

Due to the volume of applications if you do not receive a response within two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful.