Senior Chemist - Personal Care

Novaris Search Limited; Minnesota; On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Novaris Search Limited partners with a leading personal care contract manufacturer to recruit a Senior R&D Chemist for their formulation team. This high-visibility, hands-on role takes products from concept to commercialisation, collaborating with well-known brand customers and shaping the pipeline through gap analysis and category insight.

You will lead formulation development, oversee scale-up, supervise lab staff, and drive cost-down and material optimisation.

Qualifications

• Advanced formulation expertise across personal care, cosmetic, and/or OTC products.
• Knowledge of lab equipment, techniques, and safe chemical handling.
• Understanding of FDA regulations and cGMP compliance.
• Strong communication with clients, vendors, and senior stakeholders.
• Leadership and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• Excellent prioritisation and deadline management.
• Attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead formulation from concept to finished product for personal care lines.
• Manage multiple projects with minimal supervision.
• Drive scale-up and pilot batches, troubleshooting issues.
• Lead customer-facing technical discussions on formulation and regulatory.
• Mentor lab staff and develop the team.
• Set specifications and write procedures; support QC.

Skills

Formulation expertise

Lab techniques

FDA regulations

Client communication

Leadership

Project prioritisation

Attention to detail

MS Office

Education

BS in Chemistry/Cosmetic Science

Advanced degree in Cosmetic Chemistry

Job description

Novaris Search is partnered with a leading personal care contract manufacturer with a long-standing reputation for innovation, formulation excellence, and premium finished-goods delivery across cosmetics, personal care, and OTC categories (including lip balms and sunscreens).

As part of continued growth, our client is seeking a Senior R&D Chemist to join their formulation team. This is a high-visibility, hands-on role where you’ll take products from concept to commercialisation, working directly with well-known brand customers and shaping the pipeline through gap analysis and category insight.

If you're a formulator who enjoys owning projects end-to-end, mentoring lab staff, and having a direct commercial impact, this is a strong step forward.

The Role

You’ll act as a senior technical lead in the lab, combining formulation depth with commercial awareness to develop products that hit the mark for brand customers, retailers, and the end consumer.

Key Responsibilities:

• Initiate project concepts, set objectives, prioritise workload, and deliver multiple concurrent projects with minimal supervision
• Formulate personal care, cosmetic, and OTC products (lip balms, sunscreens) from concept to finished good
• Identify market and category gaps and translate them into commercially viable product concepts
• Lead customer-facing technical discussions covering formulation, regulatory, and performance
• Independently troubleshoot research, scale-up, and production issues, including batch variation
• Own scale-up of approved formulations and identify critical process variables
• Set product specifications, write compounding procedures, and supervise pilot batches
• Deliver cost-down and raw material optimisation projects
• Provide new formula and raw material documentation to Operations and QC
• Manage stability testing programmes and monitor progress
• Conduct raw material and vendor research; assess ingredient interactions
• Review and check ingredient lists, QQs, and artwork
• Interpret lab findings, assess new product risks, and communicate outcomes to Sales and senior leadership
• Track retail, ingredient, and formulation trends and feed insight into the pipeline
• Train, supervise, and develop lab staff (permanent and temporary)

Required Skills & Experience:

• Advanced formulation expertise across personal care, cosmetic, and/or OTC categories
• Working knowledge of lab equipment, standard techniques, and safe chemical handling
• Thorough understanding of FDA regulations and cGMP
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, comfortable engaging clients, vendors, and senior stakeholders
• High initiative, innovation, and problem-solving ability
• Proven leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Excellent prioritisation and deadline management in a fast-paced environment
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and organisation
• Adaptable and comfortable with change
• Proficient in Microsoft Office

Education:

• BS in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Physical Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related science with 8+ years of personal care formulation experience
• OR an advanced degree in Cosmetic Chemistry with 6+ years of relevant experience

Why Apply

• Work with a market-leading contract manufacturer trusted by recognised beauty and personal care brands
• Genuine ownership, you drive projects from concept to shelf
• Strong leadership pipeline with mentorship and development opportunities
• Collaborative, innovation-led R&D culture