Sr. Director, Product Development

Tatcha; United States; On-site; USD 185,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Accident insurance

Critical illness insurance

Disability insurance

Retirement savings plans and company 1

Paid family leave

Education-related programs

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Tatcha is seeking a Sr. Director of Product Development in San Francisco to lead the development of all products, bridging science, heritage, and market needs to deliver innovative, quality formulas.

You will manage a small team, drive claims, testing, regulatory compliance, and end-to-end product development, collaborating with Marketing, R&D, and global teams to shape the future of luxury skincare rooted in Japanese heritage.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in senior product development, preferably in luxury beauty.
• BA/BS required; MS in cosmetic science a plus.
• 3+ years of people management experience with high-performing teams.
• Hands-on experience with claims development, consumer testing design, and clinical substantiation.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development, from concept to final approval.
• Drive IP strategy and proprietary ingredient exploration.
• Collaborate with Marketing on naming, copy, and claims messaging.
• Oversee testing plans: stability, safety, efficacy, and consumer panels.
• Ensure regulatory compliance across global regions.

Skills

Product leadership

People management

Cosmetic science

Regulatory knowledge

Global market experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

BA/BS

MS in cosmetic science

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Who We Are

Tatcha is a skincare brand rooted in timeless Japanese wisdom, offering transformative yet kind-to-skin formulas that marry Japanese botanicals with clinical ingredients. Our formulation philosophy is informed by the Japanese concept hinou dokon, which means “skin‑mind same root”—an acknowledgement of the powerful connection between the skin and the brain. Guided by the mission to care for people through their skin, Tatcha takes a holistic approach to skincare from concept to formulation to clinical evaluation, offering skincare rituals that benefit both skin and mind, while emphasizing the importance of mindfulness to skin health.

Job Summary

As the Sr. Director of Product Development at Tatcha you'll lead the development of all Tatcha products, helping to bring innovative, efficacious, and quality formulas to market. You’ll serve as the connective thread between science, heritage, and market innovation, building a pipeline that is as rooted in Tatcha's Japanese heritage as it is responsive to the evolving needs of our global consumer.

Key Responsibilities

Innovation & Formula Development

• Partner closely with Product Marketing, R&D, and cross‑functional partners to develop NPD concepts that honor Tatcha's Japanese heritage while addressing unmet consumer needs.
• Drive ideation and end‑to‑end development of new formulas from concept brief through final approval, owning each stage gate with precision and creative intent.
• Investigate breakthrough textures, finishes, and sensorial experiences; establish rigorous competitive benchmarks and white‑space analyses.
• Foster relationships with vendors and partners. Identify exclusive active ingredients, novel delivery systems, and innovative technologies that support differentiated storytelling.
• Drive IP strategy, identifying opportunities for proprietary ingredient blends, unique emulsion architectures, and innovation that cannot be easily replicated.
• Evaluate every formula submission and provide clear, timely feedback to R&D labs and manufacturers, maintaining Tatcha's uncompromising quality standards.
• Ensure all development projects continuously meet goals, milestones, and launch timelines; proactively surface risks and lead cross‑functional resolution.

Claims, Testing, & Regulatory

• Develop and lead product briefs, claims platforms, and comprehensive testing plans, including stability, compatibility, safety, efficacy, clinical, and consumer panel testing.
• Partner with Regulatory to ensure all formulas and claims meet global compliance standards across regions.
• Oversee claims substantiation programs, working with testing partners to design studies that generate compelling, defensible proof points.
• Monitor and track formula testing parameters through all required phases, proactively identifying and resolving risks before they impact timelines.

Marketing Collaboration, Product Storytelling, & Strategy

• Create product profiles and development narratives that articulate unique positioning within the Tatcha portfolio and the competitive landscape, serving as the foundation for marketing, education, and PR materials.
• Collaborate with Marketing on product naming, copy, and claims messaging, ensuring all communications authentically reflect the science and heritage behind each formula.
• Support the development of key presentations for leadership meetings, global strategy sessions, and retailer product reviews.
• Proactively research the global beauty landscape, tracking launches, ingredient trends, consumer sentiment, and scientific developments to inform Tatcha's innovation pipeline.
• Analyze competitive products, pricing, and claims to guide strategic positioning and differentiate Tatcha formulas in prestige retail environments.
• Synthesize insights from global markets to ensure Tatcha's innovation pipeline remains globally relevant, while still authentic to brand heritage and purpose.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Manage, mentor, and inspire a small team of product development professionals, fostering a culture of creativity, scientific rigor, and genuine passion for beauty.
• Contribute to building inclusive, collaborative cross‑functional ways of working that reflect Tatcha's multicultural identity.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of beauty industry experience in a senior (head of) product development role, or 8+ years with an advanced degree. Luxury beauty experience preferred.
• BA/BS required; MS in cosmetic science, chemistry, or a related field a plus
• 3+ years of people management experience with a track record of developing high‑performing teams.
• Hands‑on experience with claims development, consumer testing design, and clinical substantiation.
• Experience developing products for global markets with a working knowledge of global skincare regulations.
• Deep knowledge of the competitive beauty landscape, with a genuine personal passion for luxury skincare and the craft of formulation.
• Understanding of skin biology, emulsion science, and cosmetic physical chemistry.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• First‑hand experience with Japanese culture, heritage, beauty rituals, or Japanese beauty ingredient traditions is a huge plus.
• Must be based in the San Francisco Bay Area and willing to work from our San Francisco HQ a minimum of two days per week.

The Details

The expected base salary range for this position is $185,000 to $200,000. The exact base pay is determined by various factors including experience, skills, education, geographic location, and budget.

This position is also eligible for participation in the company discretionary bonus plan based on personal performance and company results.

Tatcha offers a competitive benefits package to eligible employees, including #LI‑BH1.

• medical insurance
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• life insurance
• accident insurance
• critical illness insurance
• disability insurance
• retirement savings plans and company match
• paid family leave
• education‑related programs
• paid time off
• paid holidays

Tatcha is committed to inclusion and belonging to drive its business results and create a better future for all employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation in order to apply for a job listing, please contact us at [e-mail].

Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination under Federal law. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment during normal business hours at establishment by appointment.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disability.

Note: This job description is not exhaustive and may be amended to include other duties as assigned by the management team.