Sr. Manager, Research & Development (R&D)

Markwins Beauty Brands Inc; California; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer paid health benefits

401k match

Job summary

Markwins Beauty Brands is seeking a Sr. Manager, R&D to lead formulation development for color cosmetics and skin care from concept through shipping.

You will supervise chemists, technicians, and interns, ensuring GMP and FDA compliance while guiding innovation and quality across projects. Responsibilities include coordinating laboratory work, training personnel, and partnering with marketing and manufacturing to translate new formulas into scalable production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or other scientific discipline.
• Minimum 3 years supervisory experience, minimum 7 years’ experience in color cosmetics formulation.
• Ability to travel to Mexico up to 20% of the time.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates laboratory work efforts and delegates assignments to chemists.
• Provides training and guidance for chemists, technicians, and interns.
• Develops new formulas for color cosmetics and skin care from concept to shipping.
• Ensures adherence to GMPs and FDA requirements.
• Transfers formulas from laboratory to production and writes manufacturing procedures.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Color cosmetics formulation

Communication

Travel ability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or other scientific discipline

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Company BackgroundMarkwins Beauty Brands is a global leader in beauty and cosmetics. A pioneering AAPI-owned company, Eric Chen founded Markwins in 1984, and led as CEO until his passing in 2021. His wife, and then-CAO, Lina Chen, then assumed the role of CEO, and leads in the position today. Markwins has distinguished itself with groundbreaking product innovation, reimagined go-to-market strategies, and leading supply-chain dynamics. From humble and disruptive origins, the company was famous in its early years as the pioneer of compact palettes and gift sets, and stands today as the largest privately held beauty company in North America. With a brand portfolio that includes Black Radiance, Lip Smacker, LORAC, Physicians Formula, and wet n wild, Markwins Beauty Brands’ products are sold in retail outlets including department, specialty, mass, drug, and food stores, in over 80,000 doors in 80 countries worldwide.Position SummaryThe Sr. Manager, R&D will report directly to the Sr. Director, R&D and Innovation. This person will be responsible for writing manufacturing procedures and setting specifications for both compounding and filling. This position will also interact with production to include hands-on involvement in pilot batches, scale-up production batches and test fills. The Sr. Manager, R&D will be assigned direct reports and will be expected to provide direction, guidance, challenge, and inspiration to help develop their skills.Essential Tasks, Duties, & ResponsibilitiesCoordinates laboratory work efforts and effectively delegates assignments to chemistsProvides appropriate training, direction, and guidance for chemists, technicians, and interns while challenging and inspiring them to develop their skills and encouraging self-developmentAnticipates issues and develops solutions while encouraging process improvement and inspiring formula innovationPlans, implements, and monitors goals of the laboratory personnelDevelops new formulas for color cosmetics and skin care being responsible for the product conception through final shipping, including formula development, stability, package compatibility, and pilot batchesAssures adherence to GMPs and FDA requirementsPartner with marketing managers to discuss new product developments to effectively find solutions to meet marketing product requirementsWorks with manufacturing to transfer new or modified formulas from laboratory to production including writing manufacturing procedures and setting specificationsSupervises all necessary stability and compatibility tests on all new formulasWorks with the Quality group to maintain and improve overall product qualityCreate ingredient lists according to FDA and INCI guidelinesReview formulas and raw materials for compliance with International GuidelinesResponsible for remaining current with new ingredients and technologies and recommend new materials and techniques to upper management as appropriatePerform other duties as needed and directed by managementMinimum QualificationsEducation & ExperienceBachelor’s degree in Chemistry or other scientific disciplineMinimum 3 years supervisory experience, minimum 7 years’ experience in color cosmetics formulationKnowledge, Skills, & AbilitiesAbility to travel to Mexico up to 20% of the timeAbility to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical documentsMust be able to communicate effectively with co-workersAbility to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram formProficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)Must have knowledge of SOP, GMP, and FDA regulationsNote: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, but are not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.Working Conditions:Good working conditions, with the absence of disagreeable conditions.Salary:Pay commensurate with experience.Benefits:Comprehensive benefits package includes employer paid health benefits and 401k match. Benefits typically offered only to full-time employees.Markwins Beauty Brands is an Equal Opportunity EmployerMarkwins Beauty Brands does not discriminate in practices or employment opportunities based on an individual's race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other proscribed category set forth in federal or state regulations.#LI-ONSITE