R&D Manager - Formulation and Production

Dixie Recruitment; Durban; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Dixie Recruitment client, a well-established cosmetics manufacturer in KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, seeks an experienced R&D Manager to lead formulation development from concept to commercialisation.

You will translate briefs into viable products, oversee lab and prototype work, ensure robust scale-up, support claims with data, and drive cross-functional launches with production and QA teams.

Qualifications

• 5+ years hands-on formulation experience in cosmetics or personal care.
• Proven track record taking products from concept to production.
• Strong lab-to-production scale-up experience.
• Skilled in formulation troubleshooting and stability testing.
• Excellent project management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Knowledge of regulatory standards for the industry.
• Experience leading R&D teams and mentoring junior staff.
• Familiarity with evaluating new raw materials and supplier management.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of new product formulations from concept through to commercialisation.
• Translate briefs into feasible, commercially viable products.
• Oversee laboratory formulation and prototype development with robust formulations.
• Research new ingredients and technologies to foster innovation.
• Benchmark competitors and identify opportunities for product improvement.
• Manage formulation stability, efficacy, manufacturability and costs.
• Support product claims with technical evidence and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with production teams for smooth lab-to-manufacturing transfer.
• Develop and optimise manufacturing methods and resolve processing issues.
• Manage external laboratories for testing and validation.
• Evaluate raw materials and supplier relationships for sourcing options.
• Lead, support and mentor the R&D team for continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams for launches and stakeholder meetings.

Skills

Formulation

Cosmetics

Scale-up

Troubleshooting

Project management

Regulatory knowledge

Team leadership

Mentoring

Supplier management

New material evaluation

Job description

Our client, a well-established organization within the manufacturing and personal care industries, is seeking an experienced R&D Manager to lead innovative formulation development and drive product excellence.

Key Functions:

• Lead the development of new product formulations from concept through to commercialisation.

• Translate marketing, customer, and private-label briefs into feasible, commercially viable products.

• Oversee laboratory formulation and prototype development, ensuring robust, scalable formulations.

• Research new ingredients, formulation technologies, and industry developments to foster innovation.

• Benchmark competitors and identify opportunities for product improvement.

• Manage formulation stability, efficacy, manufacturability, and cost considerations.

• Support product claims with technical evidence and maintain oversight of stability programmes.

• Collaborate with production teams to ensure seamless transfer from lab to manufacturing.

• Develop and optimise manufacturing methods, resolving processing issues and ensuring regulatory compliance.

• Manage external laboratories and specialists for testing and validation.

• Evaluate raw materials and suppliers, maintaining key relationships and sourcing alternatives.

• Lead, support, and mentor the R&D team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Coordinate with cross-functional teams for product launches and represent R&D in stakeholder meetings.

Requirements:

• Preferably 5+ years of hands-on formulation experience in cosmetics or personal care.

• Proven track record of taking products from concept to commercial production.

• Strong laboratory-to-production scale-up experience.

• Skilled in formulation troubleshooting and stability testing.

• Excellent project management and collaboration capabilities.

• Knowledge of regulatory standards relevant to the industry.

• Experience in managing R&D teams and mentoring junior staff.

• Familiarity with new raw material evaluation and supplier management.