Research and Development Quality Manager

Godrej Consumer Products Limited; Durban; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in personal care products seeks a Research and Development Quality Manager to drive innovation through product development and quality assurance. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in FMCG, particularly in hair care, with a focus on project management and consumer insights. The role offers comprehensive health benefits, childcare advantages, and the chance to work in a collaborative environment that values diversity and innovation.

Benefits

Comprehensive health insurance

Childcare benefits

Flexible work options

Mental wellness programs

Uncapped sick leave

Qualifications

• 8-12 years experience in FMCG/Pharma/Cosmetics preferred.
• Experience in product development and technical knowledge of quality assurance.

Responsibilities

• Manage R&D projects from concept to manufacturing.
• Conduct product stability tests and analyze competitive products.
• Collaborate with marketing and innovation teams.

Skills

R&D experience in Hair Colour & Hair Care

Colour chemistry knowledge

Project management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Master’s in chemistry, Pharmacy & Chemical Engineering

Job description

Research and Development Quality Manager

1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants

Location: Durban, South Africa

At the Godrej Industries Group, we are privileged to serve over 1.1 billion consumers globally through our businesses with market leadership positions in the consumer products, real estate, agriculture, financial services and chemicals industries.

Godrej Consumer Products is a leading emerging markets company. As part of the over 125-year young Godrej Group, we are fortunate to have a proud legacy built on the strong values of trust, integrity and respect for others. At the same time, we are growing fast and have exciting, ambitious aspirations.

At the heart of all of this, is our talented team. We take much pride in fostering an inspiring workplace, with an agile and high-performance culture. We are also deeply committed to recognizing and valuing diversity across our teams.

Godrej Africa, US & ME (GAUM) cluster provides a good mix of presence in emerging market economies like Africa and more developed economies like US. With a multicultural workforce, we are working towards enhancing the geographical footprint, defining right go-to-Market strategy and disruptive consumer propositions.

About the role

The candidate is expected to build a vibrant NPD pipeline of projects within R&D on the basis of existing consumer insights/category challenges. The candidate must be a self-starter, and, must display a strong inclination and passion to develop a host of innovative projects which shall feed the NPD pipeline. Candidate must be able to quickly spot product opportunities based on consumer insighting and define a quick road map for rapid product development

Key Responsibilities:

• Follow projects from concept to manufacturing
• Involved in formulation, research and new product development work Technology transfer & Trouble shooting
• Working knowledge of raw material (RM) and finished goods (FG) specifications & expertise in various quality control methods.
• Participate in various stages of product development such as pre-formulation, prototyping,
• Participate in pilot plant & plant level scale up activity
• Document the product development pathway by means of suitable reports and dossiers
• Follows up the methods & SOPs of manufacturing the products
• Interact and coordinate with different functions for various activities
• Conduct wet and instrumental analysis of relevant product categories.
• Utilize measurement techniques to characterize and predict product behavior over time
• Understand and follow protocols/test methods used to measure functional and aesthetic performance
• Analyze and evaluate competition products
• Formulate lab batches for sampling to customers and testing
• Research new raw ingredients to see how to implement them into new products
• Contact suppliers to procure raw ingredients samples and corresponding documents
• Update Sales, R&D and Analytical Lab on project updates
• Monitor product stability and aesthetic
• Create and review ingredient declarations and product labels
• Tech transfer and process demonstration for NPD globally

Internal & External Interactions:

The role requires regular interaction with Innovation/Design Team as well as Marketing functions. The candidate will report to the Product Category Head and shall interact with the Head Personal Care Research to build relevant programmes by interfacing with academia.

Who are we looking for?

Education:

• Master’s in chemistry, Pharmacy & Chemical Engineering or equivalent field

Experience:

• 8- 12 years’ experience
• Experience in FMCG/Pharma/Cosmetics
• Knowledge in Haircare will be preferred

Skills:

• Proven R&D and QA experience in Hair Colour & Hair Care categories.
• Strong knowledge of colour chemistry, emulsion systems, surfactants & stability guidelines.
• Familiarity with African hair types and consumer preferences.
• Ability to manage projects independently & lead a small team.
• Some regulatory experience, including compliance with RSA-CTFA guidelines is a plus.
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• An understanding on regulations governing cosmetics
• Analytical abilities coupled with an understanding of and ability to use statistical tools Must possess a sound understanding of product formulations, consumer expectations/insights, as well as, gaps in delivery of existing formats. Some level of consumer interaction to understand consumer needs
• An appetite for learning, open mind for innovation, questioning status quo, ability to think out of the box
• Ability to demonstrate the practical use of knowledge base in Innovation Projects

What’s in it for you?

Be an equal parent

Childcare benefits for the birthing parent, commissioning parent (in case of surrogacy) or adoptive parent, and their partners

• 6 months of paid leave for primary caregivers, flexible work options on return for primary caregivers
• 2 months paid leave for secondary caregivers
• Caregiver travel for primary caregivers to bring a caregiver and children under a year old, on work travel

Coverage for childbirth and fertility treatment

Gender-neutral anti-harassment policy

Same sex partner benefits at par with married spouses

Coverage for gender reassignment surgery and hormone replacement therapy

Community partnerships and advocacy

Persons with Disability (PwD) care

We are selfish about your wellness

Comprehensive health insurance plans, as well as accident coverage for you and your family, with top-up options

Elder care for those who might need to extend support to senior family members

Uncapped sick leave

Flexible work options, including remote working and part-time work

Mental wellness and self-care programmes, resources and counselling

Celebrating wins, the Godrej Way

Structured recognition platforms for individual, team and business-level achievements

Digital and offline instant recognition platforms.

An inclusive Godrej

Before you go, there is something important we want to highlight. There is no place for discrimination at Godrej. Diversity is the philosophy of who we are as a company. And has been for over a century. It’s not just in our DNA and nice to do. Being more diverse - especially having our team members reflect the diversity of our businesses and communities - helps us innovate better and grow faster. We hope this resonates with you.

We take pride in being an equal opportunities employer. We recognise merit and encourage diversity. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination on the basis of nationality, race, colour, religion, caste, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or marital status and ensure equal opportunities for all our team members.

If this sounds like a role for you, apply now!

We look forward to meeting you.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Research and Quality Assurance

• Industries

  Manufacturing and Personal Care Product Manufacturing

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Godrej Consumer Products Limited by 2x

Get notified about new Research and Development Quality Manager jobs in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.