Formulation Scientist (Dietary Supplements)

Description

Nature’s Lab, a division of DrVita, Inc., develops and manufactures high-quality dietary supplements designed to support the health and wellness of our customers.

As our product portfolio and manufacturing capabilities continue to expand, we are seeking a hands-on Formulation Scientist to join our Research and Development team. This position will support the development, optimization, scale-up, and commercialization of dietary supplements in capsules, tablets, powders, and gummies.

The ideal candidate has experience developing products for commercial manufacturing and enjoys solving practical formulation and processing challenges. Experience with multiple delivery formats is valuable, with a particular preference for candidates who have strong experience in either:

• Tablet formulation, compression, and tablet coating; or
• Gummy formulation and processing.

Candidates are not expected to be experts in every delivery format.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop new dietary supplement formulations in capsules, tablets, powders, and gummies from initial concept through commercial production.
• Select appropriate active ingredients, excipients, flavors, colors, sweeteners, coating systems, and processing aids based on product requirements.
• Evaluate raw-material characteristics such as particle size, density, flow, compressibility, hygroscopicity, solubility, compatibility, and organoleptic properties.
• Design and conduct laboratory and pilot-scale trials to evaluate formulation performance and manufacturing feasibility.
• Develop formulations that meet target potency, serving-size, dosage-form, sensory, stability, cost, and label-claim requirements.
• Troubleshoot formulation and processing issues, including poor powder flow, segregation, sticking, picking, capping, lamination, friability, hardness, disintegration, coating defects, gummy texture, setting, depositing, flavor, and stability.
• Optimize formulations and manufacturing processes to improve product quality, consistency, throughput, yield, and scalability.
• Operate or support the operation of development and pilot equipment, including tablet presses, tablet coaters, blenders, mills, encapsulation equipment, powder-processing equipment, and gummy-processing equipment, as applicable.
• Prepare formulas, processing instructions, trial protocols, technical reports, specifications, and manufacturing documentation.
• Establish critical process parameters and clearly communicate processing requirements to Manufacturing.
• Lead or support the transfer of formulations from laboratory development to pilot and commercial-scale production.
• Provide hands-on support during first production runs, validation batches, troubleshooting trials, and product rework activities.
• Investigate formulation deviations, manufacturing failures, and out-of-specification performance using structured root-cause analysis.
• Recommend and evaluate alternate raw materials, suppliers, and excipient systems when needed.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Purchasing, Inventory Control, Planning, and other departments throughout the product-development process.
• Maintain complete and accurate records in accordance with company procedures and cGMP requirements.
• Support continuous-improvement projects related to formulation practices, manufacturing processes, laboratory capabilities, and departmental procedures.
• Manage multiple development projects and priorities while meeting established timelines.

Why People Like Working With Us

Join a growing company where you can build your career, broaden your experience, and make a visible impact. As we continue to expand our product lines and manufacturing capabilities, employees have opportunities to take on new challenges and grow with the business.

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, vision, and life insurance for employees
• 401(k) with up to a 6% company match
• Paid time off and eight paid holidays
• Quarterly vitamin allowance of up to $150
• Employee wellness program
• Performance-based spot bonuses
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
• Voluntary life insurance options
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement as the company expands
• Hands-on exposure to a wide range of products, ingredients, customers, dosage forms, and manufacturing technologies
• A collaborative workplace where initiative, practical problem-solving, and continuous improvement are valued
• Stable, full-time employment with an emphasis on work-life balance

Additional Information

This is an on-site, hands-on position located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The role requires regular work in laboratory and manufacturing environments.

The final candidate must successfully complete a pre-employment background check and drug screening as a condition of employment in a cGMP-regulated facility.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, pharmaceutical science, chemistry, chemical engineering, biology, nutrition, or a related scientific discipline.

OR

• A combination of relevant education and substantial hands-on formulation experience in dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, food products, or a closely related industry.
• At least two years of experience in formulation development, process development, product development, or a related technical manufacturing role.
• Hands-on experience developing or troubleshooting at least one of the following dosage forms:
• Tablets
• Gummies
• Capsules
• Powders
• Working knowledge of ingredient functionality, excipient selection, material behavior, and manufacturing-process development.
• Experience conducting laboratory or pilot-scale trials and documenting results.
• Ability to analyze technical problems, identify likely root causes, and develop practical solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in both laboratory and manufacturing environments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and similar business applications.
• Ability to maintain accurate technical documentation in a cGMP-regulated environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three or more years of formulation experience in the dietary supplement, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, functional food, or confectionery industry.
• Hands-on experience with tablet formulation, tablet compression, and film coating.
• Experience troubleshooting tablet defects such as sticking, picking, capping, lamination, friability, hardness, disintegration, and coating irregularities.
• Hands-on experience with gummy formulation, cooking, depositing, drying, curing, sanding, oiling, flavor development, texture optimization, or stability.
• Experience developing products across more than one dosage form.
• Experience scaling formulations from laboratory trials to pilot and commercial production.
• Experience supporting first production runs and transferring technical processes to Manufacturing.
• Familiarity with vitamins, minerals, botanical extracts, amino acids, specialty ingredients, flavors, sweeteners, colors, hydrocolloids, and common dietary-supplement excipients.
• Understanding of cGMP requirements applicable to dietary supplement manufacturing.
• Familiarity with stability testing, finished-product specifications, ingredient specifications, batch records, ERP systems, electronic document systems, or quality-management systems.
• Experience working for a contract manufacturer or managing multiple customer-driven development projects.

Ideal Candidate The successful candidate will be curious, practical, organized, and comfortable working directly with ingredients and manufacturing equipment. This person should be equally willing to develop a formulation at the laboratory bench, troubleshoot a problem on the production floor, document technical findings, and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
We are looking for someone who takes ownership of projects, responds constructively to feedback, communicates concerns early, and remains adaptable as priorities and product requirements change.