Director of R&D | Personal Care Manufacturing

Mackie Myers is partnering with a Cosmetic Manufacturer on an R&D Director role.

About the Role

The Director of Research & Development (R&D) leads the innovation, formulation, and product development strategy for the company’s personal care portfolio. This role is responsible for driving new product innovation, improving existing formulations, ensuring regulatory compliance, and aligning R&D efforts with business objectives, market trends, and customer needs. The R&D Director collaborates cross-functionally with Marketing, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and Supply Chain teams to deliver high-performance, safe, and compliant products that meet market demands and brand positioning.

Responsibilities

Innovation & Product Development

• Lead development of new personal care products from concept through commercialization (skin care, hair care, body care, OTC, etc.)
• Drive innovation pipeline aligned with consumer trends, emerging ingredients, and category growth opportunities
• Oversee formulation, testing, stability studies, and scale-up
• Deliver differentiated, competitive products to market

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute R&D strategy aligned with company growth goals
• Prioritize projects and manage timelines and resources across initiatives
• Establish KPIs for innovation success, speed-to-market, and product performance
• Provide technical direction and leadership to the R&D team

Regulatory & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with FDA, EU, and other relevant cosmetic/OTC regulations
• Partner with Regulatory and Quality to maintain documentation, claims support, and labeling accuracy
• Monitor evolving regulatory and ingredient landscapes

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Marketing to translate consumer insights into product concepts
• Support Operations during scale-up and commercialization
• Work with Procurement on sourcing and supplier evaluation
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance to maintain product standards

Technical Excellence

• Oversee formulation optimization and ingredient selection
• Ensure strong testing protocols (stability, compatibility, efficacy)
• Maintain high standards for product performance, safety, and sensory quality

Team Leadership

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing R&D team
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement
• Provide coaching, feedback, and career growth opportunities

Budget & Vendor Management

• Manage R&D budget, labs, testing, and external partnerships
• Evaluate new technologies and tools to enhance capabilities
• Maintain strong vendor and supplier relationships

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, or related field required
• 10+ years of R&D experience in personal care, cosmetics, or related industry
• 5+ years in leadership or management
• Proven track record of launching successful products

Required Skills

• Strong formulation knowledge (emulsions, surfactants, actives, preservation systems)
• Experience across personal care categories (skin, hair, body, OTC)
• Knowledge of regulatory and safety requirements
• Experience with manufacturing scale-up
• Strategic thinker with strong execution skills
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Ability to balance innovation, cost, speed, and feasibility

Preferred Skills

• Experience in contract manufacturing (CMO/CDMO)
• Background in clean beauty, natural products, or sustainability
• Global product development experience
• Knowledge of claims substantiation and consumer testing

Pay range and compensation package

• Base Salary: Up to $150,000 annually (commensurate with experience)
• Bonus: Performance-based bonus opportunity (if applicable)
• Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), PTO, and other standard benefits

Please note this role is fully onsite M-F in the Torrance area.