Senior Chemist II, Analytical Chemistry and Stability, L'Oréal Research & Innovation

Senior Chemist II, Analytical Chemistry & Stability, L'Oréal Research & Innovation - Clark, New Jersey

Life is too short for a boring career, so build an extraordinary one with us. We believe your career should spark the same thrill and curiosity as your personal interests. Creativity drives everything we do, turning ideas into meaningful impact. With opportunities across brands, markets, and divisions, your growth knows no boundaries.

Who We Are

Join us at L'Oréal, the world's #1 beauty company present in over 150 markets. For over a century, we have been transforming; fueled by data, tech, innovation, and science. Together, we tackle big challenges while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet.

At L'Oréal Research & Innovation we are pushing the boundaries of Science & Tech. We invest heavily in cutting-edge research, leveraging advanced technologies to understand skin, hair, and microbiome, while discovering new active ingredients and launching outperforming formulas. Our 3,500 L'Oréal R&I experts leverage Science & Technology to invent safe, trustable, sustainable & responsible beauty products and experiences that will change people's lives.

Within L'Oréal R&I, our Analytical Chemistry team is the scientific backbone behind product quality, safety, stability, and performance across our entire portfolio. We partner with more than 35 brands and collaborate closely with development and manufacturing teams to design rigorous studies, generate precise analytical data, and deliver clear, science-backed findings - using the latest instruments, methodologies, and techniques available. We are the team that ensures every L'Oréal product, regardless of brand or division, is held to the highest possible standards of scientific integrity.

We are seeking a Senior Chemist II, Analytical Chemistry to join our team at our Clark, New Jersey facility. In this role, you will bring your deep expertise in LC and GC-based analytical techniques to solve complex formulation challenges, develop and validate novel methods, and be a trusted scientific partner to the brands and cross-functional teams that depend on our data to make great products.

A Day in the Life: As a Senior Chemist II on the Analytical Chemistry team, you will:

• Lead stability testing with precision and accountability - prioritizing and coordinating stability testing workflows, ensuring all data is accurate, traceable, and reported on time to meet critical project milestones across a diverse brand portfolio.
• Pioneer analytical method development - designing, conducting, validating, and implementing novel LC (UV & MS) and GC (FID/MS) methods and assays that expand our analytical toolkit and deliver technically relevant, actionable insights for the teams you support.
• Be the scientific detective - performing thorough root cause analyses for non-conformance events related to laboratory testing, bringing rigor, curiosity, and a solutions-forward mindset to every investigation.
• Turn data into decisions - collecting, processing, and interpreting complex analytical data with scientific precision, drawing sound conclusions, and preparing technical reports that communicate findings clearly and compellingly to stakeholders across all levels of scientific expertise.
• Partner with brands to drive innovation - collaborating closely with our brand development partners to support product development initiatives, apply your analytical expertise to real consumer challenges, and help drive company strategy from lab bench to launch.
• Keep our instruments at peak performance - performing general troubleshooting and preventive maintenance for LC (UV & MS) and GC (FID/MS) instrumentation, and maintaining all documentation in strict accordance with company SOPs and GMP guidelines.
• Stay at the frontier of your field - maintaining active awareness of consumer trends, evolving analytical capabilities, and updates to ICH guidelines, GMPs, and FDA regulations relevant to OTC products, continuously integrating new knowledge to improve efficiency and scientific quality across your projects.
• Build bridges across the global scientific community - developing strong working relationships with cross-functional teams, international colleagues, and laboratory partners, and actively participating in L'Oréal's international analytical technical communities to share expertise and elevate the collective knowledge of our global network.
• Champion a culture of quality and continuous growth - contributing to team culture, adhering to all written procedures and safety practices, and bringing a proactive, adaptable mindset to the dynamic, fast-moving environment of a global R&I organization.

We Are Looking For: You're a great match for this role if you are a rigorous, curious, and collaborative analytical scientist - driven by a genuine passion for the chemistry behind great beauty products and committed to the highest standards of quality, safety, and scientific excellence.

• Education: A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry or a closely related field is required.
• Experience: A minimum of 5-7 years of professional experience in analytical chemistry is required, with at least 5 years of demonstrated, hands-on expertise with LC (UV & MS) and GC (FID/MS) instrumentation in an industry setting. Experience in the cosmetics, personal care, or consumer goods industries is a plus but not required.
• Technical Expertise:
  • Strong experimental background in analytical method development, method validation, troubleshooting, and experimental design - with a proven ability to develop novel, technically robust methods and assays that solve real, challenging problems.
  • Solid knowledge of ICH guidelines, GMPs, and FDA regulations related to OTC products, with demonstrated experience applying these frameworks in a regulated or quality-driven environment.
  • Proficiency with laboratory data systems, CDS (Chromatography Data Systems), LIMS, and relevant scientific software - with the ability to manage, organize, and interrogate complex datasets efficiently and accurately.
  • A broad and continuously developing scientific knowledge base - with genuine curiosity and initiative to explore new areas of product technology and analytical capability beyond your immediate area of expertise.
• Soft Skills & Attributes:
  • A natural problem-solver and analytical thinker - you approach challenges methodically from conceptualization through to implementation, taking calculated risks and driving solutions with confidence and scientific integrity.
  • Exceptionally organized and detail-oriented - you manage multiple projects simultaneously, adapt quickly to changes and unexpected events, and consistently deliver high-quality results on time without losing precision or rigor.
  • A clear and compelling communicator - strong written and verbal skills with the ability to convey complex scientific findings to both technical and non-technical audiences with clarity, confidence, and impact.
  • A collaborative team builder - you invest in relationships across functions and geographies, contribute actively to team culture, and bring positive energy and a growth mindset to every collaboration.
  • Self-motivated, hardworking, and genuinely curious - you think innovatively about difficult research problems and are always looking for the next opportunity to grow, contribute, and push the science forward.
• Authorization to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent, ongoing basis is required. No immigration support/sponsorship offered for this role.
• The ability to be onsite, in the office 5 days a week, as this is an essential function of the position (required).

What's In It For You

• A place for you to leave your comfort zone and grow beyond your potential (here, you'll be encouraged to try new things and take risks!)
• Real responsibility from day 1, there's no sitting on the sidelines at L'Oréal
• An environment where people of every ethnicity, social background, age, religion, gender and sexual orientation as well as people with disabilities are accepted, can speak up, will thrive and are celebrated!
• A place where you can contribute to something bigger! Many of our brands have societal/environmental causes to make concrete difference
• Base Salary Range: $90,200 - $128,500 (The actual compensation will depend on a variety of job-related factors which may include geographic location, work experience, education, and skill level)
• Competitive Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Pension Plan)
• Hybrid Work Policy (Up to 2 days per week work from home for eligible roles, subject to manager approval)
• Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)
• Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L'Oréal's Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)
• Learning and Development Opportunities (Unlimited Access to E-learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)
• Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)
• Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs

Don't meet every single requirement? At L'Oréal, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and innovative workplace. If you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with the qualifications listed in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways! You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse environment. We're committed to guaranteeing inclusive recruitment processes and advocating for hiring and promoting each candidate in an ethical and equitable way. The Group strictly prohibits discrimination against any applicant for employment because of the individual's gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, visible and/or invisible disabilities, socio-economic and/or multicultural origins, health conditions, age, religion, or any other characteristics protected by law.