Senior Manager, Formulation Development

Sr Manager, Formulation Development

The Hydrafacial booster portfolio is a defining commercial and clinical differentiator for SkinHealth Systems — and every booster formulation that reaches a provider's treatment room is the product of rigorous bench chemistry, stability validation, and regulatory compliance work. The Sr Manager, Formulation Development is the technical lead for that entire process, owning the full development lifecycle from ideation through commercial launch for aqueous serums, treatment solutions, emulsions, and specialty delivery agents designed for hydradermabrasion protocols. This role brings the scientific depth and process discipline of large-scale personal care formulation to a specialized, device-paired application — making it central to SkinHealth Systems' ability to grow its consumables portfolio, substantiate efficacy claims, and compete globally.

What You'll Do

• Lead end-to-end formulation development for Hydrafacial booster and treatment products — including aqueous serums, emulsions, and specialty delivery agents — from bench concept through stability validation, scale-up, and commercial launch.
• Conduct hands-on formulation work, evaluating and qualifying novel active ingredients, functional excipients, and raw materials to support pipeline innovation and clinical efficacy claims.
• Design formulations with a deep understanding of how delivery vehicle composition, viscosity, pH, and active concentration interact with hydradermabrasion device parameters to optimize treatment outcomes.
• Drive regulatory compliance across formulation development, maintaining working knowledge of FDA OTC cosmetic regulations, EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC No 1223/2009), and applicable global requirements; support regulatory submissions and dossier preparation.
• Partner cross-functionally with Medical Affairs, Marketing, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, and Clinical Science to align formulation design with efficacy endpoints, consumer positioning, and commercial launch readiness.
• Engage ingredient suppliers and raw material partners to evaluate emerging actives, negotiate preferred supplier relationships, and keep SkinHealth Systems ahead of formulation trends.
• Mentor and develop junior formulation staff and R&D lab personnel, building scientific rigor and structured experimentation capability within the team.
• Present formulation development findings, project status, and technical recommendations to senior R&D and executive leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What We're Looking For

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or a related science field.
• 8+ years of progressive formulation development experience in the personal care, cosmetic, or beauty industry, with a clear record of launching commercially successful products at scale within a large, structured organization.
• Proven track record of taking formulations from bench concept through stability validation, regulatory review, scale-up, and full commercial launch.
• Deep expertise in cosmetic raw materials, emulsion chemistry, aqueous solution design, active ingredient stabilization, preservative systems, and sensory aesthetics of topical formulations.
• Hands-on experience with stability study design and execution (real-time and accelerated), safety testing protocols, and manufacturing scale-up from bench to pilot and commercial scale.
• Working knowledge of FDA OTC cosmetic regulations, EU Cosmetics Regulation, and global regulatory requirements for formulated products.
• Proficiency in laboratory characterization techniques including viscosity measurement, pH analysis, particle size, HPLC, and spectroscopy.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent development programs; proficiency with project tracking tools such as Smartsheet or equivalent.

Preferred

• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or a related science field.
• Experience at a globally recognized personal care or beauty organization with direct accountability for product launches at scale.
• Familiarity with device-paired or treatment-format formulations, including aqueous delivery vehicles designed for professional treatment systems or hydradermabrasion protocols.
• Knowledge of clean formulation frameworks and compliance requirements, including EWG, COSMOS, and EU-restricted substance lists.
• Exposure to ISO 10993 biocompatibility principles as they relate to topically applied, device-contacted formulations.
• Active membership in the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC) or an equivalent professional organization.

Physical Requirements of the Job

• Primarily laboratory and office environment; significant hands-on bench formulation and testing work expected throughout development programs.
• Ability to stand and work at lab benches for extended periods during formulation development, stability testing, and analytical characterization.
• Ability to lift and handle raw materials, formulation samples, and laboratory equipment weighing up to 25 lbs.
• Must comply with all laboratory safety, PPE, and GMP requirements applicable to the formulation development environment.