Head of R&D

About the role

The Head of R&D at Dr. Squatch is responsible for leading the technical and product innovation across the organization. This role involves overseeing the formulation development, innovation pipeline, manufacturing partnerships, and team leadership.

Responsibilities

• Own technical strategy and decision-making across the full product development lifecycle
• Evaluate ingredient systems, raw materials, and manufacturing processes to ensure product performance, scalability, and brand alignment
• Translate complex scientific concepts into clear, actionable recommendations for commercial and executive stakeholders
• Ensure speed-to-market without compromising formulation integrity, product quality, or technical rigor
• Lead the innovation pipeline from concept through commercialization across new products, reformulations, and adjacent category expansion
• Partner cross-functionally to identify whitespace opportunities and prioritize future growth platforms
• Drive a consumer- and insight-led innovation agenda while balancing operational feasibility and regulatory considerations
• Build scalable development processes and ways of working that improve agility, execution, and cross-functional collaboration
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team spanning formulation, product development, and manufacturing/process engineering
• Foster a culture of accountability, technical excellence, curiosity, and collaboration
• Help attract, develop, and retain high-potential technical talent
• Operate as a player-coach leader capable of moving fluidly between strategic leadership and hands-on problem solving

Requirements

Required Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive R&D leadership experience within personal care, beauty, or adjacent consumer products categories
• Deep hands-on formulation experience; candidates must have meaningful time spent "at the bench"
• Proven experience scaling formulations through external manufacturing partners and co-manufacturers
• Demonstrated success leading and developing technical teams
• Strong ability to communicate effectively with executive, commercial, and technical stakeholders
• Experience operating effectively in high-growth, fast-paced environments
• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific discipline; advanced degree preferred
• Willingness to relocate to or work in the Los Angeles area on a hybrid basis

Preferred

• Experience within natural, naturally derived, or clean formulation systems
• Familiarity with standards such as ISO 16128
• Experience operating within a founder-led or entrepreneurial brand that later scaled within a larger enterprise environment
• OTC or sunscreen category experience
• Exposure to cost optimization and margin improvement initiatives

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related scientific discipline; advanced degree preferred
• Willingness to relocate to or work in the Los Angeles area on a hybrid basis
• Experience within natural, naturally derived, or clean formulation systems
• Familiarity with standards such as ISO 16128
• Experience operating within a founder-led or entrepreneurial brand that later scaled within a larger enterprise environment
• OTC or sunscreen category experience
• Exposure to cost optimization and margin improvement initiatives

Skills

Skills:

• Technical strategy and decision-making
• Formulation development
• Ingredient evaluation
• Manufacturing process oversight
• Communication with executives and stakeholders
• Innovation pipeline management
• Team leadership and development
• Scalability and cost optimization

Benefits

Dr. Squatch offers a competitive salary in a growth-focused & collaborative team environment. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401k with Squatch match, and PTO. Other perks include healthy snacks, frequent company events, and free products!

Pay

The anticipated base compensation range for this role will be $190,000 to $210,000. Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate's experience and local market rates.

Schedule

This is a full-time, hybrid role with company benefits, based in Marina Del Rey, CA, that requires 3 days per week at Dr. Squatch HQ.