Senior Lab Manager-Beauty-OC

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily R&D laboratory operations and supervise, coach, and develop a team of chemists.
• Drive the development of new skincare prototypes, reformulations, and product enhancements aligned with consumer and market needs.
• Provide scientific and technical leadership for skincare, OTC, and prescription product development programs.
• Set laboratory priorities, allocate resources, manage timelines, and ensure successful execution of development projects.
• Serve as a key technical resource for formulation troubleshooting, manufacturing challenges, stability issues, and product-quality improvements.
• Direct stability programs, interpret results, and verify product performance and shelf-life requirements.
• Lead scale-up and technology-transfer activities from laboratory development through commercial manufacturing.
• Manage external development partners, contract manufacturers, testing laboratories, and CROs.
• Collaborate with Product Development, Marketing, Regulatory, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing teams.
• Evaluate emerging ingredients, technologies, and market trends to identify innovation opportunities.
• Ensure adherence to applicable regulatory requirements, ingredient policies, safety standards, and GMP practices.
• Review and approve technical reports, specifications, protocols, development records, and laboratory documentation.
• Improve laboratory efficiency, data integrity, process consistency, and innovation practices.
• Manage laboratory budgets, inventory, equipment maintenance, and capital needs.
• Prepare the laboratory for audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, or a related scientific discipline required; advanced degree preferred. Eight or more years of skincare formulation and product-development experience, including cosmetic, OTC, and/or prescription products. Prior experience leading technical teams and mentoring scientific staff.
• Required Skills: Strong expertise in skincare formulation, ingredient technologies, stability testing, and product development. Experience with scale-up, technology transfer, and commercialization activities. Ability to manage external partners, including manufacturers, laboratories, and development vendors. Working knowledge of product safety, quality systems, and regulatory requirements. Proven cross-functional project leadership and ability to deliver against timelines. Excellent leadership, communication, problem-solving, and project-management skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.