SENIOR MANAGER, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENTMidtown Manhattan, NYC (Hybrid - 2 Days In-Office | 3 Days Remote / Work from Home)
OVERVIEW:
Our client, a premier and rapidly growing skincare and cosmetics brand based in New York City, is seeking a hands-on Senior Manager, Product Development to play a highly visible role within its product innovation team. This is an outstanding opportunity for someone who is passionate about bringing innovative beauty products to life and enjoys seeing them through from the original concept and formula stages all the way through testing, approval and launch. The Senior Manager will have tremendous ownership over the product development process, working directly with Contract Manufacturers and their chemistry labs while helping shape an exciting pipeline across the company’s body care and skincare lines.
RESPONSIBILITIES:- Own the formula development process from the initial product concept and technical brief through sampling, testing, revisions, final approval and launch.
- Translate consumer needs, product positioning, marketing claims, target costs, ingredient preferences and performance expectations into clear product development briefs for Contract Manufacturers.
- Serve as the day-to-day partner to Contract Manufacturers and their chemistry labs, managing formula questions, feedback, redirects, pricing discussions, timelines and final formula approval.
- Evaluate ingredients, actives, textures, fragrances and emerging technologies to support innovative and differentiated products across suncare, body care and skincare.
- Coordinate formula testing, including stability, compatibility, shelf-life, safety, efficacy, clinical and claims-related testing.
- Maintain organized formula specifications, ingredient statements, safety information, testing results and other critical product documentation.
- Partner closely with Packaging Development to confirm formula and packaging compatibility while aligning timelines across both workstreams.
- Collaborate with Product Marketing, Creative, Operations, Sales and other internal partners to keep development priorities and product launches moving forward.
- Support product claims, labeling and broader regulatory requirements in partnership with external regulatory specialists.
- Strengthen product development briefs, trackers, testing protocols, documentation standards and other processes as the business continues to grow.
QUALIFICATIONS:- At least 5 years of hands-on product development experience within beauty, skincare, suncare, body care, cosmetics or personal care.
- Direct experience working with Contract Manufacturers and their chemistry labs to take formulas from the initial brief through commercialization.
- Strong understanding of formula development, testing, product claims, documentation and launch processes.
- Exposure to cosmetics regulations, labeling requirements and regulatory coordination. This position does not require a career regulatory specialist.
- Prestige beauty experience is strongly preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Regulatory Affairs or a related field is preferred.
- Excellent project management skills with the ability to independently manage multiple products and development workstreams.
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships across technical, creative, operational and commercial teams.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented and comfortable maintaining extensive formula and testing documentation.
- Resourceful, proactive and solutions-oriented, with the energy and enthusiasm to thrive in a lean, fast-moving and highly collaborative environment.
