Senior Manager, R&D

About the Company

e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. stands with every eye, lip, face and paw. Our deep commitment to clean, cruelty free beauty at an incredible value has fueled the success of our flagship brand e.l.f. Cosmetics since 2004 and driven our portfolio expansion. Today, our multi-brand portfolio includes e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. SKIN, pioneering clean beauty brand Well People, Keys Soulcare, a groundbreaking lifestyle beauty brand created with Alicia Keys and Naturium, high-performance, biocompatible, clinically-effective and accessible skin care.

In our Fiscal year 24, we had net sales of $1 Billion and our business performance has been nothing short of extraordinary with 26 consecutive quarters of net sales growth. We are the #2 mass cosmetics brand in the US and are the fastest growing mass cosmetics brand among the top 5. Our total compensation philosophy offers every full-time new hire competitive pay and benefits, bonus eligibility (200% of target over the last six fiscal years), equity, flexible time off, year-round half-day Fridays, and a hybrid 3 day in office, 2 day at home work environment. We believe the combination of our unique culture, total compensation, workplace flexibility and care for the team is unmatched across not just beauty but any industry.

Visit our Career Page to learn more about our team: https://www.elfbeauty.com/work-with-us

About the role

e.l.f. Beauty is looking for a passionate and technically proficient Senior Manager to join our R&D team with a focus on managing the formula transfer and new formula development with third party suppliers outside Asia.

This role will manage all technical activities to ensure all key project milestones are met (stability, heavy metals, safety testing, micro testing, etc) for new products developed by external suppliers and technical transfers of new or existing products to suppliers outside of Asia. They will be responsible for collecting and reviewing all supplier documentation to ensure compliance with our standards, creating product specifications and ensuring all required testing to support the product is completed. They will act as a technical consultant to suppliers on formulation/production issues from project initiation though completed first production. Additionally this role will help to design and manage safety, clinical and/or consumer testing  to help qualify and validation new products.

The role will regularly interface with Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance to assure suppliers are in compliance with e.l.f. established guidelines for documentation, quality and safety.

The right candidate for this role will embrace e.l.f.’s dynamic culture of executing with quality and speed to drive solutions and a proven track record of working with suppliers in color cosmetics and skin care. The successful candidate will bring at least 5 years’ experience in process/product development and experience in formulation of personal care products, including OTC experience as well. The Manager, R&D must be proficient in principles of statistical analysis, cosmetics chemistry, hair and skin care/SPF processing, problem solving, and resource management and have experience in cosmetics products development of formulation and process, including expertise in emulsion-based products. You also need to have the ability to develop evaluate manufacturing processes for color and skin care cosmetics and be familiar with bulk manufacturing/filling /packing process from lab scale to mass production and quality control requirements with experience working with outside suppliers globally.

This position reports to our Senior Director, R&D and will be based out of the New York office.

• Act as a technical consultant to 3rd party suppliers on formulation / production issues from project initiation though completed first production
• Manage all technical activities (formula development, testing, documentation, etc) and milestones to ensure successful and timely execution of projects
• Collect and review required testing, specifications, protocols and reports from suppliers
• Interface with Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance to assure suppliers are in compliance with e.l.f. established guidelines for documentation, quality and safety
• Identify, analyze and drive resolution of technical issues
• Complete technical assessments for evaluation of new product / process opportunities
• Stay current with new innovation with both raw materials suppliers and 3rd party manufacturers by reviewing technical literature, attending seminars and maintaining strong supplier relationships
• Design testing plan to substantiate claims for new products
• Help to initiate and manage safety, consumer and clinical testing for new products
• Partner with Regulatory on claims substantiation plans and identify testing requirements
• Questions processes, procedures and policies. Fully investigates, develops, and presents alternatives for implementation
• Exhibits high energy and willingness to be involved
• Partner closely with US R&D leadership as well as technical team in Shanghai on best practices, formula collaboration, and problem solving

• BS/MS in chemistry, chemical engineering, or other related technical disciplines.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in process/product development
• 7+ years of experience in formulation of personal care products with 3 – 5 years in skin care and color cosmetics. Must have OTC experience as well
• Proficient in principles of statistical analysis, cosmetics chemistry, hair and skin care/SPF processing, problem solving, and resource management
• Eager to engage quickly to keep projects moving quickly and smoothly
• Ability to work cross-functionally & at all levels within the organization
• At least 7 years’ experience in cosmetics products development of formulation and process, including expertise in emulsion-based products
• Ability to develop evaluate manufacturing processes for color and skin care cosmetics
• Familiar with bulk manufacturing/filling /packing process from lab scale to mass production and quality control requirements
• Experience working with outside suppliers globally
• Willing to travel as needed for development or production scale-up activities
• Familiar with regulatory requirements of US and EU
• Familiar with OTC requirements for US, Canada and EU

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this position. It also reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job identified, and shall not be considered, as detailed description of all the work required inherent in the job. It is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities, and it is subject to changes and exceptions at the supervisors’ discretion.

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