Job Details

Company Description

Project Chemistry is a leading cosmetic formulation and biotechnology innovation lab based in Irvine, California. We partner with emerging and established beauty brands to create breakthrough skin and hair care products that combine scientific rigor, ingredient innovation, and commercial feasibility.

Our expertise spans ingredient discovery, biotech-driven IP creation, advanced active system development, formulation, and technology transfer to contract manufacturers. We work across prestige, mass, and niche categories with a strong emphasis on efficacy, safety, differentiation, and scalability.

At Project Chemistry, we pride ourselves on blending cutting-edge science with commercial practicality to deliver high-performing formulas that stand out in today's competitive beauty market. Our team thrives on collaboration, curiosity, disciplined execution, and pushing the boundaries of innovation in cosmetics. Join us in driving forward innovation and connecting creativity with high-performance solutions.

Role Description

The Product Development Manager is responsible for leading cosmetic skin and hair care projects from concept ideation through formulation approval and technology transfer to contract manufacturers. This role combines strategic product development with disciplined project management to ensure timelines, deliverables, costs, and communication remain aligned throughout the project lifecycle.

The Product Development Manager is responsible for identifying product claims and constructing claims frameworks aligned with ingredient strategy and brand positioning. This role collaborates with internal teams and third-party laboratories to design and oversee claims substantiation testing, ensuring all performance claims are scientifically defensible and commercially impactful.

The Product Development Manager determines specific active ingredient strategies tailored to each client's needs and target claims, translating client briefs into structured product architectures with defined hero actives, supporting ingredient systems, and commercial guardrails. This role evaluates ingredient performance, regulatory alignment, scalability, and cost implications to ensure each concept is scientifically sound and commercially viable.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of consumer-relevant product concepts from ideation through approval, including defining active ingredient strategies aligned with efficacy goals, claims positioning, regulatory geography, and budget constraints.

• Identify product claims and work with internal and third-party laboratories to design, coordinate, and oversee claims substantiation testing (e.g., clinical, instrumental, SPF, antioxidant, penetration, TEWL), ensuring all claims are realistic, regulatory-aligned, and supported by credible data.

• Evaluate supplier materials and construct synergistic active systems that differentiate Project Chemistry's offerings while remaining scalable and manufacturable.

• Develop preliminary cost of goods estimates during early concept phases and continuously assess the impact of formulation changes on profitability and pricing strategy.

• Ensure ingredient selections, concentration levels, and delivery systems align with client margin targets and channel positioning.

• Evaluate and recommend packaging formats based on formula compatibility, brand aesthetic, sustainability goals, minimum order quantities, and lead times.

• Collaborate with packaging suppliers and contract manufacturers to ensure formulation and packaging decisions are operationally aligned and scale-ready.

• Own project timelines, milestones, approvals, and deliverables from Statement of Work execution through technology transfer readiness.

• Manage sampling cycles, revisions, and cross-functional coordination while proactively identifying risks related to scope, cost, or timing.

• Translate technical challenges into clear client-facing communication and support competitive benchmarking and claims alignment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Cosmetic Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field preferred.

• 5+ years of experience in cosmetic product development for skin and/or hair care, including active ingredient selection and development strategy guidance.

• Strong understanding of the beauty product development lifecycle, active ingredient landscape, and supplier ecosystem.

• Demonstrated ability to build COGS models and evaluate how formulation decisions impact margin targets and pricing tiers.

• Experience assessing packaging compatibility, minimum order quantities, and contract manufacturing workflows.

• Clear written and verbal communication skills with ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

• Familiarity with claims substantiation testing, tech transfer, and scale-up processes.