Sr. Manager, Research & Development (R&D)

Company Background

Markwins Beauty Brands is a global leader in beauty and cosmetics. A pioneering AAPI-owned company, Eric Chen founded Markwins in 1984, and led as CEO until his passing in 2021. His wife, and then-CAO, Lina Chen, then assumed the role of CEO, and leads in the position today.  Markwins has distinguished itself with groundbreaking product innovation, reimagined go-to-market strategies, and leading supply-chain dynamics. From humble and disruptive origins, the company was famous in its early years as the pioneer of compact palettes and gift sets, and stands today as the largest privately held beauty company in North America. With a brand portfolio that includes Black Radiance®, Lip Smacker®, LORAC®, Physicians Formula®, and wet n wild®, Markwins Beauty Brands’ products are sold in retail outlets including department, specialty, mass, drug, and food stores, in over 80,000 doors in 80 countries worldwide.

Position Summary

The Sr. Manager, R&D will report directly to the Sr. Director, R&D and Innovation. This person will be responsible for writing manufacturing procedures and setting specifications for both compounding and filling. This position will also interact with production to include hands-on involvement in pilot batches, scale-up production batches and test fills. The Sr. Manager, R&D will be assigned direct reports and will be expected to provide direction, guidance, challenge, and inspiration to help develop their skills.

Essential Tasks, Duties, & Responsibilities

• Coordinates laboratory work efforts and effectively delegates assignments to chemists
• Provides appropriate training, direction, and guidance for chemists, technicians, and interns while challenging and inspiring them to develop their skills and encouraging self-development
• Anticipates issues and develops solutions while encouraging process improvement and inspiring formula innovation
• Plans, implements, and monitors goals of the laboratory personnel
• Develops new formulas for color cosmetics and skin care being responsible for the product conception through final shipping, including formula development, stability, package compatibility, and pilot batches
• Assures adherence to GMPs and FDA requirements
• Partner with marketing managers to discuss new product developments to effectively find solutions to meet marketing product requirements
• Works with manufacturing to transfer new or modified formulas from laboratory to production including writing manufacturing procedures and setting specifications
• Supervises all necessary stability and compatibility tests on all new formulas
• Works with the Quality group to maintain and improve overall product quality
• Create ingredient lists according to FDA and INCI guidelines
• Review formulas and raw materials for compliance with International Guidelines
• Responsible for remaining current with new ingredients and technologies and recommend new materials and techniques to upper management as appropriate
• Perform other duties as needed and directed by management

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry or other scientific discipline
• Minimum 3 years supervisory experience, minimum 7 years’ experience in color cosmetics formulation

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Ability to travel to Mexico up to 20% of the time
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical documents
• Must be able to communicate effectively with co-workers
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form
• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Must have knowledge of SOP, GMP, and FDA regulations

Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, but are not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Markwins Beauty Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Markwins Beauty Brands does not discriminate in practices or employment opportunities based on an individual's race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other proscribed category set forth in federal or state regulations.

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