Sr. Manager, Open Development (Color)

At Beautycounter, we go beyond clean to get safer beauty into the hands of everyone. Launched in 2013 as a direct-to-consumer beauty brand and acquired by the Carlyle Group in April 2021, we develop and distribute roughly 100 beauty products across skincare, makeup, and personal care, serving both the United States and Canada.   

In addition to our Never List™, which excludes over 1,800 questionable ingredients from our formulations, we’ve established a rigorous set of safety standards for both our products and our manufacturing partners. And, through our advocacy efforts, we’ve helped introduce more health-protective legislation to the beauty industry.  

Beautycounter is proud to be a Certified B Corporation that’s committed to more sustainable packaging, responsible sourcing, and a policy of total transparency. Awards include Fast Company's Most Innovative, Allure's Best of Beauty, Glamour's Beauty Awards, Refinery29's Innovators List, WWD's 2019 Best-Performing Beauty Company, and CNBC's Disruptor 50.  

The Open Development Sr. Manager for Color will be responsible for contributing to the conceptualization, initiation, development, evaluation, and follow-through of Color product development and formula improvements in line with Beautycounter’s Mission and “Never List”. Manage the technical tasks of claims, scientific literature, raw material technology, processing methodology, formulations, testing, and marketing/consumer trends. You will collaborate with the VP of Product Development, the Director of Color, and internal and external partners to ensure the parameters of each project are aligned with the product development concept, timeline, and budget with attention to detail in execution.

In This Role, You Will:

• Manage multiple projects concurrent with high attention to detail, while being agile and adaptable to change in a fast-paced, environment.
• Lead weekly meetings with Project Management, Product Marketing, and contract manufacturers – technical feedback, vendor training/support, drafting agendas, discussion recaps, and ensuring project alignment and product quality throughout each development phase.
• Contribute to the development of clean beauty, innovative product concepts, ingredient technology, and ingredient storytelling that generate new opportunities and address white-space opportunities for brand growth.
• Execute and manage multiple projects across varied color cosmetic product formats and categories (Face, Eye, Cheek, Lip, Brow, etc.) & complexities, including new product development, shade extensions, and reforms throughout each development phase.
• Lead formula and shade development progress ensuring alignment with the VP and Director of Color Product Development – while adhering to Beautycounter’s Quality, Safety, Regulatory, and formulation guidelines.
• Perform competitive research on new products, ingredient technologies, and competitive brand analysis to establish supporting data toward new product concepts. Inclusive of shade strategy + shade assortment for new launches and shade extensions.
• Work with Sourcing and Marketing to align on, track formula cost throughout the formula development process with external partners to ensure formula & fill cost is on-budget for new product development briefs.
• Partner with cross-functional teams (Quality, Packaging, Sourcing) and external contract manufacturers during the Pilot (Scale-up) and/or Line Trial process – including bulk evaluation/approval.
• Evaluate formulas at varied development and batch time points, including lab, pilot/line trial, 1stproduction, and ongoing production batches to ensure formula, shade, and performance standards are met, each time (risk assessment).
• Interact directly with contract manufacturers to track projects and drive progress, on time and on budget, throughout the development process.
• Manage an organized system for all product submissions and approvals.
• Work closely with Quality, Safety, Sustainability, and Regulatory Affairs to ensure formulas meet Beautycounter’s mission and commitments to performance and safety, including EWG Verification.
• Work closely with Regulatory, Safety and claims to manage QQ reviews, including individual raw material and fragrance assessments for new formulations throughout the formula development phase.
• Collaborate with the VP of PD, Director of PD, and Product Marketing Team to establish formula performance for all new formula development and reformulation development.
• Align on proposed claims with Product Marketing, Legal, and Regulatory to substantiate proposed product claims, key ingredient stories, and feature & benefits summaries.
• Partner with Quality, Packaging, Safety, and Regulatory to create Development Test Plans for all launches, including identifying safety test needs, testing dates, and sample coordination with CM’s and testing facilities.
• Review Marketing and Creative assets for claims substantiation, in collaboration with Legal.
• Track project timelines and drive progress, on time and on budget, throughout the product development process. Partner with Project Management and cross-functional partners to find alternative solutions when the timeline is at-risk.
• Work with the VP of Product Development and Director of PD to ensure that processes according to Stage-Gate are followed during development and communicated cross-functionally.
• Manage and report all clinical, sensory, and consumer testing for products in development, as needed.
• Provide management, internal labs, and support teams with information regarding the BC brand, status of projects, and product information, as well as coordinate and follow up on general requests.
• Travel to contract manufacturers to perform on-site formula development/ evaluation, pilot/ scale-up, production batching, and audits as needed.
• Work closely with designated vendors to get the information needed in order to build a good foundation for a successful product launch. Initiate formula review, confirm formula entry, and monitor vendor's stability reports, quality, and conformity of formulas.
• Create, review, and issue documentation for existing and new BC products.
• Provide vendor excellence training and mentorship to our core contract manufacturers.
• Attend (where applicable) cosmetic industry events, trade shows, and supplier meetings to stay abreast of current trends and technologies, as needed/ where applicable. 

What You Will Bring:

• Minimum 6+ years of product development experience and acumen in Color Product Development/formulations.
• Commitment and passion for our mission and living Beautycounter Values - Transparent, Forward-Thinking, Thoughtful, Determined, and Spirited.
• Passion for the beauty/ personal care consumers, innovation, market, and industry trends.
• Proven track record of creating and executing compelling innovation strategies and product launches.
• Experience with managing contract manufacturer and supplier relationships.
• Drive & Hustle: Ability to multi-task effectively in a fast-paced environment and a capacity to manage project timelines under the guidance of Stage-Gate.
• Communication: Effective communication and collaboration with internal cross-functional organizations - from individual contributors to senior leadership.
• Strong collaboration with external partners, demonstrating excellent verbal and written communication, project organization, and project management skills.
• Efficiently anticipate, identify, and articulate challenges in real time and identify solutions.
• Work autonomously, while keeping the Director of Color abreast of critical milestones, challenges, and development needs. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required with an emphasis in Sciences.
• 5+ years of experience in formula/R&D development within the beauty/personal care industry.
• 3+ years of management experience
• Leveraging natural curiosity to drive the identification of opportunities for creativity & innovation.
• Demonstrates creative problem-solving, excellent conceptual development skills, and strong strategic, and analytical thinking.
• Strong proficiency in evaluating and re-directing formulas and color across all formats.
• Experience working with R&D and Quality Assurance teams.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and be flexible.
• Detail-oriented and strong organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 20%, domestically. 

Pay: $80,000 - $130,000 for work locations in the United States, with individual pay determined by several factors including, but not limited to, job-related skills, experience, education, and training. Salary ranges are determined in good faith by role, level, and location. As a remote-eligible? job, a narrower salary range for a candidate's preferred location may be available.