Research Innovation And Development Director

Research Innovation and Development Director

Duration: Direct Hire

Location: 75006, Carrollton, TX

Compensation: $125,000 to $150,000

Position Summary:

This position will be a key strategic role to bringing new products (personal care, OTC drug, medical devices, and drug/device combination products) to the marketplace. This position will be a major contributor to the Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) business and the key person to direct new technologies, innovation, and formulation development of all products through the development cycle systems for various markets.

The position includes: [a] managing the laboratory and its staff of scientists and corresponding projects; [b] maintaining an advanced knowledge of product/technology formulation in the field of skincare and the medical device category and its accompanying markets; [c] tapping into that knowledge of the markets to identify innovation opportunities yielding new technologies in the space; [d] deliver confidence to clients on the development deliverables and process. Separately, this position will be a critical one to contribute to company-wide growth and future brand strategies.

This position requires extremely strong skincare formulation knowledge and skilled experience in experimentation on the bench with conventional and/or non­conventional/creative approaches with new formula bases, raw ingredients, and application of testing, processing, and imaging techniques that will lead to product development with unique claims and benefits.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Determine, design, and perform experiments to evaluate new and/or alternate raw materials and packaging through bench trials.
• While managing the team is expected, this Manager may be called on to innovate themselves, produce working prototypes, and lead scale up of lab batches to pilot and production sizes.
• Performs special technology projects, as assigned. Utilizes creativity to provide innovative products and concepts that will provide future growth for the company.
• Managing multiple projects in the RID the lab (sometimes 20+/week) and precisely knowing the status of each is critical.
• Compliance to deadlines.
• Manages the team, priorities, and work of teams, ensuring appropriate resourcing in place to align with CDMO business needs, product timelines and calendar.
• Ensures the timely completion of product/project development activities and committed deadlines.
• Develops specifications for new and/or reformulated products, ensuring product quality and must have working knowledge of (to comply with) FDA regulations and Good Documentation and cGMP practices.
• Knowledgeable of the importance of processing, operating, and design factors that affect skincare, sun care, OTC, and medical device formulations and able to discuss with clients.
• Responsible for the hands-on managing, training, and supervision of a diverse team of formulation scientists and for managing the RID laboratory’s productivity to ensure
• Responsible for RID product development projects, processes, the laboratory, and the productivity of staff so that (as a team) performance and product/project requirements can meet expectations.
• Directs development of all products with excellent organizational skills and always keeping the business need in mind, from interpreting project direction to project challenges and deliverables.
• Uses mastery and data to seek out non-obvious project and technology connections, anticipating technical issues and resolving problems.
• Coordinates and communicates responsibilities with external organizations (e.g., customers, raw material suppliers, consultants, independent testing laboratories, etc.) to execute project responsibilities.
• Keeps RID management and cross-functional colleagues informed of project progress and serves as an organizational resource for all levels of the organization.
• Responsible for the development of new products or modifications of existing ones with different degrees of complexity.
• Must be able to incorporate the necessary safety, clinical, and regulatory aspects into their projects.
• Builds organizational talent and capability through coaching and mentoring of scientists and lab technicians and works towards building a strong productive team.
• Have knowledge of and use command of innovative ingredients and technologies in-market; trends of future market; and how they are ideally implemented in product development, this role will be point of RID expertise for all commercialized product inquiries made from the skin or health care professional.

NOTE: this may include the direction and management of the activities of 2 – 15 direct reports.

Education/Experience:

• Proven track record of results working in research and development of formulations for topicals.
• MS/PhD in chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, biochemical engineering, or closely related scientific technical degree with 15-20 years’ experience.
• Ideal candidate will also possess advanced knowledge of product innovation and development processes including experience in scale-up activities in a manufacturing environment.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in R&D formulation at cosmetics/personal care, OTC drug, innovation, medical device industries, with a strong background working with diverse formulations and true innovations.

Skills/Abilities:

• Strong intellectual curiosity - always looking for new ways to improve products or processes.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively cross-functionally.
• Strong leadership capabilities and ability to manage a team and a portfolio of projects to meet the business objective.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills communication skills, to be able to deal effectively with all levels of the organization and our customers/clients.
• Proactive, results-oriented with good leadership skills and a drive for achievement
• Strong organizational and presentation skills
• Able to perform under pressure on projects with short timelines or multiple projects with the same launch dates.
• Ability to strategize, execute, develop, and improve product development capabilities.
• Creativity and strong analytical and problem-solving skills along with project management skills.
• Ability to multi-task, with strong time management skills, work in a fast-paced environment and adapt readily to change.
• Able to effectively handle software applications that are needed in today’s work environment including, but not limited to, MS Office Suite; be trainable on a variety of databases, repositories, and management systems; etc.
• Capable of handling complex issues and solving problems with general guidance.
• Independent with a willingness to take on new challenges.
• Proven results in building strong customer relationships, anticipating customer needs, and delivering consumer-centric solutions.