Associate Manager, Skincare Product Development

LINQM

$70K — $95K *
Retail & Consumer Goods
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3-5+ years of product development experience in skincare, beauty, or personal care.
  • Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or related field (Marketing or Business with formulation knowledge acceptable).
  • Experience working with contract manufacturers and external vendors.
  • Proven project management skills, capable of managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.
  • Familiarity with regulatory requirements and claims in the US beauty market.
  • Genuine passion for skincare trends and consumer behavior.

Responsibilities

  • Lead end-to-end development of new skincare products from ideation to launch.
  • Partner with manufacturers and labs for innovative formula development.
  • Source and evaluate new raw materials and actives with suppliers.
  • Drive product benchmarking and competitive analysis for effective market positioning.
  • Coordinate cross-functional activities to ensure timely product launches.
  • Collaborate with Marketing to identify market opportunities and consumer insights.
  • Track development timelines and manage deliverables proactively.

Benefits

  • Fast-paced, founder-led work environment with minimal red tape.
  • Immediate impact on product offerings reaching millions of consumers.
  • Opportunity to work with cutting-edge ingredients and clinical innovations.
  • Career advancement prospects for high performers.
  • Access to resources and leadership commitment for project success.
Full Job Description
Associate Manager, Skincare Product Development

THE OPPORTUNITY

We're seeking a driven, scientifically curious product development go-getter to help us build what comes next. This is a rare chance to shape a pipeline of category-defining products that reach millions of consumers - products that go through 15+ iterations before they earn a place in our lineup, and that land on shelf months, not years, after conception.

You'll own the end-to-end development process: partnering with world-class contract manufacturers, evaluating cutting-edge actives, navigating clinical validation, and driving cross-functional execution across marketing, packaging, supply chain, and regulatory. This isn't a maintenance role - it's a build role. You'll have the resources, the speed, and executive-level commitment to chase big ideas and get them to market.

If you're energized by founder-led speed, obsessed with skincare innovation, and want to see your work on the shelves of the country's biggest retailers - this is the seat for you.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Product Development & Formulation
  • -Lead end-to-end development of new skincare products, from concept ideation through commercialization and launch.
  • -Partner with contract manufacturers and labs to develop innovative formulas aligned with brand positioning and performance goals.
  • -Source and evaluate new raw materials and actives in collaboration with ingredient suppliers.
  • -Drive formula benchmarking, product evaluations, and competitive analysis to ensure GoPure products outperform at every price point.
  • -Coordinate product briefs, sample timelines, testing protocols, claims support, and commercialization activities across teams.
  • -Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Packaging, Creative, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and Operations to ensure on-time, on-brief launches.
  • -Collaborate closely with Marketing to identify whitespace opportunities, consumer insights, and emerging trends.
  • -Track development milestones and proactively manage timelines, risks, and deliverables with zero surprises.
  • -Maintain product specifications, documentation, and development records with precision and consistency.
  • -Support claims substantiation, safety testing, and regulatory documentation.
  • -Stay ahead of skincare ingredient trends, emerging technologies, and competitive innovation.
  • -Product Development Depth: 3-5+ years of product development experience in skincare, beauty, or personal care, with hands-on involvement in formulation and development processes.
  • -Scientific Foundation: Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, or a related field. A Marketing or Business degree is fine with working knowledge of formulation fundamentals (pH, viscosity, stability, etc.).
  • -Manufacturer Experience: Proven track record working with contract manufacturers and external vendors to bring formulas from brief to bulk.
  • -Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects in a fast-moving environment, hitting milestones without dropping balls.
  • -Cross-Functional Fluency: Strong communication skills and proven ability to work across marketing, supply chain, regulatory, and creative teams.
  • -Experience with masstige, indie, or fast-scaling DTC beauty brands.
  • -Familiarity with regulatory and claims requirements in the US beauty market.
  • -Experience with Amazon, DTC, or omnichannel beauty brands.
  • -Genuine passion for skincare trends, ingredient innovation, and consumer behavior.
  • -Build at Speed: Work inside a founder-led brand where decisions happen fast, red tape is minimal, and great ideas get greenlit. Your work will be on shelf in months, not years.
  • -Real Impact on Real Products: You'll own a product pipeline that reaches millions of consumers across the country's biggest retailers. No ghost projects, no shelf-sitters - everything you build ships.
  • -Category-Defining Innovation: Work with cutting-edge actives, clinical validation protocols, and biotech-forward formulas that are genuinely disrupting legacy prestige skincare.
  • -Accelerated Growth: High performers advance quickly here. Gain greater ownership, autonomy, and a fast track to senior leadership as the company scales toward nine-figure goals.
  • -Executive-Level Support: You'll have the resources, creative pipeline, and cross-functional infrastructure to chase big ideas - and leadership that's fully committed to your success.

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