R&D Lab ManagerLocation: Omaha, NE
Schedule: Monday-Friday 8AM - 5PM on site
Salary: $115k plus 10% target bonus
This is an exciting opportunity for a hands-on R&D leader who combines strong technical formulation expertise with proven people-management and project leadership skills.
In this role, you'll lead a team of 5-8 formulation chemists and an R&D Lab Supervisor, overseeing product development across a diverse range of categories including hair care, skin care, body care, specialty care, pet care, and household/industrial products.
Duties:- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of formulation chemists and R&D professionals.
- Oversee formulation development from initial concept through commercialization.
- Guide the team in formulation design, troubleshooting, optimization, and scale-up.
- Develop and optimize products to meet performance, cost, quality, and manufacturing requirements.
- Manage multiple R&D projects while ensuring timelines and deliverables are met.
- Partner cross-functionally with Regulatory, Quality, Operations, Sourcing, Manufacturing, Commercial, and Engineering teams.
- Collaborate with Innovation and Technical Sales to support customer projects, sample development, technical documentation, and customer presentations.
- Work directly with customers to understand technical needs and present formulation solutions.
- Support pilot batches, process validation, manufacturing scale-up, and production troubleshooting.
- Oversee stability programs and coordinate stability, PET, and microbiological testing.
- Ensure accurate formulation, testing, and project documentation.
- Monitor R&D KPIs and provide reporting for business reviews.
- Drive continuous improvement, process standardization, and operational efficiency within the laboratory.
- Stay current on emerging ingredient technologies, formulation techniques, and regulatory requirements.
Requirements:- 10+ years of formulation experience within personal care manufacturing
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Cosmetic Science, or a related field.
- 3+ years of direct management experience
- Knowledge of cosmetic regulatory requirements, including FDA, MOCRA, and EU regulations.
#ZINGNJ
#ZINGZIP
#LI-VC1
