Position Summary: The Chief R&D Officer will lead the new formulae developments from initiation to development, evaluation, and follow-through of new product launches. Direct the R&D development team, ensuring the company meets its innovation and product development objectives by launching products on schedule while meeting its high-quality standards. This role will focus on general and technical leadership with an emphasis on coordination between the different NPD (new product development) areas.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following, but not limited to:
In-house Developments

• Lead and manage R&D's Development Team of skin care, personal care and makeup from the marketing brief and formulation to the first industrial batch.
• Drive accountability, consistency, quality, and process standardization across all phases of development.
• Develop and monitor research plans for R&D projects, ensuring projects are completed on time and within cost objectives and quality standards.
• Review and complete marketing briefs for end formulations and validate with RA/Legal to be shared with NPD teams.
• Lead communications with key counterparts in R&D to support the formula development process from start to finish.
• Bring support for creative orientations of formulations and for troubleshooting when needed during the formula's development process.
• Approve laboratory prototypes and formulae information needed before sending to marketing for evaluation.
• Approve pilot and first production batches.
• Work with marketing and NPD team, packaging engineers, and R&D Team at every step of the development process.
• Interact with R&D team and marketing to validate marketing claims and to create new innovative claims.
• Participate in follow-up meeting or calls to clearly communicate updates on the products' development progress.
• Provide accurate communications on major changes that may affect the launch date of new products.
• Take the initiative to keep management informed of the status of all projects and related issues as they arise.
• Validate all the PIF's information.

Third-Party Developments

• Continuously optimize the development process for third party's development according to the product's category (make up, skin care and personal care)
• Set up an extensive network of providers to develop a more efficient system of outsourcing products.
• Oversee the coordination of all R&D activities involved with private label developments for makeup, skin care and/or personal care.
• Collaborate with marketing, purchasing, and NPD project manager to successfully develop new products bringing new opportunities of innovation to market.

General

• Propose creative improvement of NFD (new formulae development) processes to increase productivity and efficiency by redefining select roles and responsibilities within R&D development's team.
• Evaluate development's results and propose new strategies.
• Remain current on latest new beauty trends and new launches of makeup, skin care and/or personal care products with a scientific and technical interest.
• Attend PL (private label) or RM (raw materials) suppliers' meetings as needed.
• Be informed of new product and packaging trends through engagement with vendors and industry events.
• Function as the R&D subject matter expert and collaborator/advisor with New Products Marketing and Operations Teams regarding manufacturing capabilities; equipment's acquisitions; and new technologies with particular emphasis on Cosmetics and Beauty Products.
• SAP approval for R&D expenses according to budget
• Team management: Yearly performance evaluation of R&D Team, lead R&D managers' monthly meeting